The holidays will be happier for Jon Stimmler as he scored 18 points to lead the Princeton Tigers to a 80-49 win over the host Columbia Heights Hylanders Friday night.
The Hylanders, who lost to Delano in last year's Class AAA championship game, broke out of the starting gate on a 5-0 run that also included a three pointer from Amir Davis. Columbia Heights showed outstanding ball control in the early going as Jordan Jones was adept as switching hands on a dribble. The Tigers would get on the scoreboard on a basket from Adam Williams and a three pointer from Calvin Peterson. Peterson would hit another shot from Central Ave. There would also be dueling three pointers from Davis and Reilly O'Neill before Tate Laabs put Princeton ahead. But the Hylanders would stay close as the game would be tied at 14, 16, 18 and 20. Princeton, ranked second in Class AAA would take the lead on Cody Miller's basket and Peterson would hit his third three pointer of the game. He also would play the post well as he got into position following a nifty one handed bounce pass from Cody Alickson that resulted in a score. The Tigers would lead 33-22 at halftime.
Princeton would increase their lead as they would open the second half on a 10-0 run. Columbia Heights would start Spencer Alvarez, a 6'5" freshman who didn't play in the first half to try to slow down the 6'7" Stimmler but the Tigers would pull away. Alickson would pick up a couple of second half assists. The first came after he missed an inside jumper and Laabs boxed out toward the right side of the basket and rebounded the ball and tallied. Alickson's second assist would be an inside pass to O'Neill for two points. Laabs would score a three point play and Alickson would hit a three pointer to put the Tigers ahead by 30 as both teams utilized their reserves with the game decided.
Other players in double figures for the Tigers were Peterson with 14 points, including four three pointers and O'Neill with 11. The Hylanders were led by Davis, who also had 18 points and Kaich Ogul added 12.
Princeton head Brett Cloutier was interviewed following the game and described the key to the Tigers hot start. "We got a group of kids who are binding to their roles and they're hungry."
According to Cloutier, Stimmler has drawn interest from MIAC schools St. John's and Augsburg.
Cloutier also mentioned what it would take to return to the state tournament for the first time since 1932. Last year, the Tigers won 20 games after a seven win season the year before. "We're trying to get 1% better every day," he said.
The Tigers improved their record to 4-0 and will return to action on Friday, December 28 as they will participate in the Granite City Classic in St. Cloud. Their first game is against the Rocori Spartans at 4 PM at St. Cloud Apollo High School. The Hylanders fell to 2-3 and will head down Highway 52 to play in the Rochester Rotary Classic December 27-29. On the 27th, they will take on the Hutchinson Tigers at 2:45 PM at the Mayo Civic Auditorium.
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