By james art 
Trenton – with the leading goal scorer Juan Sanchez of the line due to illness, it would be difficult for the boys of Trenton Hi’s basketball team to beat Pennington.
With Joshua Benka-Koker not only healthy, but also to play outside her mind, it would be impossible to beat the red hawks.
Benka-Koker has collected the highest 28 points, along with 10 Power Pennington fights until 80-47 over Tornadoes on Monday night. 6-8 sophomore shot 12-15 from the pitch and made all the seven shots he made in the second half.
“I think he responds to our DNA,” said coach Chandler Fraser-Polus. “He’s difficult, he has a motor. Low ego. He just works and plays. This kind fits who we are.
“It was a hassle -free transition to us. We are lucky to have it and we are excited to have it for two more years. We work to expand his game and he works. “
The resident of Phillipsburg, who previously played for Bethlehem (Pa.) Catholic, dominates the paint and also hit two 3-indicatives. He was humble about his efforts.
“I have a good coach, he always puts me in the right position to succeed,” said Benka-Koker. “I just had to dominate from the beginning.”
Pennington (10-7) did not dominate the first 16 minutes, but never gave up, since lonely connections were 3-3 and 5-5.
With Sanchez, who can defend himself with the result without playing, the red hawks have put pressure and made most of the nine turnover of Trenton from the first half into points. Their largest lead was nine and was 33-28 at the half.
“We wanted to try to accelerate them a little,” said Fraser-Polus. “We tried a zonal press, they broke that several times, so just a person up, protect and when they turn their back, we can catch a little. They are a great team, they played their asses, I direct my hat. “
Trenton was hanging behind Kadir Dixon, who scored 13 of his 26 points in the first half. Dixon had six 3-stories in his career in an attempt to take the groin for Sanchez, which is an average of 19 per game.
The tornado (9-9) reduced it to 35-34 and 39-37 at the beginning of the third quarter before Dylan Napoleon (14 points) cause 15-2 to complete the period. Trenton approached 15 in the fourth quarter, as Pennington ended with 18-2 run. The red hawks surpassed Trenton 47-19 after halftime.
Chandler-Paul was pleased with the second half, but not so much.
“We started slowly, we just have to find a consistency in everything we do,” he said. “That’s why you play the game, why you practice, why you believe in this process. I don’t think it’s four -quarters for us. When we decide to protect, bounce and go out quickly, we are pretty good. But we have a long way.
“Protection is an effort, attitude, something you control. None of us, players or coaches, was not satisfied with our first half efforts on this. We talked at the half as a group and decided that we would make better efforts or did it. We have many hardworking boys in this team. “
Pennington eventually forced 20 turnover on Trenton and limited the tornado to firing 5 in 21 after an advance.
Despite the strong finale, Benka-Coker sounded the thoughts of her coach.
“When we enter this game, we had to bring energy,” he said. “Talent doesn’t always win games for you. You have to play hard. We have to start games faster. We cannot delay and play slowly at the beginning. We have to do it from the jump. “
Pennington had only traveled 2-4 in the last six games, but made it against a strong schedule. After winning the Mercer County tournament last year, Hawks is unable to defend his title, as MCT is already the tournament of the Colonial Valley Conference. In this way, they want to handle CVC competition well.
“We want to play teams at Mercer County,” Fraser-Paul said. “Everyone has to ask for that. Hats to Trenton to schedule us. We respect their program. We will go down and play them at any time they want. We have a Hightstown, another good team. We respect the CVC teams and we want to play to anyone we can. “
Especially when they have force like a mole-cocker, which entered the game on average double double at 10.3 points and 10.6 fights.
“It was a great experience so far,” the center said. “Everything is new to me. I still mix, but I like it so far. “
After watching him against Trenton, it’s not hard to understand why he likes him so much.
Pennington (80)
Napoleon 6-2-14, Evans 2-0-4, Snely 2-0-4, Kilich 1-0-3, Josh Benka-Koker 12-2-28, Johnson 4-3-11, Ousu 3-3- 9, Crawford 1-0-2, Werner 1-0-3, Murray 1-0-2, Jon Benka-Coker 0-0-0. Total: 33-10-80
Trenton (47)
Munoz 0-0-0, Dixon 7-6-26, Smith 1-0-2, Hernandez 1-0-2, Ingram 4-0-9, Grant 0-0-0, Dowling 1-0-2, Genoo Ramos 3-0-6, columns 0-0-0. Total: 17-6-46
Pennington (10-7) 17 16 21 26-80
Trenton (9-9) 12 11 8-47
3-point goals: Kilich, Benka-Koker 2, Werner (TPS). Dixon 6, Ingram (TCHS).