LOYALTY REWARD: Davon Black of LoyalTees, right, puts the pressure on John McArthur of NJ Spiritwear last week in the opening game of the best-of-three championship series in the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League. Former Princeton High star Black helped LoyalTees earn the title as it defeated NJ Spiritwear 76-60 in game three of the series last Friday night at the Hun School gym.(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Davon Black sensed early on that his LoyalTees squad could be something special this season in its second campaign in the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League.

Coming into the summer, former Princeton High boys’ hoops star Black, the player/manager for LoyalTees, added some key pieces to augment the team after its league debut in 2017.

“I brought in Nick [Davidson], Vince [Anfield] and Z [former PHS standout Zahrion Blue],” said Black, a 2012 PHS grad.

“Then TB [Terrance Bailey] and Murdock [Eric Murdock Jr.] were two big additions. They just graduated from TCNJ. We had three All-League first-teamers.”

Although bringing a bunch of all stars together can lead to fighting over the ball, LoyalTees developed an instant chemistry.

“Right from the first game, everyone was unselfish,” asserted Black. “We have four or five alpha dogs and I thought we will win games solely on talent, but every game, from the get-go, we made the extra pass.”

Utilizing that skill and togetherness, LoyalTees posted a 6-2 regular season record and earned the top seed going into the playoffs. The team topped Majeski Foundation 64-60 in the semis to earn a spot in the best-of-three title series against second-seeded NJ Spiritwear.

After falling 70-67 to NJ Spiritwear in the opener on July 23 at the PHS gym, LoyalTees bounced back with an 82-73 win on Wednesday. Heading into the finale on Friday at the Hun School gym, Black and his teammates were confident they could build on how they played in game two.

“On Wednesday we came with the mindset ‘let’s fight because that could be the last one,’” said Black.

“Today we got Murdock back and we knew we are steady. All we have got to do is what we did last game – rebound the ball, hold them to one shot, and play our game.”

In the finale, LoyalTees played its game, building a 42-30 lead at halftime and pulling away to a 76-60 victory. While Black scored 15 points in the win, he was more proud of his work on the defensive end as he helped hold NJ Spiritwear’s top scorer Troy Jones to three points.

“I had to step up tonight defensively,” said Black.  “I was just trying to do anything to help us win; whatever it takes for us to win, that’s what I wanted to do. If I had to dive on the floor and score 0 points and we win, I am a happy camper.”

Black was happy to see Davidson score 29 points and Blue add 15 as LoyalTees controlled the paint throughout the evening.

“They were down a big and right from the get-go we were talking, saying Nick and Z go,” said Black.

“When Nick has the ball, he likes to pass. We were moving without the ball and he is going to find us. We have a whole bunch of unselfish guys. On any given night, someone can go for 20. It is a different guy every night.”

Having been in the league for nine years and played on teams that came up short in title series in both 2012 and 2015, Black was thrilled to finally taste a summer title with the LoyalTees guys.

“I have won every league in Princeton; growing up, I won all of them, the Dillon League and the Rec Boys’ Summer League,” said Black of the squad which ended the summer with a 9-3 record. “This is the final one; it is great. We just kept fighting. That is this team – everyone just wants to fight.”