Burrillville Boys vie for a State II Basketball Championship.

 Posted By Wayne G. Barber 

Division II

No. 3-North Burrillville vs. No. 3-South Portsmouth

When: Saturday, Rhode Island College, 2 p.m.

Regular season records: Burrillville, 6-2 DII-North; Portsmouth, 7-2 DII-South.

How they got here: In the preliminary round, Burrillville beat No. 6-S Toll Gate 54-44 and Portsmouth beat No. 6-N Lincoln, 56-34. In the quarters, the Broncos took down No. 2-S Pilgrim in overtime, 63-60, while the Patriots downed No. 2-N Tolman, 66-56. In the semifinals, Burrillville beat No. 1-N Wheeler, 51-48, and Portsmouth topped No. 1-S East Greenwich, 64-54.

Previous matchup: The teams did not play this season.

Last division final: Burrillville lost to Chariho, 60-59, in the 2015-16 Division III title game; Portsmouth beat Barrington, 81-70, to win the 2019-20 D-II title.

Last division championship: Burrillville beat Smithfield, 51-49, to win the 1988-89 Division III title; Portsmouth beat Barrington, 81-70, to win the 2019-20 D-II title.

Head coaches: Burrillville – Kevin Randall; Porstmouth – Joe Occhi.

Probable starters: Burrillville – Jared Deschamps, G, Sr.; Jaden White, G, Jr.; Jack Bergin, F, Sr.; Colby Bouzan, F, Sr.; Dean Ayotte, C, Jr. Portsmouth - Ben Hurd, G, Jr.; Owen Gugliotta, G, Sr; Jack Bielawa, G, Sr.; Calvin Lucenti, F, So.; Tim Chlaupek, C, Sr.

Key reserves: Burrillville – Wes Cournoyer, G, Jr.; Jeff Cabral, F, Sr. Portsmouth - Sam Bielawa, G, Sr.; Luke Hyder, F, Sr.

What to look for: This is an oil and water matchup. Portsmouth wins by scoring and Burrillville wins on defense. The Patriots have size, the Broncos don’t. Burrillville wants the pace to be slow, Portsmouth wants to speed you up. Something has to give.

Prediction: The Broncos are the Cinderella story only because nobody expected them to beat Pilgrim and Wheeler. Portsmouth is the defending D-II champs and were expected to compete for a title this year, so here they are. Last year Ben Hurd was the difference and expect him to be a thorn in the Broncos side in this won as well, leading the Patriots to back-to-back titles.Source; Pro-Jo Sports and Pro-jo Photo