PRINCETON — LaMar Brown has one directive for his team this weekend: just play basketball.
It harkens back to last year. Princeton delivered its best postseason run in nearly 20 years with a trip to the semi-state. That ended with a loss to Crispus Attucks in the morning game at Southport Fieldhouse. The result isn’t what Brown laments. It’s how his team performed.
“We showed a lot of nerves,” he said. “It almost felt like we were happy to be there but scared to compete.”
Princeton has the opportunity to write a different ending. The No. 2 Tigers face No. 3 Cathedral in the Class 3A semi-state at 11 a.m. CT on Saturday, March 21 at Lloyd E. Scott Gymnasium in Seymour. The field, which also includes No. 1 Silver Creek and No. 16 Roncalli, appears to be among the strongest left across any class in Indiana.
The group representing Princeton (officially 8-18 following an administration error in processing a transfer) isn’t a carbon copy from last year. Enough did return to let the disappointment simmer for a full calendar year. They still enter with something more to prove: a lot of eyes are possibly looking at the potential Silver Creek-Cathedral battle.
“We have to make sure we’re ready to play,” senior DeMarcus Newson said. “I feel like all four teams in the southern half are the best teams in the state. We know we have to go to war and go to bat with anybody who’s down there.”
The first challenge is by no means simple. Can Princeton knock out Cathedral?
The Fighting Irish (22-5) are rated seventh in Sagarin Ratings — the Tigers are 19th by comparison — with the second best statistical offense in Indiana. Detroit Mercy recruit Keaton Aldridge Jr. is among the stronger frontcourt players left in the tournament — 17.9 points, 7.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.4 steals per game.
Cathedral has additional options in senior Julien Smith (15.7 points) and junior Braylon Pippens (9.0 points). Seven different players average at least six points. That doesn’t include sophomore Jaxson Delaney, who dropped 20 against Bosse on Jan. 16.
“They’ve got decent size,” Brown said. “Pretty athletic. Aldridge is a load, kind of a like a bull in a china shop. I know they’ll want to get up tempo.”
What might be different this year? Princeton believes it is different.
Despite graduating five from last season, the Tigers are an older team with six upperclassmen in the rotation. Brown has stated numerous times this group is better offensively with four double-figure scorers. This was evident in the regional championship last weekend. Quintyn Voltz had a game-high 25 points but three others scored at least 11.
The team has more experience against this type of opponent too. Princeton pointed to both games against Bosse, Charlestown and Daviess County (Ky.) as the style of play required to win at this level.
“It’s just a louder basketball game,” senior Edwin Holmes said. “That’s all it really is. There’s more pressure on the game. At the end of the day, it’s basketball. We’ve handled the atmosphere, energy and taking punches better than we have all season in the past three weeks.”
The winner gets Silver Creek (28-1) or Roncalli (18-7) at 7 p.m. CT. Silver Creek is rated third in Sagarin with four double-figure scorers — Dane Caldwell averages 16.6 points and 8.3 rebounds, while Brandon Hunter totals 10.6 assists per game. Roncalli, which upset No. 4 Northview in the regional, is led by senior Conner Kesler at 14.0 points.
The final step for Princeton is arguably the toughest considering the quality of the field. The program has only reached the state finals three times — only the 2009 team won it all. Time for this group to prove it belongs in that conversation.
“This group has a different level of confidence,” Brown said. “Last year was happy to be there. This group has a belief that they can go win this thing.”
Kyle Sokeland is a sports reporter for the Courier & Press. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @kylesokeland or email at kyle.sokeland@courierpress.com.
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Can Princeton basketball take its tournament run one step further this year?
Reporting by Kyle Sokeland, Evansville Courier & Press / Evansville Courier & Press
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