WARWICK, RI — A reshuffling of the boys hockey teams and campaigns to defend state titles highlight this week in Warwick varsity sports, as reported by the Rhode Island Interscholastic League.
Boys hockey:
Solo Patriots notch victory over Barrington; Toll Gate merges with East Greenwich
Pilgrim started off the new season with a 3-1 win over Barrington at home on Dec. 2. Due to league rules limiting the number of players that schools can contribute to co-op squads, the former Pilgrim/Toll Gate co-op was disbanded, and a new Toll Gate/East Greenwich team was formed. The then-Pilgrim/Toll Gate co-op team earned the fourth seed in the 2022-23 state championship after compiling a 17-8-1 overall record, and defeated Burrillville 3-1 and 2-1 in the double elimination quarterfinals before falling to eventual state champs Bishop Hendricken 2-1 in the semifinals.
Next up: East Greenwich/Toll Gate hosts Prout at the West Warwick Civic Center on Dec. 8. Pilgrim welcomes Moses Brown on Dec. 9. Hendricken hosts North Kingstown on Dec. 12.
Girls hockey:
Co-op team eyes playoff return
After falling to Burrillville in the first round of the state championship tournament last spring, the Toll Gate/Pilgrim co-op squad returns to the ice this weekend. The Titans finished last season with a 3-11-2 record, good for sixth in Division 1, before the Broncos swept them in back-to-back shutouts.
Next up: Toll Gate/Pilgrim hosts the East Bay Girls co-op on Dec. 9.
Girls basketball:
Postseason contenders start new campaign
Defending state champion Pilgrim and semifinalist Toll Gate take to the court next week to start the new season. Toll Gate beat Lincoln 49-41 in the first round of the playoffs before falling to Narragansett 35-31 in the semifinals. The Patriots got a little payback for Warwick and secured the Division 3 title last spring, their first since 1996, by defeating Narragansett 35-19 after holding the Mariners to just 7 first half points.
Next up: Pilgrim travels to Burrillville on Dec. 11. Toll Gate hosts the Lincoln School on Dec. 13.
Boys basketball:
Titans drop opener; local squads look to improve
Toll Gate took the early lead but eventually fell to Ponaganset 49-35 in its first contest of the new season on Dec. 7. The Titans led 9-8 after the first quarter, but a 16-7 run by the Chieftains in the second quarter put the game out of reach. Both Toll Gate and Pilgrim will be aiming to improve on their 2022-23 records that left both squads out of the Division 2 playoff picture. The Patriots ended last season at 6-17 overall while the Titans finished 6-18.
Next up: Toll Gate hosts Mount St. Charles on Dec. 9. Pilgrim travels to South Kingstown on Dec. 11.
Want to contribute photos, video, or recaps of Warwick varsity sports? Contact Editor Joe Hutnak, and use “Varsity Sports Wrap” in your subject line.
Author: Joe Hutnak - [email protected]
Co-Founder and Editor-at-Large of Warwick Post. For Warwick Post-related inquiries or communications, email [email protected]
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