INSIDE STUFF: Ivy Inn’s Mark Aziz goes up for a lay-up earlier this season in the Princeton Recreation Department Summer Men’s Basketball League. Last Monday, Aziz scored a game-high 17 points to help Ivy Inn top SMB 49-37. In other games on Monday, the Clinton Kings edged Team TB 48-46 while University Radiology defeated Princeton Youth Sports 54-46 and the PA Blue Devils beat the Ballstars 64-42. Regular season play wraps up on July 18 with the playoffs beginning on July 23 at the Community Park courts. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Although Jesse Krasna is playing in just his second season with the PA Blue Devils in the Princeton Recreation Department Summer Men’s Basketball League, he has some deep bonds with his teammates.

“We have all been playing with each other since basically in the fourth grade,” said Krasna, a former Pennsbury High standout who is a rising junior guard for the Ursinus College (Pa.) men’s hoops team.

“John Ryan Wolff, Mike Fee, the Sibol boys [Zach and John] and me have all been playing together for a long time.”

The team’s chemistry was on display last Monday night as the Blue Devils overcame a shaky start against the Ballstars to pull away for a 68-42 win.

“We came out a little sloppy but the Ballstars really shot the ball well and moved the ball and played together so you have to give credit to them,” said Krasna, who had a team-high 17 points as the Blue Devils improved to 6-3 while former Princeton High star Matt Hoffman tallied 22 points for the Ballstars to lead all scorers.

“We got things going. I think we are at our best when we are running because we have a bunch of ballhandlers and everyone is really unselfish. It is the most fun when you can get out and run and play together.”

Krasna has a lot of fun sparking the team’s running game from the backcourt.

“John Ryan and I are both point guards,” said Krasna. “Sometimes he brings it up and runs the offense or I will bring the ball up and trigger it. It is really nice having both of us being able to do that because we are interchangeable.”

After producing a superb debut season last summer for the Blue Devils that saw him get named as league Newcomer of the Year, Krasna is thrilled to be competing again on the Community Park courts this summer.

“I love it; there is nothing like it,” asserted a smiling Krasna. “I can definitely see all of us sticking around and playing. Some of these guys are in their 40s or even in their 50s.”

Playing in the summer league also helps Krasna sharpen up for the college season.

“It gets us in great shape,” added the 6’0, 164-pound Krasna, who averaged 9.7 points and 5.1 rebounds a game as in his sophomore campaign and is joined by Ursinus teammate Kevin Janowski on the Blue Devils. “There are a ton of great teams in this league and it is right in our backyard.”

In Krasna’s view, the Blue Devils have what it takes to be in the mix for a championship in the league’s upcoming playoffs.

“If we come to play every night and play defense and our shots are falling we could make a run at it,” said Krasna.

“We got to the semis last year and we want to build on that. The top five teams are all very, very solid and anyone can beat anyone on a given night so that is why it is really important that you don’t take anyone lightly. It is good not going into the playoffs undefeated because you go in levelheaded and you know you have to bring it every night.”