The Cranston East varsity basketball team (Cranston, RI) will host Middletown (RI) today at 2:00 PM for a non-conference matchup.

Game Details
Middletown vs Cranston East
Saturday, January 11, 2025, at 2:00 PM

• Live stream: Watch Here

A Comparison of Middletown and Cranston East: 2024-2025 Basketball Seasons

As the 2024-2025 high school basketball season progresses, the teams from Middletown and Cranston East are proving to be competitive forces in the Rhode Island Division I league. Both teams have their strengths and challenges, with fluctuating performances through their schedules. Let’s take a deeper look at their standings, key performances, and head-to-head comparisons.

Middletown (24-25) Performance Overview

Middletown has faced a somewhat challenging season, holding a 4-5 overall record and a 3-3 record within their league. Their home games have been slightly more favorable, with a 2-1 record, but they’ve struggled on the road with a 2-3 record, and a single loss in neutral-site games.

• Scoring Average: Middletown’s offensive numbers show a scoring average of 53 points per game, which reflects a balanced but moderate offensive output.
• Defensive Struggles: Their point differential stands at -60, with 537 points allowed and 477 points scored. This indicates a vulnerability on defense that the team will need to address if they want to remain competitive in the second half of the season.
• Key Losses: Some notable setbacks include games against strong opponents like Portsmouth, Coventry, and Mt. Hope, where the team struggled to keep up in high-scoring matchups.

Cranston East (24-25) Performance Overview

Cranston East has had a slightly more balanced season, with a 4-4 overall record, though their league performance has been somewhat below expectations at 2-3. However, they have managed a solid 3-3 record at home, showing their ability to perform on their home court.

• Scoring Average: With a team average of 51 points per game, Cranston East trails Middletown by just 2 points. However, they’ve been especially strong in the fourth quarter, where they average 18 points, showing their resilience and ability to close out games.
• Defensive Concerns: Cranston East’s defense has been less efficient, allowing 493 points across the season, resulting in a negative point differential of -85. This puts them in a similar situation to Middletown, as they too struggle to contain their opponents.
• Key Wins: A highlight for Cranston East has been their recent win over Coventry (58-55), a solid league victory that boosted their confidence.

Common Opponents and Head-to-Head Breakdown

Both teams share a number of common opponents throughout their seasons. The comparison of their performances against these teams gives us a glimpse of how they match up against similar competition:

• Against Portsmouth: Middletown suffered a tough loss, 70-37, while Cranston East will face Portsmouth later in the season.
• Against Coventry: Middletown fell short with a 71-56 loss, but Cranston East earned a crucial 58-55 victory in a hard-fought game.
• Against Mt. Hope: Middletown was edged out 59-55, while Cranston East defeated Mt. Hope 54-51 in a tightly contested match.
• Against West Warwick: Middletown lost 71-57, and Cranston East will have a chance to avenge that loss in their next meeting with West Warwick.

This head-to-head against common opponents shows that Cranston East has had a better record (2-1) compared to Middletown’s 0-4, which may suggest that Cranston East has been more competitive in these matchups.

Home and Away Splits

Both teams have been more successful on their home courts than on the road. Middletown has won 2 of 3 home games and 2 of 5 away games. Cranston East has fared slightly better at home with a 3-3 record and a strong 1-1 record on the road. Neither team has had neutral-site success, though, with both suffering defeats in their single neutral-site games played.

Outlook for the Season

As both teams approach the latter half of the season, there are areas for improvement. Middletown must tighten their defense to reduce the point differential and create more consistent offensive production. Cranston East, while showing resilience in their late-game performances, will need to build on their strong fourth quarters and find ways to improve their overall scoring consistency.

The upcoming match between these two teams, especially with their 2025 rivalry game set for February 4th, will be a significant test for both squads. As they battle for playoff positioning, both teams must find ways to capitalize on their strengths—Middletown’s home advantage and Cranston East’s late-game execution.

Conclusion

While both Middletown and Cranston East have faced challenges in the 2024-2025 season, their upcoming performances will provide key insights into their ability to compete within the league. A win in their head-to-head matchup could make all the difference as they prepare for a push toward the playoffs.