Playing eight games in a 14-day span, including four last week, took a toll on the Princeton Eagles, who, despite picking up Pioneer League wins over Westwood and Greenville, dropped games to Paradise Adventist Academy and Loyalton.
Traveling to Westwood on Jan. 30, Princeton demolished the Lumberjacks 87-44 behind a 46-point outburst from scoring leader Junior Andrade and a double-double from Alex Medina that included 14 points and 12 rebounds.
Yet, according to Coach Jordan Dillard, the game saw an impressive effort from the defense, which he described as “very active” in posting a league high 15 steals in the contest.
Returning home the following evening, the Eagles came up short against a surging Paradise Adventist Academy team, 63-69.
Andrade finished with 34 points while Medina added a dozen, but Princeton didn’t have enough gas in the tank and fell to the Cougars.
Last Thursday marked a rematch with visiting Loyalton, a team that the Eagles had previously lost to 43-74 on Jan. 3.
Although Princeton kept within striking distance in the first half, the Grizzlies dominated the boards and used their physicality to overwhelm Princeton 78-55.
Three Eagles ended the game in double figures with Andrade, Medina, and Tito Reynoso going for 19, 13, and 12 points, respectively.
To close out the week, Princeton bounced back nicely with a 72-62 homecoming victory over Greenville, avenging a loss they suffered in a wild game on Jan. 26.
Dillard said his squad came out strong and never looked back in a complete team win that helped rebuild the Eagles confidence with the playoffs looming just around the corner.
Once again, Andrade led the way, pouring in 39 points in addition to handing out seven assists.
Medina finished a rebound short of a double-double with 18 points and nine rebounds, while Reynoso pitched in with 14 points.
Princeton (11-6, 5-4) completed its regular season early this week having hosted Westwood on Monday and Elk Creek on Tuesday before hitting the road to face Paradise Adventist on Wednesday. ■