The Cranston East (Cranston, RI) varsity basketball team is set to play a home conference game against Tolman (Pawtucket, RI) today at 1:30 PM.
Game Details:
- Matchup: Tolman vs Cranston East
- Date & Time: Saturday, February 1, 2025, at 1:30 PM
- Live stream: Watch Here
- Live stream: Watch Here
Tolman vs. Cranston East: A Comprehensive Comparison of the 2024-2025 Basketball Seasons
The 2024-2025 basketball season has been a rollercoaster for both the Tolman Tigers and Cranston East Thunderbolts, with contrasting performances in various aspects of the game. Here’s an in-depth look at how these two teams compare across key statistics, rankings, and head-to-head matchups.
Team Overview
Tolman Tigers
- Record: 10-7 overall, 7-6 in league play
- League Rank: 13th in Rhode Island Division
- Scoring Average: 59.9 points per game
- Key Player: John Hilaire, leading the team with 17.2 points per game
- Home Performance: 3-1 at home
- Away Performance: 3-4 on the road
- Neutral Site Performance: 4-2 in neutral games
Tolman’s season has been marked by a strong offensive game, averaging nearly 60 points per contest, and a relatively balanced performance both at home and away. Despite a few close losses, their offense, led by Hilaire, has been a key strength throughout the season.
Cranston East Thunderbolts
- Record: 7-8 overall, 2-6 in league play
- League Rank: 25th in Rhode Island Division
- Scoring Average: 51.7 points per game
- Key Player: No standout scorer like Tolman’s Hilaire, but a team-oriented approach
- Home Performance: 5-4 at home
- Away Performance: 2-4 on the road
Cranston East’s season has been a struggle, especially in league games, where they’ve won only two of their eight contests. Their scoring average is significantly lower than Tolman’s, with a lack of consistent offensive production being a notable issue. The Thunderbolts will need to find a way to improve their scoring output if they hope to remain competitive.
Scoring Averages Breakdown
Tolman has demonstrated a much higher offensive output throughout the season, averaging nearly 60 points per game. They excel in the first and fourth quarters, where they typically outpace their opponents. Their ability to score in the closing stages of games has helped them maintain a solid win percentage. In comparison, Cranston East struggles offensively, averaging just 51.7 points per game. The Thunderbolts show weaker scoring in all quarters, especially in the first three, and often find themselves needing to catch up in the final quarter.
Statistical Comparison
Here’s a side-by-side comparison of key team statistics:
Stat Category | Tolman | Cranston East |
---|---|---|
Points Per Game | 59.9 | 51.7 |
Rebounds Per Game | 30.8 | Not Available |
Assists Per Game | 10.5 | Not Available |
Steals Per Game | 9.5 | Not Available |
Blocks Per Game | 3.3 | Not Available |
While precise numbers for Cranston East’s rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks per game were not provided, it’s clear from Tolman’s statistics that their overall team play has been stronger, especially in areas like assists and steals.
Team Leaders
Tolman’s standout player, John Hilaire, is crucial to their success, leading the team in points (17.2), assists (5.2), and steals (3.2) per game. Hilaire’s versatility has been a driving factor behind Tolman’s 10-7 record. Meanwhile, Cranston East lacks a single standout performer of the same caliber, making their team dynamic more about collective contributions rather than relying on one individual.
Common Opponents
Both teams faced some of the same opponents throughout the season, but their results were starkly different. Here’s a look at how each performed against common opponents:
Common Opponent | Tolman Record | Cranston East Record |
---|---|---|
Shea | 1-0 | 0-1 |
North Kingstown | 0-1 | Not played |
Johnston | 1-0 | 1-0 |
Westerly | 1-0 | 0-1 |
Portsmouth | 0-1 | 0-1 |
Cumberland | 1-0 | Not played |
Classical | Not played | 0-1 |
Tolman has had a superior record against common opponents, boasting a 4-2 record, while Cranston East only managed a 1-4 record. These results highlight Tolman’s stronger performances, particularly in head-to-head matchups.
Home and Away Performance
Tolman has been more successful at home (3-1) than on the road (3-4), with their neutral-site performance being even stronger at 4-2. In contrast, Cranston East’s struggles at home (5-4) and away (2-4) have been more pronounced, which suggests they may need to improve their consistency in both settings.
Conclusion
While both teams have had their challenges during the 2024-2025 season, Tolman has clearly outperformed Cranston East in several key areas. Their offense, led by John Hilaire, has been potent, and their record against common opponents reflects their superior play. Cranston East, on the other hand, will need to find ways to increase their offensive production and improve their league performance if they are to challenge stronger teams moving forward.
With both teams still having a few games to play, it will be interesting to see how they close out the season.