SPORTS

Harris breaks out to lead CCRI to tourney

FROM STAFF REPORTS
Posted 3/3/22

The No. 5 ranked CCRI Knights men’s basketball team hosted the blue Knights of Northern Essex

Community College for the East District Championship Sunday afternoon.

The CCRI Knights …

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SPORTS

Harris breaks out to lead CCRI to tourney

Posted

The No. 5 ranked CCRI Knights men’s basketball team hosted the blue Knights of Northern Essex

Community College for the East District Championship Sunday afternoon.

The CCRI Knights beat the NECC Blue Knights 79-67.

With the victory CCRI improves to 22-3 on the season and advance to the NJCAA Division III National Tournament in Rockford, IL March 9-12. In addition, CCRI Knights Head Coach Rick Harris earned his 300th career victory at the helm of the Knights.

This was the third meeting of the year for the CCRI Knights and NECC Blue Knights. CCRI won the first contest 94-51 in Haverhill, MA Dec. 4 but lost to NECC 71-70 Feb. 1, which was the last game that CCRI lost this season so sweet revenge was on the minds of the CCRI Knights in the District Championship showdown.

Both teams were playing very hard and with tremendous energy but it was the CCRI Knights who were playing more effectively in the first half. The CCRI Knights utilize a balanced attack to jump ahead of Northern Essex 47-32 at the halftime break. The Knights were led in the first half by Mike Resnick (Gloucester) with 10 points. Resnick was assisted by Levi King (Westerly) who added eight points. Co-captains Luke Fusaro (Charlestown) and Mitchel Noresca (East Providence) added seven points apiece.

However, though CCRI had a nice lead at the break they were also experiencing a great deal of foul trouble.

RJ Pina (East Providence) scored 11 of his 17 points in the second half by penetrating to the basket and getting Northern Essex players in foul trouble. Pina was helped by the Knights District Championship igniter Michael Harris who dropped 13 second half points for CCRI including three second half 3-pointers, made his free throws and took a crucial offensive charge which fouled out NECC point guard Daniel Almarante late in the game. The CCRI Knights would hold off the NECC Knights to secure the East District Championship by the final score of 79-67.

Leading the way for the Knights was freshman guard Michael Harris who had himself a weekend with back-to-back 18 point games. On Sunday Harris had 18 points with four 3-pointers, five assists, two rebounds an offensive charge taken.

The heroic Harris was helped by point guard RJ Pina who had a double-double scoring 17 points with 10 rebounds while adding two assist and a blocked shot.

Noresca had a double-double with 10 points and 15 rebounds awhile adding two assist and a blocked shot. Noresca leads the nation in all rebounding categories and has extended his CCRI career rebounding record to be the only player in CCRI history with over 900 rebounds, he now has 930 for career (761 was former record of Stretch Edwards).

Resnick scored 10 points with two steals and an assist. King had nine points, two blocked shots and two assists while Theo Jadotte (Providence) added six points with game-high 19 rebounds and four blocked shots.

The Knights advance to the NJCAA Men’s Division III Basketball National Tournament in Rockford, IL March 9-12.

Michael Harris went off in the previous game for CCRI. Michael Harris sank four 3- pointers over a three minute span late in the first half to give the Knights a 12-point lead. The Knights were able to extend their lead to 16 points with the score 46-31 at the halftime break. Their lead was due in large part to the shooting of Michael Harris along with very good team defense which was given a lift by the 3- point barrage that ignited the crowd.

Harris, CCRI, tourney

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