Clary, Tigers race past Devils

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Princeton senior Brik Wedekind drives to the basket through the defense of Hall’s Matt Orlandi (left) and Billy Gaul in second-half action Friday at Prouty Gym. The Tigers won 69-41. (BCR photo/Mike Vaughn)

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PRINCETON — If the Hall Red Devils ever saw what hit them Friday night at Prouty Gymnasium, it was likely just the No. 14 on the back of Princeton’s Reid Clary jersey.

In a matter of four minutes, and four break-away layups by Reid Clary, Princeton ran off 16 straight points to bust a 12-point halftime lead into a 49-21 advantage midway through the third quarter. Clary had four straight baskets, three in transition as the Tigers raced off to a 69-41 NCIC Lincoln victory.

The win, coupled with IVC’s 72-65 overtime loss at Rock Falls, leaves the Tigers (19-1) all alone atop the NCIC Lincoln at 7-1. PHS and IVC will play Friday at Prouty Gym.

“We worked really well to get the transition,” said Clary, who led PHS with 15 points, 10 in the third quarter. “I got a couple easy breaks because we got rebounds, got up the floor really quick and got a bunch of easy baskets. (Coach Brandt) said to push the ball more, so I guess that was part of it.”

Brandt wasn’t pleased with the Tigers first-half effort with the Tigers making 14 turnovers and giving up seven offensive boards. He was glad to see them reenergize in the third quarter.

“We really got after it, I thought, and turned it over. Reid had a bunch of layups. Nice passing from a bunch of different guys,” Brandt said. “I wasn’t real happy at halftime. Had a decent lead, but I didn’t think we played real great. They responded well second half and played much better.”

PHS used a 11-0 run to turn a 20-16 lead after one quarter into a 31-16 lead midway through the second quarter. Scott Roseberg scored on a steal and layup and then passed off to Michael Murray for a basket.

Senior center Ryne Vrana posterized Billy Gaull when he leaped over the Hall senior along the baseline for a slam dunk to put the Tigers up 26-16, drawing oohs and aahs from the PHS crowd.

“That was a good one,” Vrana said. “It might have been a charge, but I don’t think the refs can call that. That was my first one I ever did over somebody.”

A hoop by Clary and post feed to Vrana capped the run at 31-16.

The Red Devils couldn’t stop the blue tide again in the third quarter, with Clary leading the charge. Four baskets, one a putback and three in transition, in two minutes for the Tiger guard, was all it took to bust the game wide open.

“We got a lot of points off transition there,” Vrana said. “We made some nice passes to him and he finished down there. We got probably 4-5 easy buckets off transition. He definitely got the momentum shifter there. Coach wasn’t happy about our first half, (and) Reid stepped up.”

The last of five points Hall coach Mike Filippini wrote on the chalkboard before the game was not to have any scoring droughts. The Red Devils had two costly scoreless spurts, going scoreless the first 5 1/2 minutes of the second quarter and scoreless nearly five minutes in the third. They had just a single basket in each quarter.

“It was like the St. Bede game ... a 12-point game turns into a 20-point game in one minute,” he said. “Once you get down by 20 points against a team like Princeton you’re not coming back on them. We knew we were dead in the water.”

The PHS bench took care of business the rest of the way with 6-7 junior reserve Jimmy Ferrell scoring six points in the fourth quarter.

Gaull scored 16 points for Hall (6-8, 0-8).

The Tigers know they can wrap up the NCIC Lincoln crown all to themselves against IVC Friday.

“We’re looking forward to trying to beat IVC next week. That’ll be a big game. We definitely weren’t overlooking Hall though,” Clary said.

“Got to beat IVC here next week. That’ll be our big test here. They’re a good team, we got to come ready to play,” Vrana said.

Notes: Murray took a nasty spill in the second quarter, falling on the same elbow he hit at IVC last week. He finished the game out with an elbow pad ... PHS returns to Prouty Gym Saturday for a NCIC cross-over vs. Streator. Tiger great Joe Ruklick, who led PHS to back-to-back state tournament berths in the mid-50s, will be honored before the game. PHS will then face Bureau Valley Tuesday in Manlius, and as announced by the IHSA Friday, will draw the Storm again in the regional semifinals on Feb. 23 at home. ... The Kittens won Friday’s sophomore prelim 52-34. Jacob Fisher had 17 points and Gabe Kelly added 15. Brett Fanning paced the Red Demons with 10.

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