HARD DRIVING: Princeton Day School girls’ basketball player Maddie Coyne heads to the hoop in a game earlier this season. Last Wednesday, senior star Coyne played well in a losing cause, contributing 12 points and 10 rebounds as PDS fell 60-35 at Stuart Country Day. The Panthers, now 1-5, are next in action when they compete in the Stuart Invitational Tournament from December 26-29. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Over the final 21 minutes of its game at Stuart Country Day School last Wednesday, the Princeton Day School girls’ basketball team outscored the host Tartans 35-34.

But having fallen behind 26-0 in the first 11 minutes of the contest, the solid finish by PDS kept things respectable as Stuart prevailed 60-35. 

“It was a rough start, we didn’t do a great job with the press even though we put in a press break,” said PDS head coach Kamau Bailey.

“I think the nerves got the best of us in the beginning. I called a couple of timeouts just to relax the girls because we were just throwing the ball away on cross-court passes and not really protecting the ball. They capitalized on that which they should because they are a good team. Once we relaxed a little bit and got our faculties, we moved the ball.”

Senior guard Bridget Kane shot the ball well for PDS in the loss to Stuart, ending up with 15 points.

“Bridget is a leader on and off the court,” said Bailey. “She has really done a fantastic job this season just in terms of seeing and reading what is going on out there and communicating that back to me. It is like having an extra coach on the floor for me.”

In getting off to a 1-5 start, the Panthers have been hampered by injuries.

“In no game thus far have I had all five starters,” said Bailey, noting that senior star Ryan Robinson was sidelined for the Stuart game.

“I have a really good group of girls. They are working hard in practice and as soon as we tweak a few things, we are going to be in good shape. I think after the holiday, everybody will be back and healthy and we will be ready to go.”

In Bailey’s view, PDS’s 74-22 win over Villa Victoria on December 11 was a good step forward for the squad.

“We have a tough schedule to start off and it is good to get a win,” said Bailey.

“You don’t want to go 0-5 or 0-6; that really does get to the team morale. I wanted to make sure that we capitalized on that and win the games that we are supposed to win and really try to challenge those teams when we are the underdog.”

With the Panthers next in action when they compete in the Stuart Invitational Tournament from December 26-29, Bailey believes that his players will be ready for that challenge.

“I think we are going to have a really solid season. I am really optimistic with who we have and where we are at,” maintained Bailey.

“On this particular day, we just didn’t get off to a great start. We’ll be fine; this was a tough game, we played a great team. They have got some good talent. We have all of the right pieces; it is just a matter of putting them together.”