(Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction) caption: POWER DRIBBLE: Princeton Day School boys’ basketball player A.J. Rubin, right, dribbles past a defender in recent action. Last Saturday, junior point guard Rubin chipped in 11 points to help PDS top Hamilton 53-36. The Panthers, who improved to 4-6 with the win, host Montgomery High on January 13 before playing at North Hunterdon on January 16.

Rubin Maturing Into Key Floor Leader as PDS Boys’ Hoops Makes Progress

Bill Alden

A.J. Rubin was put on the spot last Thursday as the Princeton Day school boys’ basketball team hosted Timothy Christian.

The junior point guard was sent to the foul line several times in the waning moments of the contest as Timothy Christian cut a double-digit PDS lead down to four.

Rubin calmly stroked in four free throws down the stretch as the Panthers held on for a 49-44 victory.

For Rubin, coming through in the clutch exemplified the maturity he is showing in his third varsity campaign.

“I came into the game not making my free throws; I tried to concentrate a little more,” said Rubin, who ended up with 11 points on the evening.

“I feel more confident this year being an upperclassman. My teammates help me out a lot and Paris [PDS head coach Paris McLean] gives us a good system so it is pretty easy to play it.”

In Rubin’s view, playing hard defense helped pave the way for the PDS win.

“In previous years we have been known as a team that doesn’t play great defense,” said Rubin. “This year, we have really stepped up the intensity.”

Facing some big challenges early in the season by playing in the Peddie School Invitational Tournament and a holiday tourney in Hillsborough helped the Panthers develop their intensity.

“We had a tough early season schedule and I think that got us ready,” said Rubin.

“We are not used to seeing teams like Hun or post grad teams. It helps a lot, especially for younger guys like Davon [Reed] and Jordan [Page]; it gives them a lot of good experience and I thought they responded great.”

Head coach McLean appreciates how Rubin has utilized his experience to develop into a solid floor leader.

“A.J. knocked down some free throws at the end; he has been playing with more composure,” said McLean. “I would like to see him play with even more composure. He understands his role, he accepts it, and he loves basketball; He is a workhorse.”

Although McLean was happy to see PDS get a victory against Timothy Christian, he maintained it wasn’t the team’s best work.

“We won the basketball game but there were a lot of things we could have done better basketball-wise,” said McLean.

“The team chemistry was not together. It was a win but it wasn’t a good win but at this point in the season we are going to take a win anyway we can get one.”

The Panthers did get a good win last Saturday as they raced past Hamilton 53-36.

“Hamilton is a very good basketball team; I think they have a lot of young talent like us,” said McLean, whose team improved to 4-6 with the victory over the Hornets. “You reach a point where as a team we need to move ahead.”

PDS freshman Davon Reed and sophomore Jordan Page are showing their talent as they get more and more varsity experience.

“Davon had a very nice game; he is a very nice young player,” asserted McLean.

“He is still learning some of the fine points of the game. In making the leap from middle school to high school, he went from being the oldest kid to the youngest kid. He more than holds his own. I am happy with Jordan; he has been working really hard inside. He’s going to be a force for this team.”

Senior center Cody Exter is emerging as an inside force for the Panthers.

“I can’t say enough about Cody Exter; he has really stepped up as a leader with his play,” said McLean of Exter who had 10 points, 13 rebounds, and five blocked shots in the win over Hamilton.

“He is more vocal. Before he wouldn’t say two words to you; now he is talking in the huddle, pulling guys together and trying to make sure people are on the same page.”

Rubin believes that PDS will get people’s attention as the season unfolds.

“We have a few tough games coming up,” said Rubin, who will look to keep the Panthers on the winning track as they host Montgomery High on December 13 before playing at North Hunterdon on January 16. “If we play hard and like a team, we can do some damage in the county.”

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