TOP CAT: Princeton High girls’ basketball player Catherine Dyevich puts up a shot in recent action. Last week, junior star Dyevich scored 20 points in consecutive games as PHS defeated Hightstown 60-28 on January 23 and then beat Princeton Day School 57-32 last Friday. On Saturday, Dyevich contributed 12 points and 15 rebounds as the Little Tigers fell 55-48 to Stuart Country Day in a result under protest due to PHS head coach David Kosa’s contention that the Tartans used a player in more than the limit of five quarters between the junior varsity and varsity games. The Little Tigers are slated to play at Notre Dame on February 1 and at WW/P-South on February 5. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Having lost 26-24 to Hightstown in late December, the Princeton High girls’ basketball team was eager for the rematch when the foes met last week.

“We were very fired up, we really wanted revenge,” said PHS junior star Catherine Dyevich.

“We knew we could beat that team, and the first game was one of the worst games we have played this season.”

The Little Tigers came out firing in the January 23 contest, jumping out to a 19-7 lead by the end of the first quarter.

“In a lot of games where we have a better start, we play the game better,” said Dyevich, who scored seven points in the first quarter.

“In the Robbinsville game (a 38-25 win on January 9) we had the same start and we finished off beating them.”

With Dyevich ending up with 20 points, including draining three 3-pointers in the third quarter, PHS finished strong as it pulled away to a 60-28 win.

“It is our first time scoring 60 points this season, so that is a huge accomplishment,” said Dyevich. “Everyone got the chance to play, everyone did really well, and everyone contributed to the win so it is just great.”

In reflecting on her performance, Dyevich said that getting off to a hot start paved the way for her big game.

“When I start making them early in a game my confidence increases so it is
easier for me,” said Dyevich.

“That is definitely a trend with me in all of my basketball career that if my confidence is increased, I shoot so much better.”

With PHS improving to 8-7 after a 57-32 win over Princeton Day School last Friday, Dyevich believes the team is headed in the right direction.

“We are really turning the corner, especially compared to last year,” said Dyevich, who scored 20 points in the win over the Panthers.

“I think we have a chance in these next few games to get some more wins and end with a winning record, which is our goal.”

In Dyevich’s view, a special team chemistry has helped get the Little Tigers on the winning track.

“We are a very cohesive team, we all really want to win and we are eager to win,” said Dyevich, who is one of four key juniors on the squad along with Erin Devine and the Intartaglia twins, Anna and Olivia.

“We love playing well together and when we play as a team, we play so much better. We are a very close junior class and we work together real well. We have been playing together since middle school so that is where a lot of that cohesion has come from.”

PHS head coach Dave Kosa sensed that his players were fired up for the rematch with Hightstown.

“They gave us our first loss and they beat us so we learned from it,” said Kosa. “It is a long season and we just want to keep playing better and be ready at the end of the season.”

In Kosa’s view, the constant work ethic displayed by his players is starting to pay dividends.

“We are playing well, we are playing much better,” said Kosa. “We have worked really, really hard to get to this point and all of the hard work is starting to pay off right now.”

PHS has certainly been getting some very good work from Dyevich.

“Cat was in a zone today; it was her mom’s birthday too so maybe it was a birthday present to her too, but I will take that any day,” said Kosa.

“She is shooting confidently too; there are times where she does that in practice. In a couple of games she was pressing a little bit and we have tried to get her to relax. Today she looked real relaxed.”

In the win over Hightstown, PHS featured good offensive balance as Devine tallied 16 points with Olivia Intartaglia chipping in seven and Shaylah Marciano and Taylor Stone scoring six apiece.

“They are crashing the boards, they are really versatile so we are trying to use that,” said Kosa.

“We have a really good mix and they are starting to jell together.”

While the Little Tigers looked particularly sharp offensively against Hightstown, Kosa was just as excited about the team’s defensive effort.

“We are really priding ourselves on playing good defense because that keeps us in ball games,” said Kosa, whose team is slated to play at Notre Dame on February 1 and at WW/P-South on February 5.

“There are times where we just don’t shoot the ball well. In the first game that we played against them, we only had five points in the second half. We knew that coming in so we just let it all hang out tonight.”

Dyevich, for her part, is looking for PHS to build on its superb performance against Hightstown.

“Our practices are all really tough and we know when we have a poor practice we have to pick it up the next time,” said Dyevich.

“We know when we have good practices it definitely leads to better play in the games. We have to keep working and not get complacent and have this lead to more wins the rest of the season.”