The Middies fell to 4-8 overall and 4-4 in the Greater Miami Conference with a 53-40 loss to visiting Princeton on Friday night.
The Vikings jumped out to an 8-0 lead just three minutes into the first quarter. Then Middletown senior guard Cliff Snow came alive.
Snow led a 13-point Middies run that put the hosts up 13-10 before Princeton junior guard Darweshi Hunter knocked down the Vikings’ first 3-pointer to knot the game at 13 at the first stop.
Princeton junior guard Dominic Pierce scored six of his 10 first-half points in the second quarter as the Vikings leapt to a 26-22 advantage heading into halftime.
Both Middletown and the visitors added nine points in the third quarter as the Vikings’ advantage crept to 35-31 heading into the final stanza.
“Our game plan tonight was to slow down their possessions. We knew we couldn’t make this a track meet,” Hoskins said. “Low possessions. Long possessions. Be patient. When we’re able to do that, we’re successful.
“We’re continually having slow starts in basketball games. We expend so much energy climbing back into games. If we’d cohesively execute from the opening tip, we’d be better off.
“At some during a game this team is experiencing a mental breakdown, and I’m in search of the remedy. Tonight that was during the opening three minutes and again in the fourth quarter.”
Middletown managed to log the first field goal of the fourth period while squeezing Vikings’ lead to 35-33, but that would be as close as the Middies would get.
Over the next four minutes Princeton amassed a 14-point offensive explosion that culminated in a Hoskins timeout with 3:11 remaining and the Middies trailing 49-35.
“Our struggle for a solution is two-part,” Hoskins said. “It’s maturity and lack of mental toughness. At critical junctures in the game, we continue to lose focus. Those small windows of time are proving to be the difference in the outcome.”
Snow led the Middletown effort with a game-high 19 points and Jomar Bailey added 10.
Pierce (18), Darrion Henry (14) and Hunter (13) topped the scoring for Princeton (8-5, 4-4). Ohio State University commit Darius Bazley was also productive as he accumulated eight points, eight rebounds and 12 assists.
Middletown will travel to Woodward on Saturday and meet Wayne in the Scholastic Play-By-Play Classic at 8:15 p.m.
“Our focus tomorrow against Wayne will be to work the ball into the interior,” Hoskins said. “Our big guys are very productive when we work the game plan around them. I’m committed to ensuring we accomplish that.
“Our points typically come in the paint, and we’re going to make a conscious effort to pound the ball because that’s where our highest level of productivity comes from.”
Princeton hosts Colerain on Tuesday.
Princeton 13-13-9-18—53
Middletown 13-9-9-9—40
PRINCETON (8-5, 4-4 GMC): Dominic Pierce 6 5 18, Darius Bazley 3 2 8, Darrion Henry 6 2 14, Darweshi Hunter 5 0 13. Totals: 20-9-53
MIDDLETOWN (4-8, 4-4 GMC): Nelson Rutledge 1 1 3, Cliff Snow 5 7 19, Christian Strother 0 2 2, Jawunn Bailey 3 0 6, Jomar Bailey 4 2 10. Totals: 13-12-40
3-pointers: P 4 (Hunter 3, Pierce), M 2 (Snow 2)
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