(Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction) MAKING STRIDES: Princeton Day School guard Kenny Holzhammer dribbles the ball up the court in a recent game as PDS head coach Paris McLean looks on in the background. Sophomore guard Holzhammer’s offensive production, which has seen him average 16.4 points a game, has been a major factor in PDS’ 9-2 start. The Panthers will look to keep on the winning track when they play road games at Rutgers Prep on January 10, at Bound Brook on January 12, and at Wardlaw-Hartridge on January 15.

Holzhammer’s Development a Big Factor as PDS Boys’ Hoops Piles Up Victories

Bill Alden

After firing in a three-pointer against Pennington last Saturday in the first quarter, Princeton Day School guard Kenny Holzhammer exhorted his teammates, hollering “let’s go.”

The fired-up sophomore guard followed his own advice, erupting for 18 points in the first half as PDS built a 29-24 halftime cushion.

But the Panthers went cold after intermission as Pennington rallied to take a 44-36 lead into the fourth quarter.

Holzammer and his teammates, though, got things going down the stretch as they utilized some stifling defense and the hot shooting of guard Joe Rogers to overtake the Red Raiders and pull out a satisfying 58-50 win.

In reflecting on the rally, Holzhammer said the players responded to the positive approach taken by head coach Paris McLean as the team gathered in its huddle after the third quarter.

“To go down by eight, I was expecting to get yelled at,” recalled Holzhammer, who contributed a key bucket late in the fourth quarter and ended the game with 22 points.

“But Paris said ‘I don’t have to yell at you guys, we believe in ourselves and we’ll do well.’ Joe took over the game.”

While Rogers’ 18-point outburst in the quarter played a key role in the win, the rally was also sparked by McLean’s decision to change to a man-to-man defense from the 3-2 zone the team had been employing.

“That was the best man defense we have played all year,” said Holzhammer. “We were going to the zone earlier because we thought they would have trouble. To Pennington’s credit, they did well with it. With our man defense, we had more of a will to win. We were tired but we had to keep going.”

Having been through a year of high school ball, Holzhammer has a better ability to keep going.

“I’m a step quicker than I was last year as a freshman,” said Holzhammer, who could only manage six points last Monday as PDS fell 65-41 to Princeton High to move to 9-2 on the season.

“Going against 17- and 18-year-olds, the game is quicker. Having a year under my belt helps, I’m able to keep up with the speed of the game. You know what you are getting into when you step into a Pennington-PDS game.”

Holzhammer’s game has taken a step forward due to the chemistry he has developed with Rogers, a junior transfer from PHS who ended up with a game-high 24 points in the win over Pennington.

“We just know what each other is thinking now,” added Holzhammer, who is averaging 16.4 points a game with Rogers pouring in 22.8 points a contest. “I can look at him and know what he’s doing and he’s the same with me.”

Coach McLean, for his part, is thrilled with the production he is getting from Holzhammer and Rogers.

“Kenny is a rhythm shooter and he had that little bounce to him and it was clear out for Kenny,” recalled McLean with a smile.

“We only have one or two set plays and they are both for Kenny and Joe. Joe Rogers catches fire in the fourth quarter; it was unbelievable. When you have two kids scoring like that, you are going to have a good day.”

McLean, for his part, was happy to see his team show resilience as it bounced back from its first defeat of the season, a 65-43 defeat to Middlesex on December 29 in the championship game of the Dunellen holiday tournament.

“That Middlesex game is one we would like to have back, we lost big and took one on the chin,” said McLean.

“To have a big layoff and then have three practices and come back and play this way is really good. I told the guys, that’s a huge character win. It says a lot about this team; when push comes to shove, we can get it done.”

One of PDS’ top character guys is rugged senior forward C. J. Martino, who is the team’s top rebounder and inside threat.

“He may not get the headlines or score the points but what he gets done on the boards gets us going,” said McLean. “If you can’t keep people off the glass, we can’t start our break and get our shooters open. He does the dirty work.”

The team has collectively worked hard as it reversed its fortunes after last year’s disappointing 3-18 campaign.

“I told these kids from the beginning that if we believe in ourselves, we are going to be OK,” said McLean, whose team has road games at Rutgers Prep on January 10, at Bound Brook on January 12, and at Wardlaw-Hartridge on January 15.

“We didn’t know what kind of season it was going to be and we still have a lot of games left. If we take things one game at a time, one possession at a time, and one stop at a time, we’ll be alright.”

Holzhammer, for his part, is enjoying the team’s focus on the present. “The will to be here everyday and wanting to come and play basketball,” said Holzhammer, when asked what is different about this year’s team.

“It’s great knowing that you are going to be in every game and that you have the coaching staff behind you. It’s fun now.”

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