Prophetstown – Princeton coach Jason Smith last month asked his tigers basketball team to tell his tigers basketball team that it was time to stamp his own on the program.
He just did this, defeating an upstart Morrison Mustangs team 57-55 to the Class 2A Prophetown Regional Championship on Friday night, Tigers Third Straight Regional Crown.
“About a month, a month ago, we had a small team meeting, just me and the boys and we talked about leaving their footprints at the event. Our own legacy, “Smith said. “Don’t worry about what the last year’s team did. Was worried about what this year’s team did. And since then, they are coming together, gallling well in practice. Talking and high-ferving. To be there for each other. And I can not be any proud as the coach of this team right now.”
“After losing those three studs last year, no one thought we would come back, but here we are,” PHS Junior Noah Lapayo said about Al-Stators Tegan Davis and Gradi Thompson with Colten Monroe.
No. 4 Seeded Tigers (16–15) Mandota Sectional moved forward to face 2 seed Rockford Christian (20-7) at 7 pm on Tuesday evening. Royal Lions defeated Crossstown rival number 3 Rockford Luthern 75-55 to repeated as a regional champion in Vinabago.
This is the third time Princeton has a 3-beat as a regional champion, which includes four-range of four directly from 1992–95 and four again from 2009-11.
Morrison (13–17) increased the 30-23 halftime deficit by excluding the tigers by 18–8 to close the third quarter to take a six-point lead.
Daeshaun Mcqueen bounced a 3-pointer over the top and a trimmed pair to give Mustangs a 44–38 lead at the end of the quarter.
Laparte brought the tigers with a putback, a 3-popinner and a drive with a 6:00 balance.
Mcquin scored on a drive and Carson hit the 3-pointer to bring the Mustangs back from five, only the tigers responded to the game to tie the game on a drive by Laport at 50-50 and to play a 3-point play by Corte Lawson with 2:43.
Mustangs received their last lead on 53-52 on 1-2-free throw by Chess Pneumon with 1:21 remaining.
Laporte was fouled on a drive and both were cash in free throw to give the tigers a 54-53 lead with 52.5 to play. Laparte made a theft, making a wide-fetched look by Daniel Susa to 56-53.
For Mcqueen Mustangs again grew up with a circle, which cut it up to 56–55 with just 16.4.
Tigers missed two free throw, but Morrison Center Brendon Martin came down with a reversal and called for traveling.
Jordan Renhardt made 1 out of 2 free throw at 57-55 for the final score of the game.
“We knew that they were not going to give up. He got an edge and we shot back in the fourth quarter and finished the game, ”Laparte said. “Just trust each other, to get suggestions on defense. Defense is a pioneer for crime and it just rides a bicycle. ,
“They are flexible throughout the year. We had a difficult program and fight and these people do not have just one behind. I cannot have any proud of each of them, ”Smith said. “Man, what’s the game.” Salute to Morrison. They are physical and athletic. Very good. It was just fun to be a part of this game. ,
“Morrison fans brought it. Princeton’s fans brought it and it was a great atmosphere. It was very loud it could never hear yourself. ,
Morrison’s coach Mark Ernst said that Mustangs gave it its best shot this week, which included 73–66 on top seeded rock falls in Tuesday’s semi-finals, playing without a starter dawn hepler, who was out with flu.
“He is one of our best defenders and we could use it tonight. He wanted to come back, but could not only get rid of fever, ”the Arnst said.
Apart from his team, Ernst said “not many people,” would have given Mustangs a chance to defeat Rock Falls and make it in the finals.
“Tuesday was our best game throughout the year. We did not shoot tonight as we did on Tuesday and it was also unfortunate, ”he said. “You have your own high and climb. Someone has to lose. Unfortunately, it was tonight. ,
Laporte led the tigers with 24 points as it closed at a 1,000 -point career mark. SousA had 10 points while senior reserves Landen Koning and Lawson added seven to each.
Mcquin matched the 24 -points of Lapore for Mustangs, while Strating and Martin added 10 each.
Mustangs quickly came out of Gates, taking a 10–1 lead with nine points by Macquin. He scored the last seven points of the quarter to go above 17-6.
“A magnificent start left for a brilliant start and unfortunately, in the second quarter we made it too much,” Ernst said. “Even though we came back after that, it killed our leadership. If we had done better in the second quarter, we would not have been in this problem. ,
Tiger left his first lead of the night in a second quarter with 3:16 on a pair of free throw by Sosa at 21-20. He dropped Mustangs from 11–3 and took a 30–23 lead over half.
