MIGHTY MAC: Princeton Day School boys’ basketball star John MacArthur makes a pass in a game last season. Senior forward MacArthur’s emergence as a go-to scorer has helped PDS get off to a 5-0 start this winter. The Panthers are next in action when they compete in the Springside Chestnut Hill Academy (Pa.) Tournament from December 16-18. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

John McArthur was having a relatively quiet game through three quarters as the Princeton Day School boys’ basketball team hosted Abington Friends last Thursday in its home opener.

Heading into the fourth quarter, PDS senior star forward McArthur had eight points as the Panthers clinged to a 45-39 lead. But with PDS guard Chase Lewis suffering a leg injury in the waning moments of the third quarter, McArthur knew he had to pick things up.

“It was definitely tough, he was a big contributor in the beginning and really helped us stay on the game,” said McArthur of Lewis, who went down in heap on a drive and had to be helped to the bench with the crowd on hand hushed. “After Chase went down, I felt like I had to step up to help my team.”

McArthur did just that, scoring 11 points down the stretch, helping PDS hold on for a 64-56 win over Abington Friends.

“I think we started slowing it down and we all started crashing the boards, that was definitely a big thing,” said McArthur. “We also made our free throws.”

In the final minute of the contest, McArthur made four straight free throws to seal the victory for the Panthers.

“It was just all practice, I spent a lot of time on my free throws in the summer because I wasn’t really
hitting them last year,” said McArthur, reflecting on coming through at the foul line. “I put in a lot of hard work and I felt confident.”

McArthur‘s diligence over the offseason has given him increased confidence in his all-around game.

“I have really been working on my dribbling skills,” said McArthur, who scored 26 points as PDS defeated the George School (Pa.) 68-51 last Saturday to improve to 5-0.

“I have been trying to transform myself into a guard to play at a higher level for next year because I know I can’t stay in high school forever.”

PDS head coach Tim Williams believes McArthur is providing a high level of competitiveness for the Panthers.

“John has got that winner’s mentality; we have been moving him inside and outside and he is learning a different position than what he had played last year,” said Williams.

“He is still feeling it out a little bit and sometimes he disappears a little because of that. He shows when he needs to. It was the same thing when we played Pennington the other night, when we needed him, he stepped up. He had some big rebounds tonight and the free throws he hit were huge.”

PDS got a huge contribution from freshman Jaylin Champion in the win over Abington Friends as he contributed 13 points.

“Jaylin is a physical phenom; he is going to be a fabulous player for us,” said Williams.

“He is learning the system, he has been asked to do a lot of things that he hasn’t been asked to do before. He got in a little foul trouble tonight, which was frustrating to him but he played in much more control. In the last couple of games, he has been trying to do too much and that led to turnovers but not tonight. I thought he was really good.”

The Panthers need sophomore guard David Coit to be really good at running the offense, particularly in the absence of Lewis.

“David is a great offensive player but he needs to be more of a floor general and take control in those situations where we need to take some more time on offense or we need to walk it up,” said Williams of Coit, who had 15 points against Abington Friends as he fought through a twisted ankle.

“We need someone to go get the ball and handle it and distribute it to the right person. He is more than capable.”

Williams believes his team is capable of pulling through even when it is not at its sharpest.

“I still think the experience from last year (winning the state Prep B title) carries through and even though it wasn’t pretty, that gave us that little extra that we needed when it was a three-point game,” said Williams, whose team is next in action when it competes in the Springside Chestnut Hill Academy (Pa.) Tournament from December 16-18.

“It has been a great start, our leadership has been key to that. We haven’t made it look pretty every time but I think our experience and our leadership is carrying the day in some sloppy games.”

In McArthur’s view, the Panthers have the potential to experience some big things this winter.

“I feel like the state championship definitely helped us out in gaining confidence for this season,” said McArthur.

“We are off to a good start. We definitely need to follow the plays and coach’s plan, and keep moving the ball. I feel like we are going to do well.”