TRENTON – After averaging 25 points over five games, Juan Sanchez scored a total of 13 in the next six quarters. But in the second half of Trenton Central High’s game with Timber Creek Saturday afternoon, he turned back into Juan Sanchez. The junior guard went off for 29 of his career-high 34 points in the second half to lead the Tornadoes to an important 69-52 victory over the Chargers. “Aw man,” coach Darryl “Pup” Young said when Sanchez’s name was brought up. “Sanchez is a special player. He had a great summer and that’s part of dedication in the off-season. He was in the gym every day in the off-season and it showed defensively and offensively. He’s a special player and you don’t get them too often.” Asked how he turned his offense back on in the second half, Sanchez said “I just felt it. It was natural. After I hit one, I can start to see it going in.” And does he feel he can make shots from anywhere on the court. “Well, there’s limits,” he said with a smile, “but yes.” After shooting 2-for-6 from the field and 1-for-3 from the line in the first half, Sanchez hit two foul shots to start the third quarter and that lit a fuse. He scored 11 in the third and 18 in the fourth on 6-for-12 shooting from the field and 14-for-19 from the line. In a game of ebbs and flows, Trenton led 54-49 before Sanchez hit a 3-pointer and followed with four straight foul shots when Timber Creek was whistled for two of its five technical fouls with 2:30 remaining. That started the Tornadoes on a 15-0 run to secure things. “It was a tough game at first,” Sanchez said. “They came back and tied it but we kept our confidence, came back and pulled it out. We always felt we were in control.” Trenton’s Juan Sanchez takes a free throw against Timber Creek during a boys basketball game on Saturday afternoon at Tornado Alley. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) Trenton was coming off a three-point home loss to unbeaten West Windsor-Plainsboro North and Young said prior to the game Trenton had to start playing with more consistency and needed a big win before playing its next five on the road. Trailing 4-0 after the first four minutes due to poor shooting and three turnovers, TCHS ended the first quarter with a 17-4 run. But Sanchez and Thomas Munoz both had two fouls heading into the second quarter. The Tornadoes held their own without the two guards and eased into halftime with a 30-23 advantage. Aivaye Ingram picked up the scoring slack with 11 of his 15 points in the half (he also had eight rebounds), while Qadir Dixon helped Trenton control the boards en route to 11 rebounds. “We weathered the storm when Juan and Thomas had those early fouls,” Young said. “We were rolling, then the subs came in and gave quality minutes.We held on to that lead and let those guys sit. I got a little nervous when they got two in the first quarter. I was wondering if we could take care of the ball but we did a good job under pressure.” Timber Creek hung around and even with Sanchez heating up in the third quarter, the Chargers (4-4) went ahead 38-37 with 1:30 left in the period. Chris Stowell, who averages a team-high 16, tallied nine of his 15 during the quarter before Sanchez went back to covering him. “He didn’t want to get the third foul but I said ‘Juan it’s the third quarter, you gotta get back on (Stowell),’” Young said. “You could see they got going when Juan was off of him. He’s my best ball hound, he’s gotta hound that ball. We were so much better when he got it going and our wings were denying the wings like they’re taught to do. That was key today.” Stowell would not score again and after his team fell behind by one, Sanchez scored six straight points for a 43-38 lead. Asa Wharton, who had 18, hit what could have been a gut-punch 3-pointer at the buzzer to make it 43-41, and Noah Witzel-Smith hit two foul shots to tie it at the outset of the fourth quarter. Sanchez responded with a 3-pointer, which was his biggest shot of the game as it gave Trenton the lead for good. Timber Creek was still in it but it all came crashing down when the Chargers were hit with their second T on the the bench, and were quickly slammed with another when coach Rich Bolds took too long to leave the court. Sanchez made all four foul shots to push the lead to 61-49 and the deciding run was well underway. Aside from scoring, Sanchez held Stowell to just one shot in the fourth quarter. “Basically I had to shut him down,” Sanchez said. “He’s their point guard, I tried to disrupt him a lot, not let them get in their set. It seemed like when he doesn’t have the ball, they’re all over the place.” And now Trenton will be all over the place as it will not have a home game until Jan. 27 against Pennington. “It’s big to get this win,” Sanchez said. “It’s not easy to play on the road. Now we go on the road with confidence and hope to get a winning streak.” Young felt the effort could not have been better to propel Trenton on its journey. “They played Trenton High basketball, consistent for four quarters,” Pup said. “After that loss to North the other night, we were hurting. The coaches and players. We had to get over that game very, very quickly with a good team from South Jersey coming here tonight. “If we lose this one going into Ewing I wouldn’t have felt good at all. That’s the biggest rivalry in Mercer County, going back to the 60s and 70s. I’m feeling very good now. Let’s have a good practice and get ready for Ewing baby!” TIMBER CREEK (52) Wharton 8-1-18, Bolds 0-0-0, Stowell 7-0-15, Witzel-Smith 2-5-9, Atkins 2-0-4, Ford 1-0-2, Lubintus 0-0-0, Avery 0-1-1, McPherson 0-0-0, Spriddle 0-0-0, Lee 1-0-3. Totals: 21-7-52. TRENTON (69) Munoz 1-2-4, Sanchez 8-15-34, Dixon 3-0-6, Ingram 6-3-15, Dowling 0-0-0, Grant 3-1-8, K. Smith 1-0-2, Genao Ramos 0-0-0, J. Smith 0-0-0, Hernandez 0-0-0. Totals: 22-21-69. Timber Creek (4-4) 8 15 17 8 – 52 Trenton (6-6) 17 13 13 26 – 69 3-point goals: Wharton, Stowell, Lee (TC). Sanchez 3, Grant (TCHS). Trenton’s Aivaye Ingram, right, goes up with a shot as Timber Creek’s CJ Atkins, right, defends during a boys basketball game on Saturday afternoon at Tornado Alley. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) *** Lawrence 61, Red Bank Catholic 59 LAWRENCE TWP. — Marvin McNeil poured in 25 points, Noah Johansen added 11 and the Cardinals (8-4) edged the Caseys (6-4) in non-league action. Medford Tech 64, Notre Dame 59 LAWRENCE TWP. — Nesta Rice netted 31 points and Medford Tech (1-5) won for the first time by knocking off the Irish (5-6) in overtime. Will Foley scored 24 for Notre Dame. Immaculata 83, Hamilton West 52 SOMERVILLE — Sean Turner’s 26 points were a game high, but it wasn’t enough for the Hornets (0-11) as they were still left searching for win number one following a defeat to the Spartans (7-3). Princeton 60, Pioneer Academy 44 PRINCETON — Michael Bees Jr. went for 26 points, Travis Petrone added 14 and the Tigers (2-7) snapped a six-game skid with a victory over Pioneer Academy (6-4). Middletown South 59, Robbinsville 54 MIDDLETOWN TWP. — Brady Hahn made six 3s on his way to 28 points, Matt Trimble added 14 and the Eagles (6-4) held off the Ravens (6-6). Tyler Bunnell paced Robbinsville with 21 points. Hopewell Valley 53, Hunterdon Central 43 FLEMINGTON — Ethan Rich had 21 points, Dean Mantuano scored 11 and the Bulldogs (9-2) won their eighth in a row. Alec Grinbaum had 11 to lead the Red Devils (2-8). Steinert 69, South Hunterdon 62 LAMBERTVILLE — Anthony Santucci scored 24 points, Mason Grant finished with 21 and Jonathan Weaver had 12 as the Spartans (1-9) overcame a 22-7 deficit after the first quarter to beat the Eagles (5-6) in overtime and get their first win. Holy Cross 47, Bordentown 36 BORDENTOWN — Jordan Owens put up 22 points to lead the Lancers (6-2) past the Scotties (1-5). Max Martin scored 10 for Bordentown.