Riding a six game win streak into the Northern Section Division VII championship game last Saturday evening at Shasta College, the No. 2 Eagles could not solve the puzzle that has been the Loyalton Grizzlies. The Eagles fell 64-78 to their Pioneer League foe.
It was the third loss this season for Princeton at the hands of the No. 1 seeded Grizzlies, who dropped down to Division VII this year after competing in Division VI for much of the recent past.
In its second consecutive trip to the title game, the Eagles got another strong performance from its core group, which includes Junior Andrade, Tito Reynoso, Corwin Roberson, and Alex Medina, although it just wasn’t quite enough.
Andrade, the team’s scoring leader, finished with 20 points, Reynoso had the hot hand from three-point land, hitting six for a total of 18 points, while Roberson recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Playing in his final game for Princeton, Medina, one of just two seniors on the team, pulled down 10 boards and chipped in with seven points.
Prior to last Saturday’s contest, the Eagles survived a scare from No. 4 Happy Camp, a squad that perhaps Princeton underestimated at the outset and needed overtime to pull off the 78-73 victory.
Again, it was Andrade leading the way with a game-high 28 points, including four free throws to ice the game.
Medina tallied 16 points and eight rebounds, Reynoso buried five threes to finish with 15 points, while Roberson had 15 points and eight boards.
Also chipping in with some timely plays was senior Alessandro Sullivan, who in his final home game for the Eagles contributed four points and five rebounds.
Overall, it’s been another great season for Princeton (16-7), as Coach Jordan Dillard noted.
“This team was special as we have been at it for a while now,” Dillard said. “Chemistry was at an all-time high and the brand of basketball we played was exciting. This was the most versatile group of players I have ever coached. I also want to thank the school and community for all the support, as for two straight years we made it to the end. Basketball is back in Princeton.”
Although disappointed with the result of the championship game, the Eagles have much to look forward to next season.
Andrade is closing in on Princeton’s all-time scoring record and is set to eclipse his coach, Jordan Dillard’s scoring mark of 1,207 points, and then take aim at another former standout, Ben Wilkns’ milestone of 1,249.
Also coming back is Roberson, whose impressive athleticism should make him a force on both ends of the court, as is the sharp-shooting Reynoso.
If all goes as planned, look for the Eagles to fly high again in 2024.■
