TEEING IT UP: Nick Davidson unloads the ball in a game last year for LoyalTees in the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League. Last Monday, Davidson tallied 21 points to help LoyalTees defeat Princeton Supply 72-47 as it improved to 5-2. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

With its sights set on earning a fourth straight title in the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League, the LoyalTees squad has hit some bumps in the road this season.

The proud team lost 51-38 to Athlete Engineering Institute on June 24 and then fell 65-49 to Majeski Foundation last Friday evening.

But as LoyalTees got ready to hit the Community Park courts last Monday to face Princeton Supply, one of its veteran stars, Nick Davidson, was unfazed by the recent setbacks.

“Every loss we have had this season, we haven’t had our full roster or we have had guys coming late,” said Davidson.

On Monday, LoyalTees was missing some key players in Zahrion Blue and Vince Anfield, leading Davidson to assume a playmaking role.

“I tried to get the ball around and get everyone involved,” said Davidson. “I wanted TB (Terrance Bailey) to have a good game. We need a lot out of TB and he played great for us.”

LoyalTees also got a lot from Davidson as he scored 21 points to help the squad prevail 72-47 and improve to 5-2.

“Here and there I was just trying to assert myself where I can,” said Davidson, assessing his performance. “I was just attacking where I know I can attack if we are having a little lull. It is just try to go in there and battle.”

With LoyalTees up 41-21 at halftime, the squad built its lead to 27 points early in the second half and cruised from there.

“I want to focus in second halves with us because we normally start off the game well,” said Davidson, reflecting on the victory which saw Bailey score 20 points and Arterio Williams chip in 18.

“Against Majeski, we took the lead and then they went on a 11-0 run which was crazy and we were never able to come back from that. I just want to be able to add to our leads which is what we need to work on right now. Basketball is a game of runs but we need to maintain our run too.”

As a stalwart for LoyalTees, Davidson is focused on doing whatever is needed for the squad to prevail.

“It is crazy because I have been here so long so my role has advanced,” said Davidson, a 6’6, 220-pound forward who starred at Bloomfield College where he scored 1,924 points and helped the Bears reach the NCAA Division II Sweet 16 in 2018 as a senior.

“I just want to apply myself where I can. In close games, I have got to hit free throws. We are not really being disciplined on free throws. I am going to make them when it counts.”

Davidson is confident that LoyalTees will come through when it counts at playoff time.

“It is getting everybody in sync, getting everybody coming in and playing and then making our run like we always do,” said Davidson. “It is about going to the playoffs with a healthy roster. If we go in there with our full team, I feel like we can beat anybody.”