YOUTH IS SERVED: Lior Levy looks for an opening this past winter in action for the Princeton High boys’ basketball team. Last Monday, Levy scored a game-high 19 points to help previously winless Princeton Youth Sports (PYS) edge the PA Blue Devils 45-40 in the Princeton Recreation Department Summer Men’s Basketball League. PYS, which improved to 1-2 with the victory, got 13 points from Elliot Golden with Scott Bechler chipping in 9 points. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Lior Levy and the Princeton Youth Sports (PYS) team knew they faced a stern challenge when they took on the PA Blue Devils last Monday in the Recreation Department Summer Men’s Basketball League.

PYS, the Princeton High boys’ hoops team entry in the league, has not done well historically against the Blue Devils, a team stocked with Division III college players.

“The past few years I have been in the league, this team has killed us,” said Levy, a rising PHS senior.

But PYS, who entered the night at 0-2, did bring some extra confidence into the seeming mismatch with the 3-1 Blue Devils.

“We just went to a team camp last week at DeSales University (Pa.) and we were able to play together a little bit more,” said Levy. “I think the chemistry was just there tonight.”

The weekend work paid dividends in the early going as PYS rebounded from an early 10-2 deficit to take a 22-21 lead at halftime.

The 6’7 Levy played a critical role in the rally, pouring in 12 points, hitting from the outside and using his size in the paint.

“I have been playing a lot of basketball the last few weeks at different camps and the summer league and stuff,” said Levy.

“I think I am finally getting the hang of it and making a few more shots here and there.”

Levy dazzled the crowd on hand at the Community Park courts as he drained two sweet hook shots in his first-half barrage.

“I have been working on that,” said Levy, referring to the shot which he has honed with the help of his dad, Howard Levy, a former Princeton University hoops standout and assistant coach and the current head coach of the Mercer County Community College men’s team.

“It is a shot I always look for. It is one of my best shots I think. Tonight it was on I guess.”

In the second half, PYS withstood several runs from the Blue Devils to pull off the 45-40 stunner.

“I thought that was the best part of the game,” said Levy, who got plenty of help in the win as Elliot Golden scored 13 points and Scott Bechler added 9.

“The fact that we were able to take some of their pressure and keep moving forward even though we were knocked down a few times. It was a very good win.”

Levy knocked down two key free throws in the last minute to help clinch the victory.

“I have missed a few of those in the past so it was nice to just conquer the pressure,:” asserted a grinning Levy.

Other teams who came through under pressure last Monday included Team TB, a 52-25 winner over the Ballstars, and Winberie’s, a 43-35 victor over Ivy Inn as it remained undefeated on the summer.

In Levy’s view, playing against the seasoned players in the men’s league can only help the PHS squad when the winter rolls around.

“A lot of these players are playing college basketball or have played college basketball so it is good to get the competition,” said Levy. “The competition here is a lot better than some of the teams we’ll see later.”

Levy knows that he has to muscle up if he is going to excel against better competition.

“I am going to try to get stronger,” said Levy. “I am a little weak right now so I am going to get in the weight room.”

On Monday, however, Levy showed that his game has plenty of strengths.