PRINCETON —
On paper, Princeton had a clear advantage over St. Albans. The Tigers had the edge in experience and size, but the Red Dragons weren’t going down without a fight.
Every time Princeton started to pull away, St. Albans would battle back. It wasn’t until the fourth quarter that the Tigers found their groove for a 72-56 victory on Wednesday night at Princeton Senior High School.
“We’re not as crisp as we were at the beginning of the year,” Princeton head coach Ernie Gilliard said. “We made a lot of mistakes defensively. We weren’t patient enough to run our sets that we should be offensively.
“We had prepared for box-in-one defense and things of that nature, and the kids just kind of lost their composure. They didn’t stick with the game plan.”
Princeton (10-2) led the entire game, but the Dragons (4-6) closed within 1-point near the end of third quarter until a buzzer-beater by Ryan Meadows made it 49-45. St. Albans cut it within four several times thereafter, but the Tigers were able to seal the game late.
“I thought we played real well,” St. Albans head coach Marshall Kiser said. “I thought our defense had them confused most of the game. We jumped in and out of four different defenses. The Meadows kid is really, really good.
“He’s good off the catch and shoot, he’s good of the dribble and he sees the floor well. We had some kids shoot the ball well and keep us in the game. We played well up until the final quarter. I think we just got tired and Princeton stepped up.”
Meadows had a game-high 24 points including a three-quarter court buzzer--beater that rattled in as the horn sounded. The senior standout seemed to have the perfect answer every time the Dragons found their rhythm.
“Ryan is pretty steady. I wish everyone on the team would work as hard as he works,” Gilliard said. “I’m not sure what his rebound total was, but he did a heck of job getting some rebounds and eliminating them from getting second shot opportunities.”
St. Albans kept it close as they answered Princeton shot for shot to begin the third. They answered a fastbreak by Meadows and three by Walters with a three from Ryan Broderick. A McNeil drive and Watkins score made it 46-45 with seconds remaining.
“It was nice to see that,” Kiser said of his team battling back. “We’ve got some kids that can shoot the ball pretty well. We played a lot of guys tonight.”
Walters finished with 18 points and Ferguson had 11. Eight different players scored for Princeton.
McNeil’s 17 points paced the Dragons. He was their only player in double figures.
Princeton hosts George Washington on Friday while St. Albans visits Spring Valley.
ST. ALBANS (4-6)
Broderick 5, Clark 5, Young 6, Beck 4, Carter 4, Watkins 6, Nathan McNeil 17, Aliff 0, Moss 9. Totals 22 8-16 56.
PRINCETON (10-2)
Lee 0, Ryan Meadows 24, Jennelle 2, Rogers 2, McPherson 0, Clements 8, Hunter Walters 18, Caron 6, Aaron Ferguson 11, Mills 1. Totals 27 14-17 72.
St. Albans.......................10 21 14 11 – 56
Princeton.........................14 23 12 23 – 72
3-point field goals: SA 5 (Young 2, Broderick, McNeil), PRI 4 (Walters 3, Meadows). Fouled out- none. JV- Princeton won 76-42
Today's Sports Front
Related Photos
-
Princeton’s Kyle Caron goes to the basket for two of his six points in Wednesday’s win over St. Albans. Jon Bolt
Princeton boys hold off St. Albans for 10th win
- Today's Sports Front
-
-
A dream start, nightmare end
Lightning on the horizon brought Wednesday's final game of the state softball tournament to an end.
The James Monroe Lady Mavericks had felt a shock long before that. -
One step away from Charleston
A trip to Charleston — with a lot more on the agenda than a tour of the capitol building and a shopping spree at Charleston Town Center — will be up for grabs tonight for three area teams that are one win away from punching their ticket to the WVSSAC State Baseball Tournament at Appalachian Power Park.
-
Tanner is Summers County coach
After weeks of controversy, it appears Summers County High School officially has a new football coach.
-
WVU baseball changes up pitching lineup for Big 12 Championship
Randy Mazey’s attention has been on everything but baseball in recent days, as the West Virginia University coach has been out in front of his team’s effort to help the tornado victims in Oklahoma, where his team has been this week preparing for the Big 12 Baseball Championships, which begin today at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City, Okla.
-
Woodrow downs defending AAA champs
It’s a play that Woodrow Wilson has practiced everyday this season and has rarely had to utilize.
It’s a good thing the Flying Eagles did practice it; it saved their season and led to a 2-1 victory over defending state champion Princeton. -
No repeat for Warriors
Independence has been on a tear offensively the entire month of May. It didn’t stop Tuesday, even against Wyoming East ace Derek Thornton.
The Patriots led 5-0 after two innings, and Brian Sexton — backed by that very offense and some sparkling defense — gutted out a complete game in a 7-5 win in the Class AA Region 3 semifinals Tuesday night. -
’Hounds hold off upset bid from Man Hillbillies
Valley’s potent offense never came to life, but the Greyhounds are still alive.
Valley (22-7) — with several players hitting .400 or better this season — could muster just three singles against underdog Man (6-20-1) in one of two Class A Region 3 baseball semifinals Tuesday, but the ’Hounds manufactured two runs in the crucial fifth inning to finally go ahead of the stubborn Hillbillies and escape with a 3-2 victory. -
WVU baseball team helps tornado victims
West Virginia University head baseball coach Randy Mazey was having lunch at an Oklahoma City restaurant Monday afternoon, keeping a close watch on the television set.
With every passing minute, the tornado that devastated the Oklahoma town of Moore, was moving closer and closer to his location and its path was being documented by a local television station. At one point, the coach even looked out the window to see if he could see the approaching funnel. -
Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship Format Changed
In the wake of this week’s devastating storm in the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore, the Big 12 Conference is postponing the start of the 2013 Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship. No. 3 seeded WVU scheduled to take on Kansas at 4 p.m. (Central) on Thursday.
-
Patriots, Warriors meet in anticipated matchup
The matchup many people expected will take place today.
- More Today's Sports Front Headlines
-
Johnson: Don't Blame Islam or UK Policy
Raw: 80-Year-Old Climbs Mount Everest
Wash. State Man Arrested Following Ricin Scare
Chain-Reaction School Bus Crash Injures About 50
Raw: Scuffles in London After Hacking Death
Texas Students Coach Teachers on Fitness
New Forecasting Tool Eyed for Hurricane Season
Meet MJ, the Bike Riding Tabby Cat
Britain Attack Believed Linked to Radical Islam
Raw: Kevin Durant Tours Moore After $1M Pledge
Man Shot While Questioned in Boston Probe
Weiner Launches Bid to Become NYC Mayor
Okla. Teens Get Video of Deadly Tornado Overhead
School Storm Protection Spotty in Tornado Zones
9-year-old Tornado Victim Loved Family, Singing
Moore Native Toby Keith Tours Tornado Damage
Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage
Raw: Aftermath of Deadly Attack in London
Paperless Scanner, Vision of the Future
