(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski) TURNING THE PAGE: Princeton Day School boys’ basketball player Jordan Page heads to the basket last Wednesday as PDS topped Moorestown Friends 41-34. Junior center Page, who recently returned to the team after a brief hiatus earlier in the season, scored eight points in the victory. The Panthers, now 10-7, host Capital Prep on January 27 and Pingry on January 31.

Return of Page Bolstering Inside Game As PDS Boys’ Hoops Pulling Out Wins

Bill Alden

Last winter, Jordan Page didn’t let a battle with a benign brain tumor keep him from playing for the Princeton Day School boys’ basketball team.

This season, though, Page decided to take a hiatus from hoops as he focused on football in order to enhance his prospects to land with a Division 1 program in that sport.

But as holiday time arrived, junior Page had a change of heart. “I had decided to do what I needed for football; there was a lot of stuff going on,” said Page, who played on the gridiron for the Emily Fisher Charter School this fall due to PDS dropping its football program.

“I made a rash decision and graciously enough coach [Paris] McLean let me back. I came back around Christmas break and I started practicing.”

It didn’t take long for Page to get in synch with his basketball teammates. “I have been playing basketball since I was four years old,” said Page, noting that he is no longer having any problems resulting from the removal of his brain tumor, which had been blocking spinal fluid and sidelined him during the 2009 football season.

“A lot of my friends were mad that I didn’t come out so they wanted me to come back. I have been playing on this team for three years now so I was comfortable with everyone.”

Last Wednesday, the 6’5, 294-pound Page demonstrated his comfort level in the paint, scoring eight points to help the Panthers top Moorestown Friends 41-34.

“I am just getting back and I am looking to do everything I can to slowly get my way back into the game,” said Page, who also contributed some key rebounds and blocked shots in the win.

“Right now I am just hitting shots and doing the little things, rebounding, blocking shots, playing defense, and being an inside presence.”

The Panthers needed a spark from Page as they were down 22-20 at halftime.

“We came out flat; sometimes we should have our own energy,” said Page. “The crowd wasn’t into it like it usually is and we just had to pick it up.”

PDS head coach McLean didn’t hesitate to pick up Page when he indicated that he wanted to return to the team.

“Jordan just had to figure things out for himself and he did,” said McLean. “He did some football stuff and worked through it. He came to every practice over winter break for the most part and made a seamless transition. I welcomed him back.”

Even though Page may not have his basketball legs yet, he has been making a key impact as he plays himself into shape.

“He’s just such a big presence down low and he is able to do good things for us,” said McLean.

“You look at him and you see that he takes up space but he has a soft touch around the rim. He knows the game and he knows our offense.”

The Panthers didn’t do a lot of good things in the early going against Moorestown Friends.

“We were as flat as we could be,” acknowledged McLean. “I felt that the team, not me, started to overlook them. We came out and underestimated them but to our credit, I read them the riot act about our defensive effort and we saw the tables turn. We gave up 22 points in the first half and 12 in the second; that doesn’t happen by accident.”

It was no accident that the Panthers eked out the victory as they have shown a penchant for winning close games this season.

“We know that if we are within a certain range, we are going to be able to pull it out,” added McLean, whose team pulled another close one as it edged Perkiomen School (Pa.) 46-40 last Friday behind a game-high 25 points from Davon Reed.

“What I still would like to see is that killer instinct. You are up nine, make it 12. You are up 12, let’s get it to 15. I would like us to get some us breathing room and I have got some great young kids I want to really get into the mix and I can’t.”

With sophomore Reed emerging as a great young player as he has averaged more than 22 points a game, McLean knows his team has to develop more balance. “He is fun to watch; it is tough because he is that good,” said McLean, whose team fell 84-46 to a tough Cherry Hill East squad last Monday to drop to 10-7 and will look to get back on the winning track when it hosts Capital Prep on January 27 and Pingry on January 31.

“Davon is able to will us to win sometimes. He is going to see two or three guys at him at all times and our motto with him has been when the light shines on him, it reflects on all of us. So much attention is going to be put on him that other people need to step up and we have seen that. Bryan Miner had a huge game in the winter tournament. Kevin Francfort has had some good games; Langston Glaude has had good moments.”

Page, for his part, believes the Panthers can step up collectively. “It is there; we honestly could have won all the games we have played,” said Page.

“If we just bring a fire, we know we can win Prep Bs and we know we can win the Mercer County Tournament. It is our energy basically.”

Return to Previous Sports Story | Return to Top | Go to Next Story