By JIM NELSON
for the Daily Telegraph
PRINCETON — Bluefield took advantage of Ryan Meadows’ absence to mount a 10-0 run starting the third quarter, catapulting the Beavers to a 57-49 win over the Princeton Tigers on Saturday night.
The victory, Bluefield’s third in a row, gave the Beavers the title of the Princeton Senior High Christmas Tournament sponsored by Alpha Natural Resources.
In a physical first half, the Tigers took a 21-17 lead to the locker room on a Hunter Walters three at the buzzer.
However, with 50 seconds remaining in the first half, Meadows blocked a shot but landed awkwardly, sustaining an ankle injury, and Bluefield increased its defensive intensity in his absence.
Outscoring Princeton 25-7 in the third quarter, Bluefield put the game away. Meadows tried to return, but his mobility was limited.
The Tigers cut the deficit of 42-28 at the end of three periods to seven points, 47-40, with four minutes remaining on an Austin Southcott basket. Bluefield scored five unanswered and finished the game effectively.
Bluefield’s Anthony Eades led all scorers with 22 points and Lykel Collier added 17. Darnell Palmer and David Brewster each contributed 10 points for Princeton.
The Tigers (1-2) return to action Wednesday entertaining defending Triple-A state champion George Washington. Bluefield (3-0) hosts Shady Spring on Tuesday.

At Princeton Senior High School
BLUEFIELD
Amaker 3, Manns 4, Eades 22, Collier 17, Trimble 2, Yost 6, Edwards 3.
PRINCETON
Meadows 9, Walters 9, Jennelle 2, Palmer 10, Brewster 10, Southcott 7.
Bluefield.......10 7 25 15 — 57
Princeton.......11 10 7 21 — 49
Three-point goals: BHS 1 (Collier 1), PSHS 2 (Palmer 1, Walters 1).