Wilkerson, Princeton 5-1 entering Toyota Classic; Hemenway on a roll

PRINCETON, Ind. – All the lumps they took as underclassmen are finally paying off for Princeton Community High School’s boys’ basketball team.

Off to their best start since the 2010-11 team began 9-1 under Tom Weeks en route to finishing 18-5, the Tigers (5-1) will host Castle (3-3) at 7:15 p.m. Thursday in the second round of Pool A in the Toyota Gibson County Teamwork Classic.

“This group has been playing together, even at the varsity level, as far back as their freshman and sophomore season,” said seventh-year Princeton coach Ryan Haywood.

His 2016-17 team ended 10-14, while the 2015-16 team finished 2-23 and the 2014-15 unit was 2-21. Their lone loss this year was 69-68 to Class 3A No. 2-ranked Bosse on Dec. 8.

“We have a good mix between our guards and our bigs,” Haywood said. “Matt Dove is 6-foot-9 down low. Zach Dove, Matt’s twin, is 6-5. And our guards have been tremendous, with Stephan Wilkerson averaging 23 points.”

Stephan Wilkerson averages 23 points for Princeton, 5-1 entering the Toyota Classic

 

Wilkerson scored 12 points and had a key block late in Princeton’s 52-51 win last Friday at Vincennes Lincoln. It marked the Tigers’ first win at Alice Arena since 2007.

More:Slight adjustment sends Wilkerson soaring to new heights

“He’s a tremendous shooter,” Haywood said. “He didn’t find his shot really well (against Vincennes), but he’s over 50 percent from 3 and (from) 2-point, he’s around 65. He is phenomenally super athletic.”

Wilkerson finished sixth in the high jump at the state meet last spring with a leap of 6-6.

“He gets around three or four steals a game,” Haywood said. “it’s just everything. He has speed, quickness and jumping ability. He has the ability to finish at the rim or even dunk it.”

Fresh off a school-record 53-point performance, Alex Hemenway will lead Castle against host Wood Memorial (5-1) at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in the opening round. Hemenway went nuts in the Knights’ 101-73 victory over Dayton Thurgood Marshall in Saturday’s final game of the Bosse Winter Classic and shared IBCA District 3 co-player of the week honors with Bosse’s Mekhi Lairy.

“Being able to get player of the week with Mekhi is great,” said Hemenway, a 6-4 junior guard. “Growing up and playing against/along with him, we’ve been able to form a pretty close bond, so to make something like this with him is pretty cool.”

Hemenway has lifted Castle to two successive wins after a slow start.

“Going into the Toyota Classic, with the momentum we’ve got right now I feel like it will help us enormously, not only with the classic, but also moving on in the future,” he said.

Castle's Alex Hemenway (12) makes a layup as the Reitz Panthers take on the Castle Knights at Reitz High School in Evansville, Ind., on Friday, Dec. 15, 2017. Castle won 71-53.

 

The Knights are the defending Toyota Classic boys’ champions. Wood Memorial took the girls’ title last year en route to capturing the Class A state championship.

More:Hemenway, Lairy named IBCA District 3 co-players of the week

More:Alex Hemenway breaks Castle's single-game scoring record

In Tuesday’s girls’ game, Castle (11-0) and host Wood Memorial (5-6) will meet at 7:15. Castle was ranked No. 9 in the ICGSA Class 4A poll and No. 9 in the IBCA girls’ single-class poll; both were released Monday. Castle’s girls will face Princeton (8-5) at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Princeton.

More:Castle remains undefeated with victory over Memorial

As far as Princeton’s boys’ are concerned, Haywood said the return of Rylan Stough from a foot injury has been a huge bonus. He missed the first four games of the year. The Tigers are seeking their first Toyota Classic championship since 2010.

“This is the first season where there is no cupcake, especially on our side.” Haywood said. “Any of the three teams could advance (to the championship). Wood Memorial is ranked No. 7 in Class A. But don’t let Castle’s record fool you. They are starting to put it together. I would say they’re the favorite.”

In Pool B, Gibson Southern’s girls (9-2) will host Mount Vernon (4-6) at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. The Titans’ boys’ team (3-1) will host North Posey (4-1) in the second game at 7:15. Mount Carmel’s boys (6-4) will play North Posey at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, followed by the Mount Carmel (8-4) vs. Mount Vernon girls at 7:15. Both games are at Gibson Southern.

TOYOTA GIBSON COUNTY TEAMWORK CLASSIC

Tuesday’s games

Boys

Pool A:Castle (3-3) at Wood Memorial (5-1), 5:30 p.m.

Pool B: North Posey (4-1) at Gibson Southern (3-1), 7:15 p.m.

Girls

Pool A: Castle (11-0) at Wood Memorial (5-6), 7:15 p.m.

Pool B: Mount Vernon (4-6) at Gibson Southern (9-2), 5:30 p.m.

 Note: Pool A consists of Castle, Princeton and Wood Memorial boys and girls. Pool B consists of Mount Carmel, Gibson Southern and Mount Vernon (girls) and North Posey (boys). Pool play continues Thursday and Friday, championship round is Saturday at Princeton.

Tickets: single-game entry is $5. Season ticket, good for all dates/locations is $12.