By Gavin Ems
TRENTON – Friday night saw a tough and gritty game of basketball between Princeton High and Trenton Central, with Princeton coming out on top in the end. The game opened with early intensity from both teams, Princeton displaying tough perimeter defense and Trenton grabbing rebounds on offense and defense.
Princeton took an early lead with baskets from Jahan Owusu but would soon find themselves trailing after an 8-0 run by Trenton late in the first quarter, with points from Qadir Dixon, Juan Sanchez, and Thoman Munoz. The first quarter of basketball ended 16-9 with the Tornadoes in the lead.
The second quarter opened with yet another basket from Dixon, but Princeton’s Jihad-Jasiri Wilder would get a bucket to end Trenton’s scoring run. Both teams struggled with turnovers this quarter and had trouble getting momentum going as possession would be lost as quickly as it was received. This changed after Wilder drew a foul midway through the second quarter, but not before his shot sank through the net. He cashed-in on the and one, providing the Tigers with some momentum to get things going. A three-point ball by Princeton’s Michael Bess cut Trenton’s lead to just three points, but Dixon scored to further increase Trenton’s lead. At the end of the quarter, a putback layup by Remmick Granozio helped to inch closer to Trenton, the quarter ending 26-29 Trenton in the lead.
Third quarter action started off with a Princeton bucket from Franklin McLaughlin, Juan Sanchez responding the next play with a basket for Trenton. However, this would be the only basket Trenton would score in the whole quarter. A three pointer from Owusu gave Princeton their first lead over Trenton since the first quarter, 33-31. Trouble started to brew for the Tornadoes, as turnovers lead to even more Princeton points being scored. By the time the quarter ended, Princeton was in the lead 45-31, outscoring Trenton in the third quarter 19-2.
Trenton’s Aivaye Ingram scored to open the fourth quarter and to end Trenton’s scoring drought. Juan Sanchez capitalized on this momentum, scoring a couple of baskets to cut Princeton’s lead to just eight points. Trenton started to play tougher and harder defense during this quarter, with a half court steal from Ingram resulted in a basket to close in on Princeton even further and decrease their lead to just four points with two and a half minutes left to play. Princeton was forced to call a timeout to recollect themselves.
The crowd at TCHS were certainly excited for their team, the cheers and chants coming from the crowd were deafening. They have every right to be excited, as Trenton is in a rebuilding phase, with a record of 2-6. Princeton has been playing high level basketball this year, with a record of 4-2, so the Tornadoes knew they had a tough opponent, and the crowd did as well.
After the game resumed, Princeton started to run away with the game, Wilder scoring two free throws and Owusu scoring a basket down low to increase Princeton’s lead to 8 towards the final minute of the game. The final score of the game was 48-54. Princeton adds a win to their record to improve to 5-2, and increase their winning streak to 3, as they beat North Hunterdon and Hightstown their last two games. As for Trenton, they played their hearts out and gave it their all. They dominated the first quarter, struggled in the third, but really played hard in the fourth and started to make an impressive comeback. They will add another loss to their record, which will worsen to 2-7.
