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Vol. LXI, No. 24
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Wednesday, June 13, 2007
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Vol. LXI, No. 24
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Wednesday, June 13, 2007
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(Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction)
IN THE PAINT: Where2Ball.com's Jay Curtis flies past SMB's Rich Simkus, far left, last summer in the Princeton Recreation Department Summer Men's Basketball League championship series. Curtis, a former Princeton High player, helped Where2Ball to the title as it took the series 2-1, edging SMB 58-56 in the third and decisive game. The Summer Men's League tips off its 19th season this Monday night at the Community Park basketball courts. |
Last year, the Where2Ball.com team staggered to a 2-6 start in the Princeton Recreation Department Summer Men's Basketball League.
The squad brought a sixth-seed into the league playoffs and figured to be headed to an early exit.
But sparked by the leadership and sharp shooting of former Princeton High and Springfield College star Shahid Abdul-Karim, Where2Ball.com advanced to the best-of-three championship series against SMB/Dr. Palmer.
With SMB featuring former Villanova star and Los Angeles Laker John Celestand, Where2Ball.com's Cinderella run figured to be hitting midnight.
The gritty Where2Ball.com club, however, wouldn't be denied as it won the series 2-1, edging SMB 58-56 in the third and decisive game.
Where2Ball's title run exemplified the unpredictability and excitement of the rough-and-tumble Summer Men's Basketball League which tips off its 19th season this Monday night at the Community Park basketball courts.
This year, the league will feature nine teams looking to culminate their summer with the league crown. The Where2Ball.com team is back and will start its title defense this Monday when it plays Koehler and Company.
Longtime league commissioner Ben Stentz believes that Where2Ball's chances to repeat are hardly a slam dunk.
"Where2Ball.com has never been a dominant team," said Stentz, noting that the team will be missing star guard Kyle Brown for a several weeks due a knee injury.
"I think they are susceptible to one of these other teams. It's hard to say who will emerge. It will take a few weeks for things to shake out and to see who will be good."
SMB will not be one of those teams as it is not returning. Dr. Palmer is sponsoring a new entry which figures to be a competitive squad. The new Dr. Palmer entry, managed by Brad Billmeier, will open next Wednesday against Tee-2-Green.
Perennial title contender, George's Roasters and Ribs, is back in the fray, once again led by former PHS and College of New Jersey standout Bobby Davison.
George's, which won the title in 2005, stumbled in the playoffs last summer after putting together a superb 8-1 regular season campaign.
According to Stentz, George's will be without longtime star Noah Savage, a former Hun star who is heading into his senior year with the Princeton University men's team. Stentz said that the team may add two PU players to help make up for the loss of Savage. The club opens play on Wednesday with a match-up against Koehler and Company.
The Princeton Youth Sports entry, which is comprised of current members of the PHS boys' basketball team, is on hand again to learn some lessons from playing with the big boys.
PYS, which won two games last summer, takes on Cool Runnings in its opener on Monday. The other matchup in Monday's opening tripleheader will feature Coldwell Banker against Mercedes.
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