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Columns and More
from the guy behind
the website ...
from the guy behind
the website ...
Princeton Bounces Back To Beat
Byron
Byron
Princeton wins 48-35 to give Byron its second straight loss ...
By Rick Nausner
Northern Illinois Sports Beat Contributor
PRINCETON (Jan. 26) – Princeton hosted non-conference opponent Byron after
coming off its first loss of the season on Saturday to IVC. This was a big game for both
teams, as Byron lost its last time out against unbeaten Winnebago.
Princeton held Byron to two buckets in the fourth quarter and won 48-35, sending
Byron to its first two-game losing streak of the season.
Princeton (17-1) started the game on a 4-0 run on two baskets from senior Ryne
Vrana. Byron (12-5) then set the pace to its liking, taking the air out of the ball. Justin
Rosecke and Hunter Hill each hit threes to put Byron up 6-4 with 2:20 left in the first
quarter. The teams exchanged a couple of baskets with Byron taking a 10-8 first
quarter lead.
Byron once again played the game at the pace they wanted for the entire second
quarter, much to Princeton's dismay. Byron led 12-9 with 3:50 left in the second quarter
before Vrana made a steal and went up to try to posterize Byron's Adam Head, who
then fouled Vrana hard, forcing a missed dunk attempt. Vrana went to the line and
knocked down both free throws to put Princeton within one. On the ensuing possession,
Head knocked down a huge three-pointer to put Byron up 15-11 with 3:15 left in the
second quarter. That would be the last time Byron would score in the quarter as
Princeton stepped up its defense and went on a 6-0 run with consecutive buckets from
Micheal Murray, Scott Rosberg and Vrana to close out the half up 17-15.
Byron came out in the third quarter with more urgency on offense. They went on a 7-0
run with buckets from Connor Bernhard and Head, with a no look pass from Rosecke to
Bernhard giving Byron its biggest lead of the game at 22-17 with 6:15 remaining in the
third quarter. The scrappy Princeton defense came back with a 7-0 run of its own with
seven straight points by Rosberg. His last points came on a slashing drive to the basket
where he made it, was fouled, and connected on the free throw to put Princeton ahead
24-22. The teams went back and forth the rest of the quarter, ending with a Bernhard
clutch drive to the rim to tie the game at 28-28 with one second left in the third quarter.
Princeton's deep bench started to wear on the shorter bench of Byron's in the fourth
quarter. Princeton went on an 8-1 run to take the biggest lead of the game for either
team at 36-29. The run was capped off on a game-changing play after Princeton was
up 34-29. Head looked to have an uncontested layup, but Murray came flying across
the lane rejecting the shot to the top of the key. Murray then converted on a jumper to
put Princeton up 36-29. Nate Anderson made two free throws for Byron in the fourth
quarter with 1:43 left to bring Byron to within five at 36-31.
That deficit would be as close as Byron would get. Princeton pulled away and showed
great poise, knocking down free throw after free throw: finishing 18-for-20 from the line.
Byron, on the other hand, was smothered by Princeton's defense, whose intensity was
remarkable in the fourth quarter. Byron scored its first bucket with six seconds
remaining in the fourth on a Rosecke three-pointer.
Murray led Princeton with fifteen points and six rebounds. Asked what the key was to
Princeton winning the game, Murray responded, “Defense, and keep playing as a team
because we haven't been doing that as of late.”
Princeton coach Jesse Brandt, when asked what Princeton's goals for the rest of the
season are, responded, “To win the conference title for the first time since 1996.”
As for Princeton's goals for the playoffs, Brandt pointed to a sign hanging in the gym.
“To put 2010 in every one of those five spots.”
The five spots on the sign are “Conference Champs,” “Regional Champs,” “Sectional
Champs,” and “State Champs.”
Rick Nausner is a Northern Illinois Sports Beat contributor. He can be reached in care
of NISB at Northernillinoissportsbeat@yahoo.com.
Northern Illinois Sports Beat Contributor
PRINCETON (Jan. 26) – Princeton hosted non-conference opponent Byron after
coming off its first loss of the season on Saturday to IVC. This was a big game for both
teams, as Byron lost its last time out against unbeaten Winnebago.
Princeton held Byron to two buckets in the fourth quarter and won 48-35, sending
Byron to its first two-game losing streak of the season.
Princeton (17-1) started the game on a 4-0 run on two baskets from senior Ryne
Vrana. Byron (12-5) then set the pace to its liking, taking the air out of the ball. Justin
Rosecke and Hunter Hill each hit threes to put Byron up 6-4 with 2:20 left in the first
quarter. The teams exchanged a couple of baskets with Byron taking a 10-8 first
quarter lead.
Byron once again played the game at the pace they wanted for the entire second
quarter, much to Princeton's dismay. Byron led 12-9 with 3:50 left in the second quarter
before Vrana made a steal and went up to try to posterize Byron's Adam Head, who
then fouled Vrana hard, forcing a missed dunk attempt. Vrana went to the line and
knocked down both free throws to put Princeton within one. On the ensuing possession,
Head knocked down a huge three-pointer to put Byron up 15-11 with 3:15 left in the
second quarter. That would be the last time Byron would score in the quarter as
Princeton stepped up its defense and went on a 6-0 run with consecutive buckets from
Micheal Murray, Scott Rosberg and Vrana to close out the half up 17-15.
Byron came out in the third quarter with more urgency on offense. They went on a 7-0
run with buckets from Connor Bernhard and Head, with a no look pass from Rosecke to
Bernhard giving Byron its biggest lead of the game at 22-17 with 6:15 remaining in the
third quarter. The scrappy Princeton defense came back with a 7-0 run of its own with
seven straight points by Rosberg. His last points came on a slashing drive to the basket
where he made it, was fouled, and connected on the free throw to put Princeton ahead
24-22. The teams went back and forth the rest of the quarter, ending with a Bernhard
clutch drive to the rim to tie the game at 28-28 with one second left in the third quarter.
Princeton's deep bench started to wear on the shorter bench of Byron's in the fourth
quarter. Princeton went on an 8-1 run to take the biggest lead of the game for either
team at 36-29. The run was capped off on a game-changing play after Princeton was
up 34-29. Head looked to have an uncontested layup, but Murray came flying across
the lane rejecting the shot to the top of the key. Murray then converted on a jumper to
put Princeton up 36-29. Nate Anderson made two free throws for Byron in the fourth
quarter with 1:43 left to bring Byron to within five at 36-31.
That deficit would be as close as Byron would get. Princeton pulled away and showed
great poise, knocking down free throw after free throw: finishing 18-for-20 from the line.
Byron, on the other hand, was smothered by Princeton's defense, whose intensity was
remarkable in the fourth quarter. Byron scored its first bucket with six seconds
remaining in the fourth on a Rosecke three-pointer.
Murray led Princeton with fifteen points and six rebounds. Asked what the key was to
Princeton winning the game, Murray responded, “Defense, and keep playing as a team
because we haven't been doing that as of late.”
Princeton coach Jesse Brandt, when asked what Princeton's goals for the rest of the
season are, responded, “To win the conference title for the first time since 1996.”
As for Princeton's goals for the playoffs, Brandt pointed to a sign hanging in the gym.
“To put 2010 in every one of those five spots.”
The five spots on the sign are “Conference Champs,” “Regional Champs,” “Sectional
Champs,” and “State Champs.”
Rick Nausner is a Northern Illinois Sports Beat contributor. He can be reached in care
of NISB at Northernillinoissportsbeat@yahoo.com.
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