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Vol. LXIV, No. 5
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Wednesday, February 3, 2010
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Vol. LXIV, No. 5
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Wednesday, February 3, 2010
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(Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction)
KEEPING IN STEP: Princeton University women’s basketball sophomore star Lauren Edwards heads to the hoop in a game earlier this season. Last weekend, Edwards scored 15 points on consecutive nights as Princeton returned from a 19-day hiatus to rout Brown 75-44 on Friday and then top Yale 69-48 on Saturday. |
With the Princeton University women’s basketball team riding an eight-game winning streak as it hit the fall exam period and semester break earlier this month, Lauren Edwards and her teammates were determined not to lose their edge during the hiatus.
“We had a real long break with exams and everything; there have been a lot of distractions but we have kept our focus throughout the whole break,” said Tiger sophomore guard Edwards, referring to the 19-day period between games.
“We stressed staying in shape over the break and getting a lot of shots up. We were working on things that we have been struggling with in the preseason. We have been trying to fix all of those things and keeping a really strong work ethic.”
For Washington Post sportswriter Kathy Orton, getting assigned to cover the Princeton-Penn men’s basketball game in Philadelphia in February, 1999 seemed to be a nice change of pace from her normal beat of Big East and Atlantic Coast Conference hoops.
As it turned out, that assignment became a life-changing experience on several levels for the veteran reporter.
The contest turned out to be one of the most memorable in the annals of the storied rivalry as Princeton overcame a 33-9 halftime deficit to pull out a 50-49 victory.
Witnessing that game not only provided Orton with an unforgettable experience, it transformed her into an aficionado of Ivy League hoops.
Sean MacKenzie experienced early success in his career with the Princeton High boys’ swimming team.
As a freshman in 2006, the versatile and talented MacKenzie placed third in two individual events at the Mercer County Championships. A year later, he was named as the Most Valuable Swimmer on the boys’ side at the county meet as he won 200-meter individual medley, the 500 freestyle, and produced a blazing anchor leg to help PHS to a win and the meet record in the 400 free relay. MacKenzie went on to win another MVS award at the county meet last year, missing out in his junior season when he didn’t compete for PHS in order to focus on club swimming.
Ending his high school on a high note, MacKenzie led the way as PHS won the Public B sectional title last season.
Now, as a freshman on the Columbia University men’s swimming team, MacKenzie is learning that dominance on the next level doesn’t come quite so quickly.
Olivia Ray was a bit wistful as the Princeton High girls’ ice hockey team took the ice last Thursday at Baker Rink to host Pingry.
It was the program’s annual Senior Night and the reality of the impending end to her high school hockey career hit Ray.
“It is really sad; it is one of our last Baker games,” said senior co-captain Ray.
“All of the seniors are really heartfelt. I have been playing hockey since I was really little, like when I was five years old. The four years on the team were really special. It was a good experience for me and all other seniors. It is just sad knowing that it is the last few games.”
Ryan Adams and his teammates on the Hun School boys’ basketball team weren’t satisfied even though they had built a 25-17 halftime lead over rival Lawrenceville last week.
“Coach told us to keep playing hard,” said Adams, recalling Hun head coach Jon Stone’s message at intermission.
“We came out strong and took it right to them in the second half; we didn’t want to back down. We wanted to run on them over the rest of the game.”