TURNING THE CORNER: Princeton Day School boys’ basketball player Adam Stewart, left, looks for room along the baseline last Friday as PDS hosted Willingboro. Senior star Stewart scored eight points in the game to help the Panthers edge Willingboro 36-35. PDS, who improved to 4-5 with the win, plays at South Brunswick on January 16 before hosting Trenton Central on January 21. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Adam Stewart beamed as he was introduced last Friday on his Senior Night for the Princeton Day School boys’ basketball team.

With posters of Stewart and fellow senior Abdoulaye Seydi on the wall in the gym and joined by his parents, Stewart soaked in a loud ovation from the crowd packing the stands.

“I am glad everybody came out, I am just really happy to see everybody in the stands,” said star guard Stewart. “Obviously when the game started, we had to lock in. The emotions were great, the energy was great from the team, from the crowd.”

Riding that emotion, PDS jumped out to a 12-2 lead over the Chimeras with Stewart contributing five points in the run.

“We were bouncing off each other’s energy even before the game.” said Stewart. “I think that is what really kept us in it.”

After Willingboro rallied to take a 22-20 halftime lead, Stewart focused on playmaking to help the Panthers pull out a 36-35 win as they improved to 4-5.

“I was getting a lot of open shots in the first because they were packing in that zone,” said Stewart, who ended up with eight points on the day with sophomore guard Gary Jennings scoring 11 points to lead the way for the Panthers. “When it started getting tougher and they started bringing that zone up, I was looking for my teammates. We wanted to win, you have to make the right play.”

In earning the win, the Panthers turned up the heat on defense.

“We really had to bring up the defensive intensity,” said Stewart. “They were getting a lot off the dribble shots, so going into that fourth quarter we focused on our on-ball defense and not letting them get to the rim and having harder closeouts. It worked out, I don’t think they scored as much as they did before.”

Focusing on weight lifting over the last few years to make himself stronger, Stewart’s physicality has helped enhance his emergence as a team leader.

“It really does help me out because even though I am shorter, I can still get physical,” said the 6’1 Stewart. “As a senior I really wanted to set the tone for games. I have taken more of a leadership role because of the youth on this team. With our smaller size, I wanted to be an example on defense, be an example on offense and not be selfish. Even if I have that leadership role, I still want to set the example that we can move the ball and finish at the rim and get our teammates involved.”

Setting the tone with his example, Stewart has helped the Panthers come together.

“We had a couple of people that left but for the people that stayed I think the camaraderie is great,” said Stewart. “In the offseason, we were playing every day in here. We have two seniors and two juniors, it is still a young team. I want to give the sophomores credit; they are confident in their game and with the ball. They play like upperclassmen.”

With PDS playing at South Brunswick on January 16 before hosting Trenton Central on January 21, Stewart believes the squad has plenty of room for growth.

“Moving forward, we need to pick up the defensive intensity,” said Stewart. “We are still young, we are still getting to know each other. It is just continuing to work on our game. When shots fall we are a good team. We just need to be able to lock in and still play defense and still be able to make layups when shots aren’t falling.”