STANDING TALL: Princeton Day School girls’ basketball player Maddie Coyne dribbles the ball in a game earlier this season. Last Wednesday, senior star Coyne had eight points, seven rebounds, and 12 blocked shots in a losing cause as the Panthers fell 44-28 to WW/P-North. On Sunday, Coyne contributed a team-high 17 points as fifth-seeded PDS fell 53-44 to fourth-seeded Academy of St. Elizabeth in the state Prep B quarterfinals. The Panthers, now 3-14, host South Hunterdon on February 8 before starting play in the Mercer County Tournament. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Over the last four years, Maddie Coyne spearheaded the defense for Princeton Day School girls’ soccer team, helping the Panthers to four state Prep B titles.

This winter, the willowy Coyne is standing tall for the PDS girls’ basketball team, anchoring things around the basket for the Panthers.

Last Wednesday, Coyne had 12 blocked shots and seven rebounds in a losing cause as the Panthers fell 44-28 to WW/P-North.

For Coyne, excelling at the defensive end comes naturally. “I just think it is because I am big.  I have always been a defensive player, even when I was young,” said Coyne. “I keep things organized and I have a couple of blocked shots. That is my thing.”

Against WW/P-North, things didn’t look too organized on the offensive end as the Panthers trailed 27-9 at halftime.

“It started out kind of slow,” said Coyne. “Our shots weren’t hitting in the beginning. We picked it up, which was good.”

PDS started hitting its stride in the third quarter as it outscored the Northern Knights 13-12.

“We did what we were told, we came out with energy,” said Coyne. “We had plays where there would be an isolation with the person at the top and then we come off with screens.”

Getting open on some of those plays, Coyne tallied eight points but it wasn’t enough as the Panthers couldn’t overcome the halftime deficit on the way to the 44-28 setback.

“I will bring it up and give it to somebody at the point and then I will cut real hard down low and then I will try to get the shot,” said Coyne, who contributed 17 points last Sunday as fifth-seeded PDS fell 53-44 to fourth-seeded Academy of St. Elizabeth in the state Prep B quarterfinals to drop to 3-14.

Having committed to attending George Washington University and play for its Division I women’s soccer program, Coyne is savoring her final basketball campaign.

“This year it is basically about having fun,” said Coyne, who played hoops her first two years and then took last winter off as she focused on her soccer recruiting process.

“I am so happy to be back. I love the girls, Ryan [Robinson], Kate [Bennett], and Bridget [Kane]. I have been with them for four years. The four of us will go, have lunch together, and hang out together. It is so fun.”

With PDS hosting South Hunterdon on February 8 before starting play in the Mercer County Tournament, Coyne is hoping to have some fun down the home stretch of the season.

“Sometimes we will come out slow and then we will be even the rest of the game,” said Coyne.

“We lose by the amount that we let up in the first quarter; that is annoying. We need to be playing the full game.”