BOYS' BASKETBALL: Princeton starts strong, can't finish off JK

By Ben Coley
Published in Sports on December 14, 2016 9:59 AM

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bcoley@newsargus.com

PRINCETON -- Princeton began Tuesday night's game like it was shot out of a circus cannon.

Drives to the hoop. Perimeter shots. Short-range floaters. All of it seemed to work against James Kenan.

That is until the Tigers used their suffocating full-court press.

James Kenan's length and athleticism pushed Princeton to an uncomfortable speed. The series of turnovers and fast-break points that followed led to the Bulldogs' 80-66 downfall in the team's Carolina 1-A Conference opener.

"It wasn't physical, we were mentally in a hurry," said Bulldogs' head coach Jeff Davis. "You could see it in our faces when we got the ball. You have to be able to play fast but keep your mind slowed down. We're still struggling with that."

After the Bulldogs took what appeared to be a commanding 16-5 lead in the opening quarter, the game flipped in the next frame.

The Tigers pressured the ball along the length of the court, and eventually seized a 25-24 edge with 5:31 left until halftime.

After that point, James Kenan never let go of the lead. The Tigers outscored Princeton 45-27 in the second and third quarters combined.

"Some of it was their athleticism and size," Davis said. "But some of it was standing there and watching the rebound. We would relax for a minute, and we wouldn't quite meet a pass, and they would take the ball from us. They got every loose ball and every offensive rebound."

Princeton turned the ball over 24 times and James Kenan grabbed 22 offensive rebounds.

Colby Sullivan led the Bulldogs with 26 points and 10 rebounds. Austin Sullivan added 17 points and Ryan Woodard chipped in 14. Four different Tigers scored in double figures. They were led by Darryl MCaster and Kamel Smith who scored 16 apiece.

Davis said his team shot the ball well, but added that his team isn't going to score 80 points.

He wants the Bulldogs to play at their own pace, and make crisp passes when hit with the full-court press.

"We got frustrated," Davis said. "You can't do that because that's what they want. They're trying to speed you up and get you frustrated. A lot of it is mental toughness. But hopefully that's going to get better."