The Tiverton Tigers survived a grueling, physical battle on the road Thursday night, defeating the Central Falls Warriors 56-50 in a game that saw 47 fouls called and three Tiverton starters foul out before the final buzzer.
Junior forward Caleb Pureell led the way for Tiverton with a game-high 22 points, providing the offensive spark the Tigers needed to pull out the victory at Central Falls High School.
Tiverton built a 27-21 lead by halftime, outscoring Central Falls 14-8 in the first quarter before the Warriors found their footing in the second. The Tigers extended their advantage in the third quarter, putting up 18 points to take control heading into the final frame.
But Central Falls refused to go quietly, battling back in the fourth quarter as Tiverton’s foul trouble mounted. Jose Kelly, Pureell, and Colby Lopez—three of Tiverton’s key contributors—all fouled out before the end of regulation, forcing the Tigers to close out the game shorthanded.
Jose Kelly and Angel Cruz each contributed 10 points in the second half to help Tiverton weather the storm and secure the road win.
The Warriors, coached by Jae Handy, kept fighting until the final whistle, making it a down-to-the-wire finish despite the six-point final margin.
Photos by Justin Walker for What’sUpNewp.
