2025 -- H 6171

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CONGRATULATING THE PONAGANSET GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM ON WINNING

THE 2024-25 RHODE ISLAND INTERSCHOLASTIC LEAGUE GIRLS BASKETBALL

STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

     Introduced By: Representatives Chippendale, Place, Santucci, Blazejewski, Kennedy,
Ajello, Tanzi, Boylan, McNamara, and Shallcross Smith

     Date Introduced: April 03, 2025

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, The story of the 2024-2025 Ponaganset Girls Basketball Team was one of

perseverance and overcoming challenges to excel on the court and emerge as the State champions

for the second time in four years. The Chieftains were a young squad entering seasonal play and

became even younger when two seniors were injured. Yet, despite these challenges, they finished

the season with an outstanding 18-2 regular season record and earned the number 2 seed in the

Rhode Island State Tournament, thanks in large part to the outstanding leadership and steady

hand provided by Head Coach Gary Martinelli; and

     WHEREAS, In the first round, Ponaganset easily dispatched the Lincoln School by a

score of 65-37, defeated LaSalle Academy in a hard fought second round game by a score of 40-

36, and defeated Portsmouth in the semi-finals 44-31 to earn a berth in the finals against their

arch-rivals, Moses Brown; and

     WHEREAS, In a thrilling championship game, a young Ponaganset team showed their

mettle and toughness, as they once again overcame adversity to emerge victorious. The Chieftains

fell behind by 7 points in the first quarter and were behind by 10 points at one point in the second

quarter before roaring back to tie the game at half time. The Chieftains once again had to climb

out of a hole when they fell behind again, this time by 9 points in the fourth quarter before

storming back to force overtime, thanks to a putback by Malia Ellis and a clutch 3-pointer by

Javiana Stec, both freshmen; and

     WHEREAS, In overtime, the Chieftains outstanding team defense led the way as they

made a couple of key steals and caused an important turnover when they prevented Moses Brown

from successfully inbounding the ball, thereby causing a 5 second violation on Moses Brown.

The Chieftains then sealed the victory and closed the door on a Moses Brown comeback when

they made most of their free throws under pressure in the waning moments of the game, thereby

winning a thrilling championship game that will be long remembered in Rhode Island high school

sports lore; and

     WHEREAS, Winning a State Championship in a team sport is a difficult achievement

that can only be accomplished when every player gives everything they have and puts team needs

ahead of individual desires. The Ponaganset 2024-2025 Girls Basketball Team had those

attributes in abundance as they benefited all season by the outstanding play provided by Senior

Captains Kelsey L’heureux and Anastasia Nerney, and seniors Layla Bucci, Marley Haynes and

Kaylin Couto, Junior Elena Muldowney, Sophomores Giuliana Bachini, Marron Nerney, Kaitlyn

Simoneau, and Freshmen Jennie Bernardi, Lyla Briggs, Malia Ellis, Brigid Mara, Javiana Stec

and Zoey Thorp. The Team also benefited all season from the innovative coaching provided by

Head Coach Gary Martinelli; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

joyously congratulates the Ponaganset Girls Basketball Team on winning the 2024-2025 Rhode

Island Interscholastic League Girls Basketball 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. Gary Martinelli, Head Coach, Ponaganset

Girls Basketball Team.

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