MAKING HER POINT: Princeton High girls’ basketball player Ashley Tumpowsky heads upcourt in recent action. Last week, junior point guard and co-captain Tumpowsky scored 10 points in a losing cause as PHS fell 34-30 to Hamilton West in its regular season finale. The Tigers, who moved to 4-16 with the loss in the February 11 contest, start action in the Mercer County Tournament this week where they are seeded 14th and play at third-seeded Notre Dame in a first round contest on February 19. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

As the starting point guard for the Princeton High girls’ basketball team, Ashley Tumpowsky concentrates on setting up her teammates to get the offense going.

But last week, junior co-captain Tumpowsky provided the offense as PHS hosted Hamilton West in its regular season finale. With the teams tied at 13-13 entering the second half, Tumpowsky scored eight points in the third quarter to help the Tigers build a 28-24 lead in the February 11 contest.

“I am usually the one facilitating the ball and passing it to people,” said Tumpowsky, who drained two 3-pointers in her surge.

“I got some open shots which I don’t usually get. I have worked hard since I was five years old so I can knock them down and hopefully keep doing that in games to come.”

Unfortunately, the Tigers didn’t keep knocking down shots in the fourth quarter as a late bucket by Tumpowsky accounted for their only points as they fell 34-30 to the Hornets.

“We have a lead of four and we think that is OK and we settle for that instead of having the mentality to keep going and that we need to keep pushing,” said Tumpowsky, who ended up with 10 points on the evening to lead PHS in scoring along with fellow junior Brynne Hennessy. “I think everybody just needs to keep the pedal on the gas the whole time. We can’t have these moments of slacking off.”

Having been sidelined last winter due to a knee injury, Tumpowsky is savoring every moment on the court this season.

“I am super grateful for all of the playing time I am getting; it is a really good experience,” said Tumpowsky

“The biggest thing for me is the pace of the game and getting more athletic as a point guard. I am getting more and more in shape so I can keep up with those quick guards.”

By getting all of that action, Tumpowsky is gaining confidence as the season goes on.

“Just being able to put it into a game is great,” said Tumpowsky. “I have done this stuff in practice with my dad since I have been little but now it is being able to come out there with the confidence to play like I know I can. Some games have been more rough than others, but I am slowly building it up.”

With PHS moving to 4-16 with the loss to Hamilton, Tumpowsky and her teammates will look to come out hard in the Mercer County Tournament this week where they Tigers are seeded 14th and play at third-seeded Notre Dame in a first round contest on February 19.

“We are hungry for a win; we are going out there and giving it all every game and it is hard to come up short in games we know we can win,” said Tumpowsky.

“It is having the mentality of believing we can win them, even being four and whatever. We have to go into the game believing there is a possibility that we can win it.”