IRON MIKE: Princeton High boys’ basketball player Michael Frenia dribbles past a Hopewell Valley player last Thursday. Junior forward Frenia scored a team-high 10 points in the game as the Tigers fell 48-25. PHS, which lost 45-38 to Brick Memorial last Saturday to move to 0-3, will be competing in the Montgomery High Tournament with games on December 27 and 30. (Photo by Frank Jacobs III)
By Bill Alden
Michael Frenia prides himself on doing the dirty work in the paint for the Princeton High boys’ basketball team.
“I think it is just hustling, getting those rebounds and hitting the boards and stuff like that,” said PHS junior forward Frenia. “It is doing the more gritty things.”
Last Thursday, Frenia utilized that gritty inside play to tally a team-high 10 points in a losing cause as the Tigers fell 48-25 to Hopewell Valley.
“I feel like after losing one of our better players, Mike Bess, it is just more important that we get kids to step up and really take a role and score the ball,” said Frenia. “It is something that I have been trying to do, just score the ball and lift up the team, things like that.”
The Tigers needed a lift as they found themselves trailing HoVal 27-12 at halftime.
“I think we just needed to be more physical,” said Frenia.
“Sometimes it seems like we just need to play with heart. We just need to really want it more.”
In the third quarter, PHS played hard as the teams battled to a 9-9 standoff in the frame.
“I think during the third quarter our defense got better, we were holding it together more,” said Frenia. “I think it just comes down to the heart and the hustle.”
The Tigers ran out of gas a bit down the stretch as HoVal pulled away.
“We can get tired and that can cause us to fall apart a little,” said Frenia. “Our defense just gets a little bit weaker.”
Frenia, who also stars for the PHS boys’ lacrosse program, doesn’t tire easily.
“I think lacrosse helps. Sometimes I will need a break from lacrosse, and I go into basketball,” said Frenia. “When I want to do something new, I can pick up lacrosse again. It is perfect for me. I have played lacrosse since I have been little, but I have always enjoyed basketball just as much.”
PHS head coach Pat Noone enjoys watching Frenia’s work on the basketball court.
“He is playing well,” said Noone of Frenia, who scored nine points as the Tigers fell 45-38 to Brick Memorial last Saturday to move to 0-3. “He is a great athlete; he is really fun to have. He has brought on a real good leadership role and is playing his tail off. He has definitely taken that role on.”
Noone credited his squad with playing hard, particularly in the third quarter.
“You love that they didn’t quit, that is the most important thing,” said Noone. “They could have packed it in and lose by 100. We have played two games and haven’t given up 50 points yet (PHS fell 42-34 to Nottingham on December 16 in its season opener), so that’s not bad.”
In the loss to HoVal, the Tigers had a bad day on the boards.
“We would have liked to win that rebounding battle, but in the first quarter losing that kind of hurt us,” said Noone. “They didn’t make a lot of first shot attempts in the first half, and they were up 9-2. The offensive rebound kick out caused problems for us.”
As PHS competes in the Montgomery High Tournament with games on December 27 and 30, Noone will be looking for sharper offensive execution.
“The defense is there,” said Noone. “It is making less live ball turnovers — there were way too many live ball turnovers today. We need some more three-point shooting.”
Frenia, for his part, believes the Tigers need to show some more togetherness and intensity to get on the winning track.
“I think it is having a bit more chemistry and competing a little more,” said Frenia. “Those things could help us.”