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Serving Princeton, Rosewood, Brogden, E. Johnston Co., W. Wayne Co., North Carolina Search past issues | CLASSIFIEDS | REAL ESTATE | HELP WANTED |
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ObituariesAnnie K. Ferrell, Jonathan C. Peedin, Sandra L. Williams, Maxine W. Sasser, Beatrice B. Williamson Headlines Langleys' empty nest now full of pecans Princeton considers annexation again Wrestling: Neal makes State championship history Basketball: Bulldogs' late start cuts tournament short • Princeton girls end season 11-6 • Eagles best North Duplin, take Ayden-Grifton loss Photos Movies There Will Be Blood
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Slow start ends Princeton's seasonBy Barry Merrill 27 February 2008 — Princeton started out ice cold Thursday night, and North Johnston came out on fire. By the time the Bulldogs recovered, it was too late and the Panthers sent PHS home early from the conference tournament dance with a 58-48 loss.
The Dawgs still drew a home game to start the state playoffs Tuesday, as they hosted Weldon. That game was to start at 7 p.m. Princeton Coach Jeff Davis can only hope to rally the troops in front of the home crowd Tuesday. After a loss to conference champ Ayden-Grifton at the Charger gym two weeks ago, they suffered a disappointing loss to Rosewood at home, and that was followed by the loss to NJ.
After building an impressive 17-5 record, Princeton has lost those last three games. Still, the loss to Ayden-Grifton was to be expected, and while Princeton had won the two previous meetings with North Johnston, both had been close wins. A third win against a good team is always difficult. Rosewood’s inside game had given Princeton trouble in their first meeting. In last Thursday’s match at Mount Olive College with North, you would have thought it was played at the North Pole the way Princeton came out. Hot shooting Ryan Daughtry couldn’t buy a basket as Princeton’s outside game was non-existent. Only Josh Barefoot was hitting, and his five points were all Princeton could muster in the first eight minutes.
Meanwhile the Panthers were filling up the bucket, hitting 3 three-pointers in the opening quarter, and cashing in for a 17-5 lead in the first eight minutes. Daughtry and Michael Radford started driving with the ball, picking up NJ fouls. They went to the free throw line twelve times in the second quarter, and hit on nine of them.
The confident Panthers on their end weren’t slowing down any, and they built a 37-18 halftime edge. Daughtry, Barefoot and Will Gainey each hit threes in the third quarter as Princeton began to rally as the Bulldogs got the lead down to single digits several times in the third and fourth quarter, but North would not be denied as they hit enough baskets down the stretch to secure the win. Daughtry ended the night with 23 points, while Barefoot had 15.
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TOP AREA JOBS Wayne Wilson News Leader
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