They say you can only whip a kangaroo once before it leads a horse to water. The 'Prince' sports staffers are that kangaroo.
After a crushing one-point loss last season, timely shooting, smothering defense and surprise free throw shooting helped the 'Prince' team return to glory in the annual Matt Oxman '01 Classic, as the writers held off a late charge by WPRB for a 49-42 victory Friday afternoon in Jadwin Gym.
The lead went back and forth in the early going, with the 'Prince' holding the largest advantages. In an ugly, turnover-plagued first half, the 'Prince' managed to build a 17-14 lead just before the break in a stunning offensive showcase.
That's when junior guard Chris Kirk decided to protect his house.
With shades of WPRB guard Ryan Brown '03's miraculous 80-foot shot to close the first half in last year's affair lingering in Jadwin, Kirk drained a three from the top of the key to tie the score at halftime.
The teams traded blows in the second half before momentum shifted to WPRB. With at least one Tiger varsity hoopster watching, a three by fantastic freshman phenom Freddy Flaxman put the radioers up, 36-33, with a little over five minutes to play.
Nerves tensed as every time down the floor a call was heavily disputed, often enciting the teams to rage in this highly personal grudge match. Freshman forward Meka Asonye and Flaxman, former IM teammates, shared several heated exchanges. Kirk and 'Prince' junior forward Zack Pierce are roommates, as are WPRB junior forward Ben Klaber and 'Prince' junior guard Anuj Basil. Senior centers Andy Watkins of WPRB and Joe Falencki of the 'Prince' have hated each other for years.
"All Joe and I could do was look at each other and ask what was wrong with kids these days," Watkins, playing in his final game, said.
But the 'Prince' had the answer to the verbal ruffiage. Asonye and Pierce reentered the game, and with a patient backcourt game run to perfection by junior guards Adam Farren and Zack Faigen, the team fought back.
The 'Prince' scored four consecutive buckets before WPRB was forced to resort to fouling, which only works in video games. Farren and freshman forward Clarke Smith each made a pair of free throws to extend the lead to 43-36.
Two possessions later, Pierce, who was sucking blood off his cut right wrist in order to stay in the game, made the front end of a one-and-one to push the lead to eight. His second shot clanged off the rim, but Asonye gathered the loose ball and found a cutting Pierce for a layup to give the 'Prince' its largest lead at 46-36.
But junior guard Jeff Bullian (Jeff Bullian!) would not let WPRB die. Bullian nailed a three from up top to cut the lead to seven. Then, after two more Farren free throws, Bullian hit another three off the glass and was fouled by Asonye in the process.
Bullian is not that good, however, and so he missed the free throw. WPRB did not score again.
Flaxman had a solid game in a losing effort, leading WPRB with 15 points and dishing out seven assists. Bullian dropped in 10 points off the bench. Junior forward Ben Klaber, who talks trash like it's his job, scored just three points.
WPRB also got six points and some much-needed loud-mouthing from junior forward Rob Anderson.
"The greatest advantage in the game for the 'Prince' was its motley crew of writers," Flaxman said. "Between the tie-dye shirts and Anuj comparing himself to [Boston Celtics forward] Paul Pierce, it became tough to focus. You have to shut the distractions out, but when the lights in Jadwin reflected off Falencki's wedding band, I just lost it."
Farren led the 'Prince' with 10 points, bolstered by eight points from Pierce and seven each from Asonye and Faigen. Junior guard Thad Hartmann played tenaciously.
The 'Prince' now leads the all-time series 83-4.
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