PHS girls streaking in right direction

Little Tigers top PDS for third straight win

By: Andrew Cangiano
   After a long losing streak, nothing feels better than getting back on track and going on a winning streak.
   That’s exactly what the Princeton High girls’ basketball team has done, as the Little Tigers defeated Princeton Day School, 38-25, Thursday in a physical, defensive game, to earn their third straight win after losing seven in a row.
   Princeton, which opened the season with three straight wins before the seven-game losing streak, improved to 5-7 on the season.
   Erin Cook, the Tigers’ leading scorer in the game with 13 points, said it felt really good to get another win.
   "We all had a good effort," Cook said. "We all just contributed, we rebounded, we boxed out."
   Princeton coach Nikki Inzano said Cook had to work to get free, because Princeton Day used a box-and-one defense to try and smother her.
   "Offensively, you just keep setting screens and getting open," Inzano said.
   Princeton was aided by the play of Kelly Curtis, who finished with 12 points and helped take some of the pressure off of Cook.
   "Kelly Curtis had an awesome first half," said Princeton Day coach Sue Repko, who team fell to 2-13 with the loss.
   Curtis said that coming out strong helped, because the team had gotten off to slow starts during their losing streak.
   "From the games we lost, we haven’t been good from the start," said Curtis.
   Curtis said the win was a relief from the tough streak the team had gone through and said that if the team plays together they could continue to succeed on the court.
   "If we all just play together and it’s more than just one player scoring I think we can do some damage," she said.
   Princeton used an aggressive full court press on the defensive end to create turnovers and get baskets in transition.
   Inzano said the press helped her squad achieve the victory.
   "I think our full court press really helped us get under control," she said. "They had a lot of turnovers and we just took advantage of that."
   PDS point guard Hanna Epstein, who finished with six points, said she found bringing the ball up against the ferocious press to be intimidating.
   However, despite the loss, Epstein said her team gave a solid effort.
   "I think we gave 110 percent, especially in the second half," she said. "I think our defense was really good in the second half."
   Repko said she knew her team was in for a tough battle against a Princeton team that she said was greatly improved from years past.
   "We always know we’re in for a physical game (against Princeton High)," said Repko. "I’m glad that my kids hung in there as well as they did."
   Princeton Day stayed close for most of the game, but fell short as Princeton began to pull away in the final period. Cook scored on a beautiful finish on a coast to coast lay-in that put Princeton up 36-24, helping to seal the victory.
   Repko said the outcome might have been different had her team been able to convert on second chance baskets.
   "We got close there again in the fourth quarter," Repko said. "If we had some of our offensive rebounds, the put-backs, it would have maybe been a different game."
   Princeton, which had Monday’s game with Villa Victoria postponed due to the weather, will host Hopewell Valley tonight at 6 p.m. PDS is home today at 4:15 p.m. against Stuart Country Day School.