BLUE BLOOD: Princeton High boys’ basketball player Zahrion Blue dribbles the ball up the court in recent action. Last Monday, senior star Blue scored 26 points in a losing cause as 10th-seeded PHS fell 78-50 to second-seeded Nottingham in the quarterfinals of the Mercer County Tournament. The Little Tigers, now 11-12, host Hillsborough on February 23 and play at Wall on February 25 before starting action in the Central Jersey Group 4 sectional where they are seeded 13th and will play at 4th-seeded Marlboro in an opening round contest on February 27. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Getting routed 85-42 by Notre Dame in its regular season finale last Wednesday wouldn’t seem to be the ideal way for the Princeton High boys’ basketball team to get ready for postseason play.

Yet PHS head coach Patrick Noone saw progress, notwithstanding the lopsided defeat.

“We had a good second quarter. At one time, we were down 18 or 19 there and we got it back down to 11,” said Noone, whose team trailed 35-24 at the half.

“We had an opportunity to get it down to seven. The last time we played them (a 92-49 loss on February 6), I think we were down four or five with two minutes left in the first half against them and we ended up being down 16. We closed out a quarter and half tonight so that was good.”

Two days later, PHS produced a very good effort to start the Mercer County Tournament as the 10th-seeded Little Tigers edged seventh-seeded Princeton Day School 53-47 in an opening round contest, posting its fourth win in six games in moving to 11-11.

“These guys have really bought into what we are doing,” said Noone, who got 24 points from senior star Zahrion Blue in the win over the crosstown rival.

“They are just playing extremely hard and they are making plays when we need them. Our goal was to come in here with double digit wins; we have reached that.”

While PHS fell 78-50 to second-seeded Nottingham on Monday in the MCT quarterfinals, Noone believes his team can do some damage in the upcoming state tournament.

“These guys have done a good job of sticking together and they are ready to go,” said Noone, whose team hosts Hillsborough on February 23 and plays at Wall on February 25 before starting action in the Central Jersey Group 4 sectional where the Little Tigers are seeded 13th and will play at 4th-seeded Marlboro in an opening round contest on February 27.

“It is a matter of doing some more scoring. If we make shots we get a lot of energy. If other guys make shots besides Zahrion, guys get excited and we get going.”