By DAVE MORRISON
for the Daily Telegraph
OAK HILL — All season long, Greenbrier East coach Jim Justice has said that point guard Richard Romeo is a difference maker.
On Wednesday in the Class AAA Region 3, Section 2 semifinals at the Lilly Center, Romeo showed exactly what his coach was talking about.
The Spartans senior finished with eight points, 14 assists and nine rebounds in a 79-67 win over No. 2 seed Princeton. He also had six steals and helped generate a 32-16 first half start, leading a surge that saw the Spartans turn the ball over just four times.
Romeo was making a comeback after a torn hamstring suffered over a month ago.
He actually returned in an easy Senior Day win over Class A Valley, but Wednesday night was his most extensive playing time since the injury.
“It was just good being back out there with the guys,” Romeo said. “I just wanted to push the tempo and distribute the ball to our scorers and I think I did that pretty well. It was tough sitting out, always rehabbing, cheering for the team or serving as a mentor to our young guards. I wanted to be back out there.”
And he was.
His running of the team was key in the Spartans going up 15-4 after one quarter and increasing it to 16 at the half.
“Richard has so much speed, we are a different team with him in the lineup,” Justice said. “He came out and distributed the ball, he shot well and he also rebounded. I was proud of him.”
Princeton never could get closer than eight points in the fourth quarter, as Meadows scored from inside, outside and all points in between.
But every time Princeton would close, East had an answer.
And Michael McCormick was usually the one with the answer.
When Princeton cut the lead to 61-50, he scored on a run-out, was fouled after the shot and converted one of the two free throws.
When it got cut to 12, 66-54, he scored two straight baskets.
When Princeton finally whittled it to eight with 1:06 left, Hunter Roberts responded by making six straight free throws to close it out.
“We just didn’t shoot the ball well in the first quarter,” Princeton coach Ernie Gilliard said. “You put yourself in a hole and it’s hard to get out of it. They have a fine team and they played well.”
The loss overshadowed a 33 point performance by Ryan Meadows, who had 19 points in the fourth quarter.
“I thought our unsung hero tonight was Jordan Tincher,” Justice said. “He did a real good job on Meadows in the first half. Meadows is an outstanding player, and he showed that in the fourth. For us to hold him in check early was the key to us getting a fast start.”
Roberts led Greenbrier East with 25 points, McCormick had 22 points and nine rebounds and Obi Romeo had 13 points and 12 rebounds.
Meadows added six rebounds, four assists and seven steals for Princeton and Hunter Walters had 10 rebounds.
Greenbrier East (13-10) moves on to face Woodrow Wilson in the Section 2 championship game Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the Lilly Center.
Princeton finished the season 13-9.

GREENBRIER EAST (13-10)
Mike McCormick 8 6-12 22, Richard Romeo 3 1-2 8, Hunter Roberts 8 9-12 25, Jordan Tincher 1 0-2 2, Obi Romeo 6 1-2 13, Marque Atkinson 0 0-0 0, Austin Roop 0 0-0 0, Isaiah Kinder 0 0-0 0, Owen Browning 0 0-0 0, Evan Ramsey 0 0-0 0, Ben Hull 0 0-0 0, Dereck Weiford 3 0-0 9, Ryan Lindsey 0 0-0 0. Totals: 29 18-31 79.
PRINCETON (13-9)
Ryan Meadows 9 14-14 33, Austin Southcott 2 0-0 4, Tre Hopkins 4 0-0 8, Darnell Palmer 3 0-0 8, David Brewster 1 0-0 2, Derek Jennelle 0 0-0 0, Joseph Mills 0 0-0 0, Zen Clements 0 0-0 0, Hunter Walters 4 1-2 10, Aaron Ferguson 1 0-0 2. Totals: 24 15-16 67.
Greenbrier East.....................15 17 20 27 — 79
Princeton.................................4 12 20 31 — 67
Three-point goals — GE: 3 (Weiford 3); P: 4 (Meadows, Palmer 2, Walters); Fouled out — P: Hopkins, Palmer, Brewster. í