TITANS WIN OVERTIME THRILLER AGAINST PILGRIM IN FRONT OF PACKED CROWD
Warwick, RI – In what can only be described as a game for the ages, the Toll Gate Unified Basketball Titans defeated the Pilgrim Patriots in a thrilling overtime showdown on Friday, April 4th, winning 56-51 in front of a packed, electrifying home crowd.
The energy inside Toll Gate High School was off the charts from the opening tipoff, with students, staff, and faculty filling the stands and fueling the Titans with non-stop cheers and applause. According to Coach Mackler, that crowd support made all the difference: “It was the energy in the stands. Our players felt it. The crowd carried us today.”
And the players delivered.
The Titans jumped out to a strong lead early, holding it for nearly the entire game behind a standout team performance and key individual contributions. Freshman Casen C. was lights out from beyond the arc, going 5-for-8 from three-point range and keeping the offense rolling with his sharpshooting. Senior leaders Daphne C. and Lucas F. both stepped up in big moments, finding their rhythm and dropping clutch baskets when the team needed them most.
Jordan K. was everywhere on the court, notching a triple-double in what may have been his best performance of the season. His intensity, hustle, and all-around play were a major factor in keeping the Titans on top throughout regulation.
Jayden C. had an efficient day from the floor, going 2-for-3, and Alstyn W. brought consistent energy and added 4 points in a strong showing. The Titans’ Unified Partners were dominant on the glass, winning the rebounding battle and helping to limit second-chance opportunities for the Patriots.
Still, Pilgrim would not go quietly. The Patriots hit a clutch three-pointer in the final seconds of regulation to tie the game and send the gym into a frenzy, forcing overtime. It was a gutsy shot in a pressure-packed moment, emblematic of the strong shooting and excellent sportsmanship the Patriots displayed all game long.
As always, Coach Magee of Pilgrim was a class act on the sideline, showing respect, grace, and competitive spirit. He praised both teams for their effort and is already looking forward to the rematch scheduled for next Wednesday—this time on Pilgrim’s home court.
In the extra period, the Titans dug deep and found that last burst of energy, scoring key buckets and locking down on defense to seal the 56-51 win. The victory not only broke a two-game losing streak this season, but it also avenged two losses to Pilgrim last year, giving this year’s Titans squad a major confidence boost. When reached for comment, team Captain Robert L. said “Shoutout to Pilgrim for the battle… but overtime? That’s Titan time.”
Now sitting at 2-2-1, Toll Gate looks to carry this momentum into the final stretch of the regular season. After next week’s rematch against Pilgrim, they’ll wrap up with a Senior Night showdown against Cranston West on April 22nd at 4:00pm.
With only two games left, one thing is clear—this team is hitting its stride, and with the whole school clearly behind them, anything is possible.
