SIMON SAYS: Salam Simon, right, dribbles into the paint for Iron Peak as it battled YSU (Young Sports Unlimited) last week in the best-of-three championship series in the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League. After Iron Peak fell to YSU to open the series, Simon starred as it prevailed in game two last Wednesday to force a decisive game three. Defending champion Iron Peak fell just short of a title repeat as it got edged 37-34 by YSU in the finale on Friday night. (Photo by Frank Jacobs III)
By Bill Alden
After Iron Peak fell 57-45 to YSU (Young Sports Unlimited) in the opener of the best-of-three championship series in the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League, the formula for surviving to game three was simple.
“It was team ball and play together as much as possible because I think we didn’t do as good of a job in the first game,” said Iron Peak manager and guard/forward Salam Simon who led the team to the Princeton summer league title in 2025 when it was known as Lob City.
In game two of the series, which was played on Wednesday in the Princeton High gym, Simon did a very good job for the team. He scored eight points in a two-minute span in the first half as Iron Peak led 24-14 at intermission. Weathering a second half run by YSU which saw it narrow the lead to 42-38, Iron Peak pulled away to 60-49 win to force a winner-take-all game three on Friday.
Simon was determined to help Iron Peak stay alive in its quest for a title repeat.
“I wanted to send it to game three,” said Simon, who ended up with 13 points, three rebounds, two assists, and four steals in the win. “Today I think we played well together as a team. Big thanks to the team, they got me open, driving and finding me. I can knock down some shots.”
The return of star center Derrick Woods, who had been in Mexico looking to lock up a spot in its pro league, gave Iron Peak a big lift.
“It was a lot of help because he grabs a lot of rebounds, he alters a lot of shots,” said Simon of Woods, who contoured 12 points and 11 rebounds in the win. “It is good to have him back. We were sending everybody to him down low.”
In holding off YSU’s late run, the shorthanded Iron Peak showed its mental toughness.
“I think our numbers were getting the best of us, only having six and us playing as hard as we were,” said Simon. “That is what was slowing us down but we played through.”
Simon and his teammates also displayed their championship pedigree in pulling out the win.
“I think the championship experience does help, we communicate well,” said Simon. “I see things before they happen and sometimes I am able to help them out.”
Simon and Woods helped put the group together and good things have happened for the team over the years.
“Me and Derrick went to the University of Delaware together,” said Simon. “I played club basketball there. I met him because he is from the area and we had some mutual friends. I went to Mercer County Community College and played there. I have been around the area and I have been able to meet everybody.”
While Iron Peak didn’t achieve the title repeat as it got edged 37-34 by YSU on Friday in the winner-take-all finale, Simon was grateful for the experience of going to battle with his friends.
“We have been staying together,” said Simon, who scored seven points in the defeat with Woods chipping in seven points and seven rebounds as the team ended the season with a 7-5 record. “We just enjoy playing together. We play in a bunch of different leagues.”