Pilgrim Girls Buzzer-Beater Win vs. NP

WARWICK, RI — It was an exciting start to the New Year with a Pilgrim girls buzzer beater win, while the boys squad secured the West Warwick Christmas Tournament title this week in Warwick varsity sports, as reported by the Rhode Island Interscholastic League.

Girls basketball:

Patriots win on buzzer beater; Toll Gate wins city rivalry

Pilgrim’s Lia Wasilewski nailed a last-second shot from just beyond the free throw line to secure a 54-52 win over North Providence on Jan. 3. The victory improved the Patriots’ home record to 2-1. In a Dec. 29 cross-town matchup, Toll Gate defeated Pilgrim 45-37. The Titans fell to Narragansett 45-40 on Jan. 3.

Thanks to Kara Neary Cravin for the video of Wasilewski’s game-winner:

Next up: Pilgrim travels to North Smithfield and Toll Gate visits North Providence on Jan. 5. The two local teams meet again on Jan. 11 at Pilgrim.

Boys basketball:

Patriots prevail in holiday tourney; Hawks, Titans fall

Pilgrim’s Carter Clifton led the Patriots to victory in the West Warwick Christmas Tournament, defeating Narragansett en route to beating host West Warwick 58-44 on Dec. 29. Clifton scored 48 points over the two-game span and earned tournament MVP honors. The Patriots dropped a 56-48 decision against North Kingstown on Jan. 2. Bishop Hendricken fell to visiting Nazareth High School 63-44 from Brooklyn, N.Y., on Dec. 30. Toll Gate fell to Narragansett 72-35 at home on Dec. 29 before enduring a tough 0-2 road trip, with losses to Hope on Jan. 2 and Middletown on Jan. 4.

Next up: Pilgrim visits Mt. Hope on Jan. 5. Toll Gate hosts Lincoln on Jan. 10. Hendricken visited Westerly on Jan. 4; results were not available at deadline for this article. The Hawks host North Kingstown on Jan. 8.

Boys hockey: 

Local squads take tough losses

Pilgrim fell to visiting Darien High School 3-2 on Dec. 27, with the Blue Wave tallying two scores in the third period for the win. The East Greenwich/Toll Gate co-op team dropped a 5-1 decision against Barrington on Jan, 4, capping off a tough road trip. Bishop Hendricken was off this week.

Next up: Hendricken faces Division 1 rival Mount St. Charles on Jan. 5. Pilgrim hosts Cumberland on Jan. 5. East Greenwich/Toll Gate visits Mount St. Charles on Jan. 6.

Girls hockey:

Co-op fall to Broncos

Junior Ayla Paley scored all of the local co-op team’s goals in an 8-4 loss to Burrillville on Dec. 30. Senior Georgia Field tallied an assist, and junior netminder Emily Tullie made 28 saves.

Next up: Toll Gate/Pilgrim travels to Cumberland on Jan. 5.

Want to contribute photos, video, or recaps of Warwick varsity sports? Contact Editor Joe Hutnak, and use “Varsity Sports Wrap” in your subject line.