2019 -- S 0742

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CONGRATULATING THE NORTH KINGSTOWN BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM ON

WINNING THE 2018-2019 RHODE ISLAND BOYS BASKETBALL DIVISION ONE

TOURNAMENT AND THE 2018-2019 RHODE ISLAND STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

TOURNAMENT

     Introduced By: Senators Sheehan, Valverde, Ruggerio, Lombardi, and Lynch Prata

     Date Introduced: April 02, 2019

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

     WHEREAS, The North Kingstown Boys Basketball Team had an outstanding regular

season in 2018-2019, compiling a stellar and league best 15-3 Division I-C record and earning a

first-round bye in the Division I Boys Basketball Tournament; and

     WHEREAS, In the State Tournament, North Kingstown easily dispatched rival South

Kingstown in the Quarterfinals by the score of 66-44. In the Semi-Finals, the Skippers faced a

determined opponent in Cranston East, and found themselves locked in a tight battle late in the

second half before going on a run that secured a hard-fought 74-62 victory to advance to the

Championship game; and

     WHEREAS, In the Division I Tournament championship game played at CCRI’s

Warwick Cullen Field House, The Skippers faced perennial boys basketball favorite Bishop

Hendricken in a thrilling game that will long be remembered as one of the best games in Rhode

Island High School Boys basketball history. Led by their star player Ben Massie, who scored

twenty points, North Kingstown ripped off a 12-3 run, capped by a Massie clutch three-point

shot, to build a seven point lead late in the game, a lead they never relinquished as they won their

first state crown since the 1989-1990 season by the score of 64-60; and

     WHEREAS, In the Rhode Island State Championship Tournament that followed the

Division I Tournament, the Skippers entered as the number two seed overall and plowed through

the competition, easily sweeping the big Rhode Island High school Boys basketball events of the

2018-2019 season. North Kingstown won all four games of the State Tournament by at least

twenty points or more as they thrashed in succeeding order, Ponaganset in the sweet 16 by the

score of 96 to 52, Westerly in the Elite 8 by the score of 100 to 64, Cranston East in the Final 4

by the score of 86 to 49, and Woonsocket in the Championship game by the score of 77-57; and

     WHEREAS, Winning State Championships in team events are enormous achievements

requiring that every member of the team put team needs and team goals ahead of their individual

wants and aspirations. The North Kingstown Boys Basketball team had those qualities in

abundance as they were led all season by the outstanding play and sacrifice provided by John

Quainoo, Nick Sacchetti, Tristan Curran, Clay Brochu, Nolan Bush, Aiden Hindley-Rivera, Ben

Masse, Owen Moynihan, Dylan Poirier, Geoff Coyne, Nick Quarella, Mason Walsh, Dan Smith,

Rock Deresky, Caleb Wagner, and Ryder Andersen. The squad was also blessed to have the

innovative coaching and leadership that was provided by Head Coach Aaron Thomas, and

Assistant Coaches Kevin Gormley, and James Simmons; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby congratulates the North Kingstown Boys Basketball Team on winning the 2018-2019

Rhode Island Division I Basketball Tournament and the 2018-2019 Rhode Island Boys Basketball

State Tournament; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to North Kingstown Boys Basketball Head Coach

Aaron Thomas.

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