SPRING VALLEY - Having played Princeton twice during the regular season, Mendota was well aware of the many weapons the Tigers have in their arsenal. After a slow start, Princeton launched those weapons with a fury and rolled over the Trojans, 65-55, in the semifinal-round of the Hall Class 2A Boys’ Regional Basketball Tournament on Feb. 23 at Spring Valley.

The Tigers displayed a versatile offensive scheme that posed a difficult task for Mendota to defend. Princeton knocked down 11 shots from beyond the three-point arc that came from four different players, and also utilized its big men to cause fits for the Trojans down in the paint. Of the seven players that scored for Princeton, four of them totaled at least eight points, with three hitting double-digits.

Mendota didn’t make it easy for Princeton early in the game, however, as the Trojans owned a 16-12 lead after the opening stanza and continued to build on the margin in the second quarter. After Isaac Guzman gunned in a three and Krew Bond added a two-pointer, the Mendota lead swelled to seven (21-14).

But the game took a drastic turn after that as Princeton suddenly woke up and reeled off 20 of the next 24 points to seize a 34-25 advantage. Guzman took away some of the pain for the Trojans when he canned another trifecta to end the half and make it a 34-28 contest at intermission.

Princeton’s Teegan Davis and Guzman exchanged three-pointers to open the second half before the Tigers tallied five straight points to take the first double-figure lead (42-31) of the game. Mendota was as close as seven points (42-35) midway through the third quarter, but Princeton was able to stretch the margin back to double-digits (52-39) when Kaden Monroe closed out the period with back-to-back baskets down low.

Princeton started off the fourth frame with six points in a row to take its biggest lead (58-39) before Mendota’s Rafael Romero tallied a hoop to snap a 10-0 Tiger run with 5:10 left in the game.

“Princeton is extremely athletic and very difficult to defend,” said Trojan coach Steve Hanson. “We have no excuses, they were a better team than us tonight.”

Mendota, which closed out the season with an 8-22 record, was led by Romero with 16 points and Bond with 15. Guzman helped out with nine markers. Davis paced Princeton with 17 tallies, followed by Grady Thompson with 15 and Monroe with 12. Davis and Thompson both fired in four three-pointers.

“I thought we came a long way this season and I’m proud of the kids,” said Hanson, who turns the head-coaching reigns over to Steve Wasmer for the 2022-23 season.