Tigers top Elmwood in opener

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Princeton senior Reid Clary tries a wrap-around pass by Elmwood’s Isaac Ramsay in first-half action of Monday’s opening game of the Wethersfield Invitational. The Tigers won 64-52. (BCR photo/Mike Vaughn)

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KEWANEE — Princeton started their 2009 basketball campaign on the right foot, topping Elmwood 64-52 Monday night to open up play at the Wally Keller Invitational hosted by Wethersfield High School.

The Tigers came out of the gates strong, using full-court defensive pressure to set the tone early, as they jumped out to a 11-2 advantage after only two minutes of action.

“I thought we came out and got after it,” said Princeton coach Jesse Brandt. “We got a couple steals right away...It was good to come out of the locker room ready.”

“We were pressing them, getting them to turn it over, and get (us) some touches on the ball. That’s our goal this season, get touches and deflections and cause turnovers for scoring opportunities,” said Princeton senior center Ryne Vrana, who finished with nine points on the evening.

Elmwood was able to regain some composure after the opening defensive barrage, and finished the first frame trailing by eight, 22-14, behind seven points in the quarter from senior Andrew Huber.

Princeton managed to extend their advantage to 12, 38-26, behind six second-quarter points from senior guard Michael Murray.

The Tigers revisited their blitzing defensive form at the opening of the second half, with Murray snatching up a quick pair of steals to help Princeton outscore Elmwood 6-2 in the first 50 seconds of the third quarter, increasing the Tiger lead to 16, 44-28.

Elmwood coach Chuck Vermillion said that Princeton’s tough defensive pressure to open both halves set the tone for the Tigers’ victory.

“I think that was huge, at the beginning of the second half as well they came out with the same kind of intensity. I think we withstood it better in the first half than we did in the second half, although the score might not indicate that,” said Vermillion.

The Trojans outscored a Princeton squad comprised mostly of reserves 19-9 in the final frame to give the game a deceptively close final score of 64-52.

Murray was the Tigers’ leading scorer with 14 points including three treys, 11 of his tallies came in the first half. Princeton spread their scoring out well with Reid Clary adding 11, Scott Roseberg 10, and Vrana 9, as the Tigers received most of the scoring from close to the basket.

“We are definitely deep this year, we have a lot of options scoring,” said Vrana. “We rotate the ball around and get the best shot for our offense.”

Elmwood senior Andrew Huber was the high scorer for the game with 18 points, teammate Isaac Ramsay tallied 10, and Nick Almasi added nine for the Trojans (0-1).

Vermillion was impressed with what he saw from the Tigers.

“They played really well,” said Vermillion. “They’ve got the total package, they’ve got shooters, they’ve got size. That’s a very good team, so I can’t be disappointed with how we played.”

Notes: All 15 active players on the PHS roster saw playing time in the win, with 10 players scoring. Gone was last year’s hockey style line change of five players. ... Senior Brock Schmidt and junior Jake Biddix were in street clothes, Brandt said that Biddix was returning from illness, and would not comment on Schmidt’s situation other than to say the guard would not be dressing “for a while,” and that he would be welcomed back when he returned to the active fold...Both teams had an off night at the charity stripe, with Princeton making 11 of 19 and Elmwood finishing 7-16.

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