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HOLDING ON

Dec 26, 2019 | Basketball, Sports & Recreation

Princeton Survives Hamilton’s Second Half Rally, Wins 52-49

Photo Courtesy of Terri Wilson Kelly
Preston Thomas dunks the ball home during the Tigers’ 52-49 win over Hamilton on Monday at NCMC’s Holiday Hoops in Trenton. Thomas led Princeton with 18 points in the victory.

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The Hamilton Hornets made one last run at the Princeton High School boys basketball team on Monday at North Central Missouri College’s Holiday Hoops. The Tigers, however, had just enough left in the tank to fend off the rally and hang on for a 52-49 victory to close out the fifth day of the event.
The Tigers and Hornets went back-and-forth over the initial eight minutes, but the Tigers used a 15-6 second quarter to grab a 10-point advantage at the break.
Princeton would more than double its first half total in the second half, but the Hamilton offense caught fire and the Tigers’ lead began to dwindle in the fourth quarter. The Hornets’ charge was stopped just short, however, as the Tigers held on for the three-point victory.
“We struggled offensively, but came out and played solid defense holding (Hamilton) to 15 points in the first half – all scored by one player,” Princeton coach Damon Collins said. “We had a good first half to the season and are eager to get back on the court in January.”
Preston Thomas led the Tigers with 18 points and Colton Estes finished with 14. Austin Kelly reached double figures as well, scoring 10 points and Zeb Schwartzkopf added six. Owen Schreffler rounded out the Princeton total with four points.
Hamilton’s Ryan Cook led all scorers in the game with 24 points while Kevin Williams added 11 to the Hornet cause.
It was the second time in four days that Princeton escaped with a close win. The Tigers defeated Gallatin at home on Friday by a single point, 48-47.
The two slim wins gives the Tigers a three-game winning streak and pushes them to 7-2 overall on the season. The win over Gallatin gave the Tigers a 2-0 mark within the Grand River Conference.
HAMILTON GIRLS 58
PRINCETON GIRLS 25

Photo Courtesy of Terri Wilson Kelly
Lauren Krohn dribbles to a screen being set by Makenzie Dunkin (25) during Princeton’s 58-25 loss to Hamilton on Monday at NCMC’s Holiday Hoops.

The Princeton girls were unable to stop Hamilton’s duo of Nora Ford and Graycen Prothero. Ford had 16 and Prothero added 13, more than enough to stop Princeton on this night.
The Tigers were led by Jasmine Allen, who had nine points, and Lindsey Batson, who had seven.
With the loss, the Princeton girls dropped to 4-4 overall on the season.
Both Princeton squads return to action on Friday, Jan. 10, traveling to South Harrison for Grand River Conference action. The girls tip off at 6 p.m. with the boys to follow.