STEPPING UP: Princeton Day School boys’ basketball player Chase Lewis drives to the basket in a game this winter. Sophomore guard Lewis emerged as the team’s top player, helping PDS post a record of 5-17. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

When the Princeton Day School boys’ basketball team faced Hightstown in a Mercer County Tournament consolation game last month, it was not just the season finale, it was the end of an era.

The clash marked the last game for PDS head coach Paris McLean, who had previously decided to step down at the end of the 2014-15 campaign after eight seasons guiding the program.

“Now is the right time for me to step down, we have a great group and I need to do other things around the school and I realized that I didn’t have time in my schedule to keep coaching basketball,” said McLean, a former PDS football and hoops star who served as an assistant coach for three seasons before taking the helm.

The Panthers gave McLean a great effort in the finale as they fell 57-43 to Hightstown, a marked improvement from a 64-39 loss to the Rams in a regular season meeting between the foes.

“We played well, it was a good way to end,” said McLean, whose team posted a final record of 5-17.

“Of course you want to end with a win but we battled to the end. We improved from the first time we played them. We went to their place and they ran us out of the gym. J.P. Radvany had a couple of 3s and Chase Lewis played really well. I was happy for the seniors, they all got the chance to play and showcase their skills one last time.”

Seniors Chris Azzarello, Josiah Meekins, Zaire Mitchell, Neil Kumar, Rob Hoffman, Marco Pinheiro, Cody Meagher, and Radvany gave the program more than just their skills on the court.

“Some were coming back, like Marco and Chris, and some were playing for the first time,” said McLean.

“If we didn’t have them, we would have had to move up some freshmen and sophomores who needed to play JV this year. They gave great leadership and were great ambassadors for the school.”

McLean tipped his hat to veterans Radvany, a Villanova baseball recruit, and Meekins for their special contributions.

“J.P. played as a freshman and came back as a junior, he didn’t have to play this year but he did,” said McLean.

“With all of the sports specialization now, he could have just focused on baseball. Josiah was consistent, he played all four years with varsity and six years at school, if you count middle school.”

Sophomore guard Chase Lewis had a great year for the Panthers, emerging as the team’s top player and floor leader.

“I don’t know if I could have experienced what Chase did as a sophomore,” said McLean.

“He was the best player on the team. He was the best ball handler, scorer, and defender. He had a lot of burden on his shoulders and he handled it beautifully.”

Sophomores Mark Washington, Paul Franzoni, Hassan Ladiawala, along with junior James Fragale will have more on their shoulders next season.

“Mark Washington stepped up at the the end,” added McLean. “Paul Franzoni got better as the season went on. Hassan Ladiwala improved, and James Fragale will be a good senior.”

In McLean’s view, the returners will benefit from being thrown into the fire this winter.

“I think it is court experience; it is not going to be measured this year,” said McLean. “It is when the sophomores become juniors and then seniors. They are battle-tested. They took their lumps this year but they saw growth.”

As for McLean, he takes a slew of positive memories from his experience in guiding the program, a tenure which was highlighted by the spectacular career of Davon Reed, who scored a program-record 2,102 points and led the Panthers to  Prep B finals in 2012 and 2013 before going on to star for the University of Miami.

“When I inherited the program, it was really down,” said McLean. “We got it up pretty quickly. We had great kids. I will remember winning Prime Time and making it to consecutive Prep B finals but more importantly it is the friendships and the player that you are still in touch with. Coaching Davon was a once in a lifetime thing. It was fun to be part of something special; he let us be a part of it.”