An upset in Chillicothe occurred last season in the 2A Sectionals. In the championship game, the underdog Princeton Tigers pulled off a (71-65) win over favored Peoria Manual. With that win, Princeton advanced to the DeKalb supersectional, where they were outdueled by Winnebago (69-41). The Tigers played tight in almost every loss last season, falling by two points or less in four of their six losses.

With the talent back on this Bureau County squad, Jesse Brandt may just lead Princeton to a short trip south in March to Carver Arena. Five starters are back for the Tigers, including a pair of NCIC All-Conference picks.

Ryne Vrana (6'7" Sr. Forward), a first-team all-conference selection will be joined in the front court by returning honorable mention all-conference pick, Scott Roseberg (6'2" Sr. Forward). Other starters back will be, Brik Wedekind (6'0" Sr. Guard), Brock Schmidt (6'4" Sr. Forward), and Reid Clary (6'4" Sr. Guard).

"Looking to build on last year's Elite Eight experience. Hope to continue the success. We must work hard to be as successful as we were last year," coach Jesse Brandt said. Helping out the 2009-10 team will be varsity newcomer Michael Murray (6'3" Jr. Forward).

Last year, the Tigers finished (7-3) in the Lincoln Division of the NCIC, a rugged basketball conference. "Tough conference year in and year out. Rock Falls has to be the favorite with (Chillicothe) IVC."

Jesse Brandt enters his fifth season as head coach at Princeton, where he has compiled a record of (59-54). The Tigers won a regional in his first season as head coach (2005-06). Brandt coached at Grant Park for one season prior to taking over at Princeton (2004-05). That team finished (5-19).

Princeton has qualified for the state finals twice in school history. Those two appearances came in back-to-back seasons (1953-54 & 1954-55). The latter squad brought home a fourth place trophy finishing the season (32-3). Don Sheffer coached those Princeton teams, and led the Tigers for 15 seasons (1950-51 to 1964-65). Sheffer compiled 247 wins in that span.

The Tigers have won a total of six sectional titles. It had been a 29-season dry spell for a sectional crown after that fourth place team, before Roger Lowe led Princeton to a supersectional appearance in (1991-92). That team finished (22-8). Bruce Placek led PHS to a sectional championship in (1993-94), as did John Rumley (2002-03).