Princeton - KIPP boys

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on December 21, 2010 1:47 PM

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PRINCETON -- Even perfection needs perfecting sometimes.

Unbeaten Princeton overcame a season-high 29 turnovers and several defensive lapses in an 80-58 rout of KIPP Pride on opening day of the 2010 Princeton Holiday Classic.

The Bulldogs (10-0 overall) oppose county rival South Johnston in the championship game today at 8 p.m. The Panthers, of the Tar-Roanoke 1-A Conference, battle Spring Creek for third-place honors at 5 p.m.

Senior center Ben Jacobs recorded his 10th consecutive double-double -- 30 points, 24 rebounds -- of the season for Princeton. Frontcourt mate Justin Foy just missed a double-double with 10 points and eight rebounds.

Floor general C.J. Jeffreys provided 10 points, eight assists and four rebounds.

"I'm pleased we won, and that was nice," said Princeton head coach Jeff Davis. "I hate to sound like a whiner. We scored 80 points, but we really did play poorly. We hadn't played since last Tuesday and you could tell we were rusty.

"We've only had more than 13 turnovers in one game this year and we had 16 at halftime (tonight). I was really disappointed in that and honestly, I was a little disappointed with our defense in the fourth quarter, even with the starters in there."

The Panthers' Terrance Rogers tied the game at 2-2 with a short jumper, and the Bulldogs answered with a 15-0 run. Jacobs, Foy, Wes Wood and Anthony Martin contributed to the offensive surge which sucked the life out of KIPP.

Princeton led 21-6 after one quarter and built as much as a 20-point lead before halftime. KIPP climbed to within 33-18 at intermission, but could get no closer.

The Panthers (2-3) forced eighth fourth-quarter turnovers and converted half of the miscues into points. The visitors also collected a few offensive rebounds that led to second-chance scoring opportunities at the free throw line.

Rogers and Zach Epps led KIPP with 18 and 16 points, respectively.

"I know I'm being picky. We have to play better than that," said Davis. "That team was physical and athletic. We can't make those mistakes against Goldsboro and Ayden-Grifton, and expect to be successful.

"Martin played just about the whole ballgame and did a really good job. I thought C.J. played well and obviously Ben played well. Wes had some foul trouble and we managed to get through it.