Panthers Defeat Exeter-West Greenwich, 67-57

The Panthers overcame a first-half deficit to down Exeter-West Greenwich, 67-57, ousting the eighth-seeded Scarlet Knights and advancing to the divisional semifinals in boys' varsity basketball.

Johnston trailed, 17-16, prior to intermission, but the top-seeded Panthers recovered to secure a five-point halftime lead. They expanded the margin to 22 during the latter stanza, and withstood the Scarlet Knights’ late rally to capture a quarterfinal victory.

Senior forward Isaac Medeiros and junior guard Ryan Anderson initiated Johnston’s offensive output Monday, scoring the Panthers’ first 12 points collectively to establish a 12-5 lead. However, EWG’s Ben Andrews responded with 16 points before the break, helping the Scarlet Knights to a one-point first-half advantage.

“On the defensive end, we were doing nothing,” said Stephen DeMeo, head coach of the Panthers. “[Andrews] was just having a field day on us.”

However, Andrews netted just two points during the second half, while Medeiros and Anderson continued to produce throughout the contest. Both scored 14 prior to intermission, and Johnston took two points from senior guard Chris Fagbote to lead, 30-25, at halftime.

“I didn’t think we played hard the first half, and I explained that to the gentlemen,” DeMeo said. “Very rarely do we come out and not play hard.”

Medeiros and Anderson combined to quickly triple the Panthers’ margin during the second half. Medeiros poured in seven, Anderson tacked on three and Johnston led, 40-25, despite EWG’s attempt to stymie the potent Panthers with an unusual defensive alignment.

In accordance with the scheme, two Scarlet Knights would watch Fagbote and Anderson, while three more monitored designated defensive zones. EWG played without senior center Erik Springer, and each time the Panthers moved the ball to Medeiros, two Scarlet Knights were forced to converge in an effort to restrain Johnston’s senior captain.

“What [Medeiros] has to recognize is that, when they double up on him, somebody’s wide open. He’s improving on that,” DeMeo said.

Medeiros exploited the undermanned Scarlet Knights Monday, netting a game-high 27 points, including a pair from the right wing to establish a 61-39 advantage for the Panthers. That followed another 10-0 Johnston run, and an unfortunate moment of trepidation, as well.

Though the Panthers led, 59-39, those alongside Robert A. Smith Court were quietly watching Anderson, who sat upon the floor in pain after a mid-air collision with a Scarlet Knight. He moved gingerly toward the sideline, walking without assistance.

“Having [Anderson] out, it would put a damper on anything,” DeMeo said.

Anderson eventually returned to stifle EWG’s semi-climactic rally. The Scarlet Knights drew to within six, primarily outscoring Johnston’s complementary performers, acting in lieu of Anderson, Medeiros and the regularly featured Panthers.

“We don’t want to foul. We don’t have to shoot the ball — the ball’s flying up to the rim. They’re fouling," DeMeo said. “I didn’t want to bring the kids back into the game, but better to be safe than sorry.”

Anderson returned, moving comfortably, to bury four from the charity stripe, finishing the contest with 24 overall.

The Panthers now await the victor of a quarterfinal match-up set for Feb. 22, featuring fourth-seeded Prout and fifth-seeded Warwick Veterans Memorial High School. The winner will encounter Johnston Friday, Feb. 25 at 8 p.m. on the Knight Campus of the Community College of Rhode Island in Warwick.

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