(Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction) SHINING EXAMPLE: Stuart Country Day sophomore point guard Diamond Lewis races past a defender in action last winter. Last Saturday, Lewis scored 16 points and chipped in five rebounds and five assists to help Stuart top Baldwin 67-43 in the consolation game of the George School Cougar Classic.

Stuart Hoops Not Long on Height but Boasts Quickness and Depth

Bill Alden

Tony Bowman admits that his Stuart Country Day School basketball team lacks height.

But Bowman doesn’t believe that means it will be a tall order for his team to improve on the 11-12 record it posted last winter.

“One of the key things is that we have a very quick team,” said Bowman, who is in his fourth year guiding the Tartans.

“The kids are working hard. I think we will be a pleasant surprise with our good work ethic. I think this is the deepest team I’ve had here from one to eight. We have a lot of interchangeable parts.”

Stuart showed ist depth last weekend as it split two games in the George School Cougar Classic. On Friday, Stuart fell 65-53 to Agnes Irwin as Diamond Lewis scored 21 and freshman Amber Bowman, the coach’s daughter, chipped in 13. A day later, Stuart cruised to a 67-43 win over Baldwin with Bowman netting 19 points and Lewis adding 16 points, five rebounds, and five assists.

Bowman knows he has a gem in sophomore point guard Lewis, who averaged 16.1 points a game last season.

“Lewis looks real good; she is shooting well,” said Bowman, whose team advanced to the state Prep B semifinals last winter. “She will get to play some ‘2’ guard this year so she will get a break from the point.”

Bowman’s daughter will be a key factor in the Stuart backcourt mix. “Amber is a little taller than Diamond,” said Bowman. “She drives well and shoots well. She’ll be starting at the ‘2’ guard.”

Bowman will have some depth at guard with freshmen Jasmine Smarr and Julianne Carson. “Jasmine can play the ‘1’, ‘2’, or ‘3’,” said Bowman. “Jules will definitely help us in the guard spot.”

Up front, Bowman will be relying on senior Katie Baker and junior Sarah Schulte.

“Katie is good on the boards and defensively,” added Bowman. “She’s fast. She is hitting the 10-footer which should help us open up the floor. Sarah is taller and is working out well. She is faster to the ball and can knock down the 15 footer.”

Bowman is expecting a spark from his other starting forward, sophomore Alex Passano. “Alex is coming off of cross country and is running well,” said Bowman. “She is shooting well and finishing. We need her hustle and defense.”

Alex’s older sister, junior Caroline, will be a key reserve for the Tartans. “She may have the softest hands on the team,” asserted Bowman. “She catches the ball well in traffic. She’s good off the bench for us.”

Stuart’s depth will come in handy as Bowman has the team playing a higher level of competition this winter.

“We have a tougher schedule with more games,” said Bowman, whose team is next in action when it hosts Solomon Schechter on December 6. “We are scrimmaging against Notre Dame and we’re playing WW/P-S. We are playing in the Mercer County Tournament as well as in the Prep B. We are hosting our own tournament.”

In Bowman’s view, his young team should get better and better as the season goes on as long as it takes care of the fundamentals.

“We need to work on boxing out, playing defense, and putting pressure on the other guards,” said Bowman. “We have a young team and we should get better as the season goes on.”

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