GETTING IT DONE: Princeton Day School boys’ basketball player Ethan Garita passes the ball in a recent game. Last Sunday, junior forward Garita scored 18 points to help second-seeded PDS defeat top-seeded Doane Academy 64-50 in the state Prep B final. The Panthers ended with winter with a 14-11 record. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Losing 69-63 to Hightstown in the Mercer County Tournament quarterfinals last Friday helped fuel the Princeton Day School boys’ basketball team as it prepared to face Doane Academy in the state Prep B final two days later.

“After the game we used that intensity and that loss and brought it to this game,” said PDS junior forward Ethan Garita.

“We worked hard yesterday in practice, we just ran over all defensive drills. We were talking, having our hands up. It is a family, we worked hard for this.”

With second-seeded PDS playing at top-seeded Doane in a bandbox of a gym with the bleachers packed and people lining the baselines at both ends of the court, the Panthers quieted the home fans, outscoring the Spartans 15-7 in the third quarter to go up 44-33.

“Our coach [Doug Davis] told us to keep moving,” said Garita. “During the half when we talked, he said use those first three minutes in the third quarter to punch them first and that is what we did.”

PDS absorbed some punches in the fourth quarter as Doane narrowed the gap to 52-46 but then pulled away to a 64-50 triumph, earning the program’s first Prep B crown since 2016.

“I saw that they took their big man out so I used that to my advantage to go against them,” said Garita, who ended up with 18 points and eight rebounds in the victory. “That is what I did today.”

Having transferred to PDS from Trenton High this past fall, Garita has quickly found a home at PDS.

“This is a great experience,” said Garita. “It is a good school, I love it here. This is a good transition.”

The experience of losing in the MCT final last winter while playing for Trenton helped motivate Garita and made the win on Sunday that much sweeter.

“I was struggling for a little bit,” said Garita, referring to the aftermath of the 62-57 loss to Trenton Catholic Academy in the 2019 MCT final.

“I worked hard after the season and just pushed myself to get better. I used that loss to win this right here; winning the Prep B replaced that loss.”

PDS head coach Davis pushed his players to bring their best in the finale.

“‘It is the last one, so how do you want to be remembered,’ that is what I told  our seniors,” said Davis.

“No one remembers the second place finisher. These guys came out with an energy and an aggression that was awesome.”

Davis liked the energy the Panthers displayed in their third quarter surge.

“The first three minutes of the third quarter was where we really pulled away,” said Davis.

“Then, for a second, we were not going to the rim. It was ‘all right, just get good shots.’ We went back to what got us the lead. It worked for us.”

Having lost a number of tight contests this winter as late leads evaporated, PDS was determined to close the deal against Doane.

“Knowing that it has happened to us so much, it can’t happen today,” said Davis. “It is definitely deserving, those guys really did a good job.”

Davis credited Garita with providing an inside presence that made the difference for PDS.

“At 6’8 we tell him just to be dominant, be the big man that you are and when he does, it is great for us,” said Davis.

“He is the pulse and he really did that today, especially with Jaylin [Champion-Adams] battling a leg injury.”

The squad’s core of seniors, which includes Jomar Meekins, Lucas Green, Tazee Mahjied, and Alan Norcott in addition to Champion-Adams, made a great contribution to the title run.

“They are a really good group; they like each other and like to play with each other,” said Davis, who got 12 points from Meekins in the win on Sunday with Champion-Adams adding 10 and Green and freshman Hampton Saunders contributing nine apiece.

“They really showed that today. Throughout the course of the season, we have gotten smarter as a team. For those seniors to win this one and go out as winners on top, it feels really good.”

The sour taste of losing to rival Pennington in the Prep B semis last winter provided an extra sense of urgency for those seniors.

“We remembered that, we took it into MCTs and it just didn’t work out for us,” said Davis, whose team ended the winter with a 14-11 record.

“We took that into the Preps and it worked out. We are a really good team defensively. They really play when they want to. It really stands out.”

In Garita’s view, playing with a chip on their shoulder helped the Panthers stand tall this winter.

“We are just a brotherhood, we all have a little background,” said Garita.

“We are all fighting for something, we are all trying to prove something. I think that is what makes this team special.”