The host Pioneers (4-6) raced to a 13-1 lead, but Holy Cross closed the margin to six points at halftime behind Justin Eberenz, who had four three-pointers.  Providence tightened its defense in the second half, and that was the difference.

“We were able to keep Eberenz from hitting any more threes,” coach Lou Lefevre said.  Eberenz paced the Cougars (10-7) with 13 points.  Providence connected on 12 of 19 free throws in the final period to seal the win.

CHARLESTOWN—PROVIDENCE

The Pirates mounted a rally, keyed by free throws, to go ahead and pick up the victory in the second game of the night.

Providence junior Ryan Schmidt’s 3-point shot at the buzzer bounced off the rim, one of three 3-point shots the Pioneers missed in the final minutes that would have tied or taken the lead, capping a Charlestown comeback from as many as 10 down points in the third quarter.

“With them, until that buzzer sounds, you’re really on pins and needles,” Charlestown head coach Sean Smith said.

Junior Steven Coyne scored only had eight points in the game, but he was the one getting head coach Sean Smith’s praises for playing smart basketball.

“Steven Coyne only had three points in that comeback, but he had two really big ones off that inbounds pass that he threw off that guy’s backside. That was just a real intelligent play,” Smith said.

The basket, which tied the game at 39 with less than three minutes left, came after a timeout following a Pioneers turnover.

Following another turnover by the Pioneers, junior Anthony Lloyd converted two free throws to push the Pirates ahead.

Lloyd left the game seconds later after being fouled. Smith said he was suffering from cramps throughout the game and that Lloyd who scored 14 points should play tonight.

Junior Joe Wilson made two three throws with 9.8 seconds left and pushed the lead to 48-45 before Schmidt missed as time expired.

Wilson and Lloyd led the Pirates with 14 points apiece.

Providence sophomore Bryce Very scored a game-high 17 points, but missed some crucial free throws down the stretch. For the game, the Pioneers only shot 7 out of 16 from the line, while the Pirates hit 16 free throws overall.

“In the fourth quarter, we went 12 for 15 (from the free throw line) so 12 of our 22 points in the fourth quarter were free throws and those were huge, were absolutely huge,” Smith said. “That’s something we have done well this year, we’ve made free throws all year and we definitely made them in the clutch. Those guys were cool, calm and collected.”

Smith said his team’s goal on defense was to stop Very, along with Schmidt, in the fourth quarter.

It appeared Providence may take control at the start of the second half. With the scored tied at 18 at halftime the Pioneers came out on an 11-3 run, which included two 3-pointers by Very.

The Pirates (5-2) are playing this tournament without junior starting point guard Kyle Hayes, who is the team’s second leading scorer.

Smith called the victory “gutsy.”

“They’re a tremendously well-coached team and you got to give them all kinds of credit. They always find a way to win, so to find a way to pull one out, especially when we were down 10 points, is a credit to our kids,” he said.

Charlestown had beaten the Pioneers, 63-54 at Providence less than two weeks ago.

December 30 Consolation Game
CLARKSVILLE-PROVIDENCE 

In the prelude to the official town championship on Jan. 8 at Clarksville, the Pioneers defeated the Generals, 45-36 in the consolation game.

The Pioneers entered the third quarter holding a 37-29 lead, and were able to control the ball and keep it out of Clarksville’s hands for most of the final eight minutes. A.J. Schmidt led Providence (3-5) with 14 points and Bryce Very added 13.

Freshman Aiden McEwen paced the Generals (3-5) with 13 points.

McEwen, Very, and Providence’s Jacob Wethington rounded out the all-tournament team.