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Four years ago at Princeton, Sterling Newman coach Ray Sharp got the bad news that on the night senior Jamie Reinhardt scored his 1,000th career point against his Comets that there was another Reinhardt boy coming up in the Tigers ranks.
On Friday night, standing in the same Prouty Gym lobby, he was celebrating that there will be no more Reinhardts to deal with after the upcoming graduation of PHS senior Jordan, the baby brother of the four Reinhardt brothers.
“Is he the fourth brother, right? We’ll be happy that the Reinhardts are gone and don’t have to play against them anymore,” Sharp said with a smile.
“He does such a good job breaking it down and scoring. He’s just really good with the ball and body control and scoring on the drive. He hurt us with penetration, and he’s a good passer, too.”
Sharp thought for a moment, and added, “And (Noah) LaPorte graduating won’t be a bad thing either.”
LaPorte (21) and Reinhardt (17) combined for 38 points to lead the Tigers to a 60-46 win over the Comets.
‘The other Coach Smith’
The Tigers struggled to get in a consistent flow, missing layups while falling behind 27-26 at the half against Newman on Friday night at Prouty Gym. Tigers head coach Jason Smith turned to assistant Tim Smith for some halftime motivation.
“We had some inspirational words from Coach Smith, the other Coach Smith,” Jason Smith said. “It really wasn’t adjustments that we made, really, it was reminders. And we needed to be reminded how to beat the 1-3-1 zone trap.
“We did some things in the first half. Saw what we liked and saw what we didn’t like. Went back to the traditional way of breaking it in the second half, and I think the kids were just more comfortable with it and did well with it.
“Hats off to them to adjusting and responding to a halftime speech.”
The Tigers head coach said he will keep the “other Coach Smith in my back pocket and use him when I need some inspirational speeches.”
Postseason picture
Bureau Valley (12-9) and Princeton (9-11) will both be hosting Class 2A boys regionals as part of the Marengo Subsectional A.
Also in the field are Aurora Central Catholic (4-18), Erie-Prophetstown (6-14), Hall (11-9), Mendota (15-7), Morrison (6-16), Oregon (11-12), Riverdale (16-5), Rock Falls (15-6), Sandwich (12-9) and Seneca (18-4).
For the 1A boys, DePue (2-17), LaMoiille (4-17) and St. Bede (10-12) have been assigned to the Pecatonica Sectional with Amboy (8-11) and Savanna West Carroll (5-15) as hosts. Other teams are Annawan (16-3), Ashton-Franklin Center (7-15), Forreston (14-9), Fulton (10-12), Galva (16-5), Kirkland Hiawatha (7-12), Lanark Eastland (19-3), Milledgeville (5-14), Polo (8-12) and Sterling Newman (13-11).
Princeton (12-8) will also host a Class 2A girls regional in the Rock Falls Subsectional A along with Erie-Prophetstown (4-15). Other teams in the field will be Alleman (17-7), Hall (15-9), Mendota (3-18), Morrison (2-22), Oregon (10-12), Riverdale (16-6), Rock Falls (3-21), Sandwich (9-11) and Somonauk/Leland (9-15).
St. Bede (15-9) will host a 1A girls regional in the Hinckley-Big Rock Subsectional B. Indian Creek (4-8) will host the other regional in a field with Amboy (17-7), Ashton-Franklin Center (8-17), Earlville (8-18), Gardner-South Wilmington (4-18), HBR (11-8), Newark (1-18), Ottawa Marquette (14-9), Putnam County (5-19), Serena (18-5) and Yorkville Christian (14-6).
The girls' seeds will be announced Feb. 6, with the pairings to follow Feb. 7. On the boys’ side, the seeds will be released Feb. 13, with pairings to follow Feb. 14.