Adam Conheeny scored 18 points and Portsmouth High School’s stifling defense held La Salle Academy to nine first-half points as the Patriots claimed the Rhode Island Division I boys basketball championship Friday night, 49-38, at the Amica Mutual Pavilion.
Portsmouth led 21-9 at halftime and never relinquished control, using relentless defensive pressure to keep the Rams off-balance for the duration. The Patriots forced difficult shots, clogged passing lanes and turned nearly every La Salle possession into a battle.
Conheeny, a senior point guard, was the catalyst on both ends. He scored eight of his game-high 18 points in the first half to help Portsmouth establish its lead and finished as the game’s top scorer.
John Casey added 12 points and Liam Casey chipped in eight for Portsmouth, which received contributions across its roster in a team-driven effort.
La Salle’s Jaden Givens led all scorers for the Rams with 15 points, and Nicholas Tarro added 11. But the Rams could not find consistent offense against a Portsmouth defense that limited them to 38 points.
The second half followed the same script. Portsmouth extended possessions, protected the paint and refused to let La Salle string together any momentum. The Rams cut into the deficit at moments, but Portsmouth answered each time.
The championship is the culmination of a season-long commitment to defense-first basketball under coach Sean Casey. For the Patriots’ senior class — including Conheeny, Nicholas Colantuono, Jackson Hackley, Nolan Fox, John Casey and Orion Silvia — it is the ideal ending to their careers at Portsmouth High School.
