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EWING COMMUNITY JANUARY 2024 FREE
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EHS grads make impact for Centenary hoops BY RICH FISHER
Outgoing Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes (left) with N.J. State Police Superintendent Col. Patrick J. Callahan at the State Police Museum and Learning Center in Ewing in February 2023.
Retiring Hughes reflects on 20 years as county executive BY BILL SANSERVINO
For the first time in two decades, long-time Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes won’t be sitting behind the desk of the county’s top administrative elected official. Former Assemblyman Dan Benson — a Democrat who
was overwhelmingly elected in November over Republican Lisa Richford — will be sworn in at the county’s annual reorganization meeting, which was set to be held at the Trenton War Memorial on Thursday, Jan. 4, at 6 p.m. Hughes, who was not chosen to run again in favor of Benson
during the Mercer Democratic Party Convention last March, will be looking to move on to greener pastures after many years in elected office. When asked in a recent interview with the Ewing Observerabout what Benson’s biggest challenge will be, Hughes joked: See HUGHES, Page 6
The youthful Centenary University men’s basketball team has a distinct Mercer County flavor to it this season, and the Ewing High feeder system is playing a big part in it. Not only did former Trenton Catholic Academy standout Chris LaBelle take over as interim head coach one game into the campaign; Steinert grad John Giordano is a team captain. And then there is the freshman duo of Kenny Rankin and Naire Preston, former Blue Devils now making an immediate impact on the program. Preston originally planned on going to Cabrini until the school shut down. When he decided on Centenary, it was a bonus for both Rankin and LaBelle. “They were super well-coached by coach Shelly (Dearden),” LaBelle said. “You take that, and add in the fact they have a really good connection playing with one another. Especially on the offensive end, they find each other all the time. I think it’s a huge help for each of them playing with someone they’ve played with before.” The statistics bear that out. Through the Cyclones first eight games, Rankin led the team in scoring (14.1 points per game), rebounding (5.0 per game) and
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assists (17) while playing forward. Preston was third in scoring (10.0 ppg), second in shooting percentage (.468) and first in steals (12). The guard is also a defensive stopper. For Preston, the Hackettstown school has provided a thankful landing spot after some uncertainty when Cabrini folded. “When I first got that email I automatically sent it to everybody I knew,” Preston said. “I was confused about what was gonna happen. But I know I made the right decision with my family and the coaches at Centenary. I knew this school was a good fit for me, because I knew somebody that was going here. And someone that was familiar with the program a little bit because of coach Paul.” He was referring to Paul Jones, a former Ewing/Centenary player who was recently elevated from Blue Devils assistant to head coach when Shelly Dearden stepped down in late November. Along with Jones’ input, Naire also had a friend waiting to greet him. “I knew I would have that sense of brotherhood since I knew Kenny,” Preston said. “And also guys around the area — Trev, coach Chris, it was good to have some familiar faces.” See CENTENARY, Page 11
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