2021 -- S 0617

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CONGRATULATING THE PORTSMOUTH BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM ON WINNING

THE 2021 RHODE ISLAND DIVISION II STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

     Introduced By: Senator James Arthur Seveney

     Date Introduced: March 11, 2021

     Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar

     WHEREAS, After finishing with a strong 7-2 regular season record, the Portsmouth

Patriots Boys Basketball Team entered the Rhode Island Division II State playoffs on a mission

to repeat as champions; and

     WHEREAS, After easily dispatching Lincoln by the score of 56 to 34 in the Play-in-

Game, Portsmouth faced a tough Tolman squad in the Quarter-Finals and, in a hard-fought game,

emerged victorious by the score of 66-56. In the Semi-Finals, Portsmouth faced one-seed East

Greenwich, led by their sharpshooting star Jack McMullen, and upset the Avengers by the score

of 64-54 thanks in part to the tenacious defense provided by Portsmouth senior Sam Bielawa who

held McMullen to only ten points scored. Portsmouth also benefited from the eighteen points

provided by guard Ben Hurd, and showed their championship grit by coming back from a nine

point deficit to win and advance to the Title game; and

     WHEREAS, In the Championship match against Burrillville, a team known for playing

superb defense, Portsmouth broke open what had been a tight game when Senior Tim Chlaupek,

hobbled for much of the season with an injured knee, exploded in the second half and provided

much-needed offense to lead the Patriots to a 51-36 victory. With Portsmouth down by seven

points in the third quarter, Mr. Chlaupek went on an offensive spree, scoring in all kinds of ways

from hook shots to a stepback three pointer, finishing with sixteen points and guiding Portsmouth

to victory and back to back State Titles; and

     WHEREAS, Winning a State Championship is a difficult accomplishment, one than can

only be achieved if everyone on the team gives their all and puts personal aspirations and wants

behind team goals. The Patriots had those qualities in abundance as they were led all season by

the important contributions made by Marcus Evans, Calvin Lucenti, Benny Hurd, Luke Hyder,

Jack Downing, Luke Brennan, Sam Bielawa, Jeff Brady, Vincent Zhang, Nean Tullson, Owen

Gugliotta, Andrew Perry, Jack Bielawa, and Tim Chlaupek, and the outstanding leadership

provided by Head Coach Joe Occhi; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby congratulates the

Portsmouth Boys Basketball Team on winning the 2021 Rhode Island Division II State

Championship, 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 Mr. Joe Occhi, Head coach, Portsmouth Boys

Basketball Team.

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