TRENTON — After Juan Sanchez and Aivaye Ingram dominated the first half, Jaydon English-Fulton took over the third quarter before Sanchez and English-Fulton teamed up in the fourth. And so it goes for the Trenton Central High boys basketball team. “We’re really unstoppable with us three,” Sa nchez said after the trio combined for 60 points in the Tornadoes’ 69-48 win over Princeton Day School Thursday night. “I don’t think a team has a plan to stop all three of us.” About the only thing that stopped English-Fulton in the first half were Sanchez and Ingram as the two took turns helping Trenton build a 10-point halftime lead. Sanchez scored 11 of his 21 during that time and Ingram had 19 of his 23 before intermission. English-Fulton was scoreless, taking just four shots. He had 16 when it ended. PDS (5-5), which beat Trenton last year, hung tough despite playing without second-leading scorer Zalin Pack, and having leading scorer Gary Jennings stifled by Sanchez. Thanks to freshman Luke Novak’s first career double-double (11 points, 10 rebounds) and inspired efforts by Kunle Egbeleye (9 points) and Aiden Luciano (7 rebounds), who started in place of Pack, PDS got within 35-28 early in the third quarter. After Jennings – who finished with 14 – hit a 3-pointer to make it 42-32, English-Fulton went to work. The senior guard scored eight points in a 10-0 run to end the quarter and in a flash, Trenton had a 20-point lead and finally took firm control. “Jaydon is one of those guys where at any moment he’ll score eight straight points,” coach Darryl Young said. “He did it the game before. He got in foul trouble the last game (against Hightstown), and then he got 10 straight points. Tonight he got the three ball going and made it comfortable for us.” PDS got no closer than 17 in the fourth quarter as Trenton (9-3) has won five straight for the first time since the 2022-23 team went 29-2 and won a sectional title. “I walked out confident every night with that team,” Young said. “I knew that defense would be on fire. I’m trying to get this team to that point.” Sanchez turned in another big defensive effort, holding Trenton resident Jennings to 14 points. The two know each other from playing together in the summer and Sanchez did a good job of ball denial. “I was just looking to my coach, staying disciplined and it seemed to work out tonight,” he said. “He’s their guy,” Young said. “Our guys are all familiar with him. The goal was to keep it out of Jennings hands as much as possible. He got a couple at the end but Juan did a nice job.” Neither Young or Sanchez were happy that it took Trenton three quarters to take decide the issue. “They were pretty scrappy,” Sanchez said. “We need to have a better start as a whole. We let them slow it down a little but we were able to pull away and play Trenton High basketball.” The Tornadoes forced 19 turnovers and held a 42-27 rebounding advantage as Jharris Ramos had 11, Ingram eight and English-Fulton six. But Young felt the intensity wasn’t completely there. “I don’t know if they’re looking forward to Monday (at Thrive Charter),” Pup said. “I told them PDS got us at the buzzer last year, we lost to them by one (actually two). I told them they should have this one marked on the calendar ready to go. “I just didn’t like our effort today. I knew we were the better team. I knew we could get more stops than them, I knew we could get this win but I didn’t like the effort at all.” Young did acknowledge that his team is still winning convincingly, but he wants to see consistently hard play. “They haven’t let down (since beating Ewing), but there were  some moments today,” he said. “I’m always looking at the big picture. To make that run (in states) it’s gonna take effort and a sense of urgency on both sides of the ball, especially on defense. Those points that don’t go in the stat book are what I’m worried about. Seeing it on a daily basis every game is what makes me confident.” As for Sanchez, he knows there is room for improvement, but he’s feeling some confidence. “I feel we’re starting to get a little better,” he said. “I believe in this team. Everybody on the court does something big for us.” PDS (48) Jennings 5-2-14, Rozenblat 2-2-7, Egbeleye 4-1-9, Novak 4-1-11, Luciano 2-0-5, Keleman 0-0-0, Myat 0-0-0, Moore 0-2-2. Totals: 17-8-48 TRENTON (69) Sanchez 7-2-21, Ingram 10-3-23, English-Fulton 4-6-16, Smith 0-0-0, Ramos 2-0-6, Hernandez 0-0-0, Davison 0-2-2, Julian 0-1-1, Jackson 0-0-0, Fleming 0-0-0. Totals: 23-14-69 PDS (5-5) 12 11 9 16 – 48 Trenton (9-3) 21 12 19 17 – 69 3-point goals: Jennings 2, Rozenblat, Novak 2, Luciano (PDS). Sanchez 5, English-Fulton 2, Ramos 2 (TCHS). ...read more read less