PITCHING IN: Princeton Post 218 American Legion baseball player Zachary Okoye fires a pitch last Friday evening as Princeton played at Hopewell Post 339. Okoye pitched five and one-third innings in relief in his first appearance of the summer, giving up just one run, and also hit a double as Post 218 fell 8-2. Princeton, which lost 10-6 to Allentown last Sunday to move to 4-12, was slated to play at Lawrence Post 414 on July 13 in its regular season finale. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Trevor Covey and his teammates on the Majeski Foundation found themselves in a battle when they faced The Basketball Team (TBT) last Monday night in the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League.

With the game being moved inside the Princeton High gym from the Community Park courts due to storms in the area, TBT, which features former PHS boys’ hoops players, was primed to defend its home court.

Even though Majeski, which is comprised of players from The College of New Jersey men’s basketball squad, had the edge in experience and size, it couldn’t pull away from a fired-up TBT team and was clinging to a 31-27 lead at halftime.

“It was tough, it was probably a little tighter than we expected it to be,” said Covey. “It was good fun.”

Things got really tight midway through the second half when Ethan Guy hit a bucket for TBT to knot the game at 43-43.

“We got a little bit concerned; we were telling ourselves now is the time,” said Covey.

“They got it close once they came out and I thought it might be bad for us.”

With Covey catching fire with some sizzling shooting, Majeski seized momentum on the way to a 61-50 win as it improved to 4-2.

“I am getting back into a flow for sure,” said Covey, who ended up tallying a game-high 18 points in the victory with Gefen Bar-Cohen scoring 17 to lead TBT. “I knocked down a few shots, I started feeling good.”

Having transferred to TCNJ from Lebanon Valley College, Covey is developing a comfort level with his new teammates this summer.

“I didn’t get to play with them last season,” said Covey, a 6’4, 195-pound guard/forward who starred for Point Pleasant during his high school career.

“TCNJ has a very good coach and a very good culture. This is good for me to get to play with them.”

In Covey’s view, it helps team culture to be competing in the summer league.

“I think being here is good for us to get cohesive and figure out who is going to be where and get a feel for each other,” added Covey. “It is great to be here.”

Covey is working on establishing his role with the squad. “It is a little bit up in the air, hopefully I can get a starting spot,” said Covey.

“My role is just to contribute and just do what I can, getting rebounds, scoring points, whatever.”

With the league playoffs starting next Monday, Covey is confident that Majeski will be a force.

“I think we can make a run,” said Covey. “If we get everybody to show up, we are pretty hard to beat. That is the biggest thing.”