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(Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction) caption: LEAP OF FAITH: Princeton Day School senior star Dylan Leith adjusts the ball in midair as he soars to the hoop in PDS' 57-43 win over Morristown-Beard last Sunday in the state Prep B quarterfinals. The Panthers, now 15-8, play at Solomon Schecter on Wednesday in the Prep B semis with the winner advancing to the title game on February 22 at South Brunswick.d of caption

PDS Boys' Hoops Tops Mo-Beard, Advances to State Prep B Semis

By Bill Alden

After having lost to Morristown-Beard in the last two state Prep B tournaments, the Princeton Day School boys' basketball team was determined to turn the tables on the Crimson this year.

Taking a No. 6 seed into its quarterfinal clash at No. 3 Mo-Beard last Sunday, PDS served notice early that it wasn't about to let history repeat itself.

With all five starters in sync from the opening tip, the Panthers built a 27-20 lead by the halftime break. When Mo-Beard whittled the margin to four points in the third quarter, Drew Godwin hit a clutch three-pointer to push the PDS cushion back to seven.

The Panthers never looked back as they cruised to a sweet 57-43 triumph to improve to 15-8 on the season. Godwin and Alex Suguira each scored 17 points to lead PDS while Dylan Leith chipped in 11 and center Dave Pepperman imposed his will in the paint.

In reflecting on the win, PDS head coach Ahmed El-Nokali maintained it was a true team effort. "I'd say it was our best performance of the year from start to finish," said El-Nokali. "For some reason, all five starters clicked, everybody stepped up. We're a senior-oriented team and the guys weren't ready for the season to end."

PDS' reward for the win is a semifinal clash at second-seeded Solomon Schecter on February 18. While the Panthers cruised past Solomon Schecter 47-31 last Thursday, El-Nokali knows his team faces a much stiffer test in the rematch.

"They were missing two of their key people," said El-Nokali referring to last week's game with the Road Runners. "They didn't press because they knew Pennington was in the stands scouting them. They are a pressing team and they held back. I think we need to take care of the ball. The rest of our game picks up the more shots we get."

El-Nokali believes his team is ready to take care of business as it looks to advance to the state championship game which is being held on February 22 at South Brunswick High.

"They were fired up after the game Sunday but then Dave said 'it's not over, this is just the quarterfinal,'" recalled El-Nokali, whose core of seniors includes Pepperman, Sugiura and Leith. "It's been exciting. The practices have picked up, they've been more intense lately. It's just a special time of the year."

And if the Panthers keep their focus, they could just produce a special ending to their season.