(Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction) FIGHTING BACK: Princeton Day School boys’ basketball player Chris Bonnaig, right, fights past a defender in action last winter. Last Saturday at Notre Dame, senior guard Bonnaig contributed nine points as PDS rallied from an early 10-0 deficit to pull away to a 54-39 win over the Fighting Irish. The Panthers, now 3-3, are next in action when they play in the Delran Holiday Classic on December 27 and 28.

With Bonnaig Finding Offensive Rhythm, PDS Boys’ Basketball Making Progress

Bill Alden

Over his first three years on the Princeton Day School basketball team, Chris Bonnaig specialized in doing the dirty work.

The rugged guard has shown a knack for picking up a charge, getting a big steal or rebound, and playing tough defense.

But in the early stages of his senior campaign, Bonnaig is adding some offensive production to go with his intangibles.

Coming into Saturday’s game at Notre Dame, Bonnaig had tallied 11 points and 16 points in his last two outings.

In the opening minutes of the game against the Fighting Irish, though, Bonnaig and his teammates were ice cold as they fell behind 10-0 midway through the first quarter.

As the Panthers took a timeout in an attempt to stem the Notre Dame tide, Bonnaig and his teammates focused on some intangibles.

“We just really had to dig deep and adjust,” said Bonnaig. “It is just about pushing through; it starts on the defensive end for us.”

Focusing on defense and showing some poise, PDS found a rhythm and went into halftime trailing only 24-23.

“We really shot ourselves out of it early,” added Bonnaig. “We rushed into our offense instead of making good passes and attacking. It was about getting into the paint and kicking it out to our shooters. We weren’t hitting but as long as we stuck with it and went with the flow we definitely could get there.”

With Bonnaig chipping in all of his nine points in the second half, PDS pulled away to a 54-39 win as it improved to 3-3.

“In the second half, it was just about taking that lead,” said Bonnaig. “We got up two and then we wanted to extend it to five and then 10. We wanted to keep pushing and grinding. They tried to put pressure us in the fourth quarter and we coughed it up once or twice. For the most part, we were able to handle the pressure well. We were able to adjust to it and take over the game.”

In reflecting on his improved offensive game of late, Bonnaig spread the credit to his teammates.

“It is about getting within the offense,” said Bonnaig. “When you have guys like A.J. [Rubin], Davon [Reed] and Robby [Smukler], you have to be opportunistic about where you are on the floor. The guards do a good job of finding people. If the shot is not falling at the high post, you get to the rim and try to get to the free throw line.”

In Bonnaig’s view, the win over a tough Colonial Valley Conference (CVC) foe like Notre Dame should be a confidence builder for the Panthers.

“The CVC is where we love to play,” said Bonnaig. “It is physical, they are strong guys, and the refs let us play. This is what we train for to grind it out in games like this.”

PDS head coach Paris McLean certainly didn’t love what he saw from his team early on Saturday.

“I was pretty upset; we knew they were going to come out charging,” said McLean. “Most of the time, I say the most important part of the game is the first four minutes of the third quarter. I said today that it was the first four minutes of the first quarter. I said you did two things I didn’t want you to do — you dug yourselves a hole and you let them get out in the first quarter.”

The Panthers responded to McLean’s pep talk, showing poise as they clawed back into the contest. “I said it is just a basketball game; we are five games in and we have played some big games,” said McLean, who got 20 points from Reed in the win over Notre dame with Rubin chipping in 12.

“Let’s compose ourselves. We went back to what we know how to do which is quick ball movement and quick cuts and we got some easy baskets. We also stepped it up on the defensive end.”

A collective team hustle also helped pave the way to the victory. “That’s something you can speak about and you can try to coach but that is an internal motor of ‘I just want to win,’” said McLean, referring to his team’s hustling mentality. “That’s passion. Our boys have a passion to play and play for the PDS.It is really nice.”

It has been nice for McLean to watch Bonnaig develop an offensive rhythm. “Over the last five games, he has found a niche,” added McLean, whose team is next in action when it plays in the Delran Holiday Classic on December 27 and 28.

“He is in a zone in his senior year and it is great to see. He won’t settle for the jumper; he’s trying to go inside out rather than outside in.”

In McLean’s view, Bonniag’s play exemplifies what he is getting from his corps of seniors this winter.

“We have six hardworking seniors who are just really good quality kids,” asserted McLean, whose seniors include Nate Apgar, Kevin Francfort, Bryan Miner in addition to Bonnaig, Rubin, and Smukler.

“It’s not only the starters; they have all worked through the program. They can contribute; they are everything you would want from seniors as role models and giving us positive energy.”

Bonnaig, for his part, saw the rally Saturday as the epitome of the team’s positive mindset.

“We have gone through different stages in the program and we feel this is the year,” said Bonnaig.

“We have a lot of chemistry together as a team and we have a lot of great senior leadership. It is really all about staying together as a group. When we are down 10-0 in the first quarter, we stay together and don’t point fingers. We rise up together as a team.”

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