Game against Allentown High School (NJ) PHS-67; AHS-35

BY JAMIE PERETZMAN-Allentown High is typically in the lower tier of the Colonial Valley Conference. In a game PHS expected to win, the Little Tigers, perhaps overconfident, got off to a slow start. As the first quarter unfolded things were a little too close for comfort.

After going up 12-0 with 3:51 left in the first quarter, PHS allowed Allentown to climb back into the game ending the quarter on an 8-2 run to cut the Princeton lead to four, 12-8.

PHS continued its bad habit of starting out slowly allowing Allentown to have a little hope as the second quarter played out. After the Little Tigers took a 25-9 with 4:31 left in the half, Allentown scored 9 more points in the quarter to PHS's 5 sending the Little Tigers into the locker room with a 30-18 halftime lead.

Obviously disappointed by its first half performance, PHS knew it had to play its kind of basketball--fast breaks, hard-nosed defense and immense ball pressure It is the third quarter that exemplified the type of team that PHS has the potential to be.

After Allentown scored a basket in the first 17 seconds of the third quarter to cut the PHS lead to ten, PHS went on to score the next 35 consecutive points to extend its lead to 65-20. Shortly thereafter head coach, Jason Carter, emptied his bench. In garbage time, Allentown finished out the game with on a 15-2 run making the final score a little more respectable.

Skye Ettin led the scoring with 26 points, followed by Brian Dunlap's 14 points and 5 assists and DeQuan Holman's 11 points and 6 rebounds.

Game against Northern Burlington High School. PHS-68; NBHS-51

BY JAMIE PERETZMAN-To avoid going 0-3 in what was arguably their most difficult week of the season, Princeton High School thought of its game against Northern Burlington as a must win.

Following two heartbreaking losses where the lead was lost late in the game on both occasions, the rout of Northern Burlington was much welcomed. PHS just wanted to salvage one win before heading into the meat of its CVC schedule.

One player in particular stepped up to this challenge of persevering through physical and mental weariness. DeQuan Holman, following two mediocre games, dropped 35 points on Northern Burlington, a career high.

If you consider the opposite of PHS' performances against Notre Dame and Trenton that would be the Northern Burlington game. The Little Tigers made 52% of their field goals, grabbed 19 total rebounds and made 14 out of 19 free throws. (74%) PHS also decreased its recent habit of over-dribbling and moved the ball around with great effectiveness, hitting wide open lay-ups a majority of the time. The reason for this turnaround is because PHS went back to the basics for this game. The motion offense was only put in this season and following two consecutive losses, PHS went back to its basic offensive sets. They also pressured the athletically inferior Northern Burlington and forced them to commit many turnovers.

In addition to his 35 points DeQuan Holman added 5 assists, 5 rebounds and 6 steals. Skye Ettin had 13 points, and 4 rebounds and Brian Dunlap had 10 points including 6 for 6 from the free throw line, 5 assists and 4 steals.

Princeton High School (5-3) will host Allentown High School on Tuesday, January, 20 at 6:00 in an effort to break its 2 game CVC losing streak.

Game against Trenton High School. THS-61; PHS-51

A hush fell over the locker room following tonight's game. In a game where a 9 point half time lead was turned into a 10 point loss, there was nothing to say.

In the 1st half, it looked as though Princeton High School had some poise and patience running its offense and on the other side of the ball, stifling defense to hold Trenton to only 21 points. PHS made its shots in the paint and most of its free throws.

Then came the second half.

It started out well for The Tigers, a couple lay-ups here and there ballooned the lead to 12 points. Then, Trenton went on the offensive. When the smoke had cleared, Trenton claimed the lead for the first time in the game, and never looked back.

PHS tried to prolong the game by fouling in the last minute and at one point cut the lead to 7 points, but like all the teams PHS has played this year, Trenton made its free throws. During Trenton's comeback, the basketball being played was fast, sloppy and mistake-ridden but it was Trenton who was able to make order out of the chaos.

From the second half score of 30-21 in PHS's favor, the game resulted in a 19 point turnaround. Trenton scored 40 points in the second half to PHS's 21.

It seemed as though Trenton was a better team than they looked in the first half and they displayed its true talent in the second half. They hit more of their shots, decreased the turnovers and stopped the PHS attack dead in its tracks.

Skye Ettin had the high score with 20 points and 3 rebounds, Brian Dunlap had 8 points 6 rebounds and 4 assists, Devon Holman had 7 points and DeQuan Holman had 6 points and 8 assists.

Although a very tough loss for PHS, they will have to try and shake it off because they take on Northern Burlington in a non-conference game tomorrow, January 17 at 11:30 a.m.

By Jamie Peretzman

Game against Notre Dame High School. NHS-55; PHS-52 OT

In a close game that came down to the last minute of regulation and into one overtime period, missed field goals and free throws and abundant and unnecessary fouls turned out to be the downfall of Princeton High School.

Notre Dame, which seemed like a carbon copy of Springfield-Delco, made a very high percentage of its field goals and free throws. Perhaps there is a pattern with PHS having trouble with good-shooting and disciplined teams. Their only two losses of the season came against teams of this nature.

A major component to PHS's offense is its fast break. However, Notre Dame neutralized it with a very good transition defense. Every player on their team sprinted back on defense to stop the PHS attack.

At the half, Notre Dame was up two. However, PHS went on a surge in the third quarter. Josh Gordon hit a three pointer to extend the lead to 27-24. Then, off a steal, DeQuan Holman sprinted down the floor and joined AJ Dowers as the only players to dunk in a game. The Little Tigers then extended their lead to ten. At that point, PHS should have retained the mental advantage but on Notre Dame's next possession, they hit a three to combat the excitement in the gym.

PHS led 42-39 at the end of three. However, PHS reached the double bonus very quickly and sent Notre Dame to the line many times in the fourth quarter. With less than a minute left and the score tied 46-46, PHS had the last shot. Although Dequan Holman had an open look from three, it rimmed in and out. Into overtime they went.

In the overtime period, Notre Dame got the lead very quickly and never lost it. Although PHS cut it to 1, turnovers on offense, too many fouls and missed shots are why PHS lost. Notre Dame didn't help the PHS cause by making all of its free throws down the stretch.

DeQuan Holman was the high scorer for PHS with 14 points and added 7 assists and 5 rebounds. Both Skye Ettin and AJ Dowers scored 10 points and Brian Dunlap had 9.

PHS will take on Trenton Central High School this Friday, January 16, and Northern Burlington on Saturday, January 17. Also, the Lawrence game has been rescheduled to February 12 according to HighSchoolSports.net.

By Jamie Peretzman

Game against North Brunswick canceled.

Due to concerns about the weather, the game against North Brunswick scheduled for Saturday January 10 has been canceled. There is not as of this point a definitive date that the game will be made up. 

Game against Nottingham High School. PHS-79; NHS-42

Payback is sweet.

During the football season it was Nottingham running back Kendrick Williams who led his team to a victory over PHS. However, last night Princeton running back and starting guard Josh Gordon turned the tables. It is the 5'9" Williams who also makes the Nottingham basketball team go but last night he was held scoreless in the first half on his way to scoring only six points for the game as PHS continued its strong early season play with a 37 point rout of the visiting Northstars.

Nottingham was coming off a 2 point win against North Brunswick, the team that PHS plays on Saturday. PHS was coming off a win against Hopewell Valley, but it was Nottingham who left defeated.

PHS's defensive pressure was on display for all 32 minutes. The Little Tigers held Nottingham to only 16 first half points. But what made this game such an outstanding show of force was the fact that the only thing stronger than the defense, was the offense.

At the end of the first quarter, PHS led 20-11, at the end of the second quarter 36-16, and at the end of the third quarter expanded the lead to 62-26.

PHS was able to exploit the youth, inexperience and height advantage it had over Nottingham. The Northstars had match up problems from the opening tip-off with AJ Dowers at 6' 8'' and Skye Ettin at 6' 4" and a starting lineup with four starters six feet tall and under.

DeQuan Holman led the scoring with 18 points and kept up his tremendous defense with 6 steals. AJ Dowers, continuing his dominating streak scored 16 points and had 5 rebounds and Skye Ettin scored 11 points and grabbed 5 rebounds.

Although the foul shooting still needs some work, it appears as though PHS is right where it wants to be heading into a tough out of conference road game against North Brunswick on Saturday January 10 at 2:00.

Extra Notes: Steven Fuchs provided a spark coming off the bench and in the process scored his first points of the season. Everyone on the varsity team has now scored this season.

By Jamie Peretzman

Game against Hopewell Valley High School. PHS-69; HVHS-41

In their home opener, the Princeton High School Little Tigers gave their fans exactly what they wanted.

In an explosion of points and defensive prowess, PHS proved itself in a divisional match up. Everybody except one player on the team scored a basket and for the first time this year everyone on the team received playing time.

The game started out slowly for PHS, as it commonly has this year. In fact, Hopewell scored the first points. The first possession for PHS resulted in two missed lay-ups, but they never looked back from there. At the half PHS led by 12 points and at the end of the third quarter PHS led by 17.

Although Hopewell lost the game, they played hard. They dove for loose balls and it never seemed like they gave up even though they were down by many points. That being said, PHS played a very strong game.

The only facet of the game that it looks as though PHS needs to work on is its foul shooting. For the season, as a team, PHS is shooting an anemic 62% from the foul line.

DeQuan Holman once again led the scoring with 16 points and added 5 steals. Brian Dunlap dropped in 13 points with 6 assists and 2 rebounds and AJ Dowers, proving himself a strong post player, scored 14 points, all but 4 scored in the paint.

PHS sent a message to the defending CVC champion and the CVC as a whole; a message they will try and back up all season. It looks as though the win against William Allen was beneficial to the team as PHS looks to ride its momentum. PHS will host Nottingham High School on Thursday, January 8 at 6:00 and will travel to North Brunswick H.S. for an out of conference game on Saturday January 10 at 2:00.

Extra Notes: Marlowe Alter and Chris Bechler both scored their first varsity points on Tuesday, January 6. Alter ended up with 2 points and Bechler had 5.

By Jamie Peretzman