(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski) SHOW AND TELL: Jason Carter heads up the court for Princeton Youth Sports in recent action in the Princeton Recreation Summer Men’s Basketball League. Carter, the Princeton High boys’ basketball head coach, has gone into the fray this summer to better coach his PYS players. Last Monday, Carter scored 12 points to help PYS top YoDOM in the first round of the summer league playoffs. Eighth-seeded PYS, now 2-8, will face top-seeded and undefeated Winberie’s/Miller Lite (9-0) in the quarterfinals on July 27. In other playoff action Monday, the third-seeded PA Blue Devils nipped No. 6 Ivy Inn 53-50 to end the latter’s three-year reign as league champion while second-seeded University Radiology topped No. 7 Team TB 51-44.

With Coach Carter Getting Into the Trenches, PYS Advances in Summer Men’s Hoops Playoffs

Bill Alden

Jason Carter is getting in the trenches to better coach the Princeton Youth Sports team this season in the Princeton Recreation Summer Men’s Basketball League.

Carter has come off the sidelines and has joined his squad on the court, starting at guard for PYS, which is comprised of Princeton High boys’ basketball players.

“I think the most essential form of leadership is leading by example,” said Carter, a former star athlete at PHS who will be entering his fifth year at the helm of the Little Tiger boys’ hoops team this winter.

“A lot of times you have coaches who will tell you to do this, blah, blah. I want to try to do it and to show it.”

Last Monday, Carter set a good example for his charges, scoring 12 points to help PYS top YoDOM 52-39 in the opening round of the summer hoops playoffs.

As a result of the victory, eighth-seeded PYS, now 2-8, will face top-seeded and undefeated Winberie’s/Miller Lite (9-0) in the quarterfinals on July 27.

In other playoff action Monday, the third-seeded PA Blue Devils nipped No. 6 Ivy Inn 53-50 to end the latter’s three-year reign as league champion while second-seeded University Radiology topped No. 7 Team TB 51-44.

The semifinals are slated for July 29 with the best-of-three championship series beginning on August 1. The games will be played at the Community Park courts unless it is raining in which event the action will move inside to the PHS new gym.

In Carter’s view, the win on Monday represented a step forward for the young PYS squad.

“We went and scrimmaged Montgomery for two hours before we came out here and it actually paid off,” said Carter, whose solid play this summer has earned him honorable mention All-League honors.

“Some of the mistakes we were making early, we didn’t make later in the game. It was a playoff environment; those guys came out and played us hard.”

PYS got some good hard play in the victory from veteran leaders Matt Hoffman and Davon Holliday-Black. “Matt didn’t shoot well early in the scrimmage, but he got his shot going,” said Carter.

“I think he had our first six or nine points. Davon is learning to get others involved while still maintaining poise and leadership on the court; that’s really going to help us coming up in the winter.”

The progress of such younger players as Paul Murray and Peter Mahotiere this summer also bodes well for the winter.

“Paul Murray had two 3-pointers; Mahotiere had a nice scoop shot and he made the foul shot,” added Carter. “That is impressive for two sophomores who have never played varsity to come out here and do that.”

Carter is seeing some impressive work across the board. “We are getting there; it looks like a large majority of the guys are improving individually,” asserted Carter. “If they improve individually in the summer, that can only improve us as a team in the winter.”

This Wednesday, PYS will face quite a team in sizzling Winberie’s/Miller Lite.

“They are very good and very skilled and they are great guys too,” said Carter, whose club lost 59-52 to Winberie’s in regular season action.

“I like that they will make some shots and come back and tell us, ‘you got to close out a little better, your hand was low.’ They teach us. It is going to be challenging; the biggest thing is the physicality.”

But no matter what happens in that clash, PYS has gained some valuable lessons this summer.

“The thing is that these guys weren’t completely bought into getting coached hard,” said Carter.

“They have accepted the coaching and have accepted ownership of the team. Brian Dunlap, A.J. Dowers, DeQuan Holman and Skye Ettin are not here any more. We always relied on them so someone new has to pick up the torch. I think these guys are ready.”

And with Carter carrying the torch this summer, PHS will be better prepared to succeed this winter.

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