DRAWING A CROWD: Stuart Country Day School basketball player Taylor States, right, looks to make an inside move in a game last winter. Last Friday, junior forward States posted a double-double with 19 points and 17 rebounds but it wasn’t enough as Stuart lost 35-32 to Hamilton West. The Tartans, who moved to 2-6 with the loss, host Haddonfield on January 23 and WW/P-North on January 27. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

With the Stuart Country Day School basketball team having lost five of its previous six games as it hosted Hamilton West last Friday, the Tartans came out firing.

Stuart jumped out to a 10-3 first quarter lead as junior star forward Taylor States scored six points and her younger sister, freshman guard Lia, added two.

But in the second quarter, Hamilton outscored the Tartans 12-5 to draw even at 15-15 by halftime.

“We start strong and then the second quarter has been rough this season,” said Stuart head coach Tony Bowman.

Taylor States made things rough on Hamilton scoring 11 points in the second half.

“Taylor is always steadfast, every place we play, they double her and she still scores,” said Bowman. “She gets to do what she wants when she wants, inside and out. She has a shot, she goes to the basket. Bottom line, she is a stud.”

Despite the output from States, who ended up with 19 points and 17 rebounds, the Tartans came up short, falling 35-32 as they moved to 2-6.

Bowman acknowledged that States can’t do it on her own. “She needs a supporting cast who can help her out,” said Bowman. “I need scoring from everyone, everybody has to be a threat. That is the way we teach it and it is not happening so I am going back to the drawing board.”

The younger States gave glimpses of her potential against Hamilton, scoring seven points with four rebounds and two assists.

“I think for Lia, it is growing pains, she had a couple of good games,” said Bowman. “She made some nice plays today but her turnover ratio is too high.”

Looking ahead, Bowman believes that others in the supporting cast will step up.

“Right now I am hopeful but I think I have to be a little more patient to find out who is able to do more than just Taylor,” said Bowman. “We have been drilling, we have a shooting machine, we do layup drills and everything. I haven’t seen the fruit of my labor as of yet and I am waiting.”

With Stuart slated to host Haddonfield on January 23 and WW/P-North on January 27, Bowman hopes that his squad can get into a rhythm with more game reps.

“We have got big games for the next week or so and I think we are going to do well,” said Bowman. “Now we are going to be playing all of the time and I am looking forward to playing some better games. You can play and then you can make quicker adjustments but if you play a game and wait five or six days, it is not the same. You don’t get the same pressure. If you have the same pressure every two or three days, then you are playing, you are rolling, and you can see everything.”