Game 133: Princeton vs. Riverton (Boy's Basketball)

Princeton Tigers

Game 133
Princeton vs. Riverton (Boy's Basketball)
Riverton Shootout
(2/12/11)

I was greeted by another coach before the Princeton/Riverton game.  It was Merritt Burns, the former Annawan Braves head coach.  He is now an assistant at Beardstown.  We caught up with some Annawan chat, and filled me in on the Beardstown season.  His quote when he walked up..."You look better than I thought you would after all these games."  For those that follow the blog and count up the trips through the drive-thru's would probably say the same thing, LOL.

Another friend walked through, McDonough Voice Sports Editor Shelby Burget.  He was arriving to cover the Macomb Bombers game later in the night. 

Princeton Tigers Starting Lineup
Blair Bickett (5'11" Sr.)
Ben Schmidt (5'10" Sr.)
Michael Murray (6'1" Sr.)
David Sailer (5'11" Sr.)
Greg Musselman (6'2" Sr.)

Riverton Hawks Starting Lineup
Will Schneider (6'0" So.)
Spencer Pulliam (6'0" Sr.)
Alex Behrens (6'0" Sr.)
Matt Jagodzinski (5'8" Sr.)
Zach Yoggerst (6'3" Jr.)

This may be the most senior-laden starting lineup of the entire shootout.

Officials are: Denny Held, John Fahl, and Allen Poggenpohl.

Riverton jumped out to a 12-11 lead on their home floor after the first quarter.  The Hawks led 24-19 at halftime.  Both teams scored 15 points in the 3rd quarter.  The Hawks defense limited the Tigers to just 7 points in the 4th quarter, while scoring 15 points.  Riverton claimed the 54-41 win.

Zach Yoggerst scored a game-high 17 points.  The sophomore Will Schneider scored 13 points for the Hawks.  Spencer Pulliam was named Player of the Game, he scored 9 points.  David Sailer led Princeton with 14 points (9 in 3rd quarter).  Michael Murray finished with 13 points, and also registered 4 blocks.

Blair Bickett of Princeton is a cousin of former Bureau Valley head coach Brad Bickett, who starred for the Ohio Bulldogs team that took 2nd place in the 1986 Class A finals.