PRINCETON: Two in a row for PHS, Basie

Little Tigers basketball starts to click

By Bob Nuse, Sports Editor
   Rachel Basie knows she’ll end her Princeton High girls’ basketball career without ever getting to play in the state tournament.
   But that doesn’t mean she doesn’t want to leave in impression during her senior year.
   ”We want to make sure the team stays positive and works together,” said Basie, who scored 18 points on Saturday as the Little Tigers topped Truman, 51-27, for their second straight win. “No matter how many losses we might have, as long as everyone keeps positive and stays together, that is what really matters.”
   The win over Truman came a day after the Little Tigers had snapped an 11-game losing streak with a 60-27 win over Robbinsville. Princeton is now 3-11 on the season.
   ”We were struggling in the beginning,” said Basie, who also scored 18 points in the win over Robbinsville. “It seems like recently we’ve had a lot of good practices and we have been clicking really well. It’s a good thing. It’s a little late, but it is a good thing.”
   Basie, along with fellow seniors Casey Moran and Keisha Brown, hopes to lay the groundwork for success down the line for the Little Tigers. Ending this season on a strong note is a good way to start.
   ”With our record, our coach always says wins and losses don’t matter,” Basie said. “We’ve gotten better since last year and every year we seem to get better. We got blown out a lot last year. But this year it just seems like everyone is clicking. Molly (Barber) is here. Casey just keeps getting better. Julia (Maltby) has a really good shot. It seems like everyone is getting better. Even with the younger kids, they’re getting better all the time.”
   Basie would like to be a part of the continuing building process. But instead she’ll be in college, rooting for the Little Tigers from afar.
   ”It will be weird next year with us gone,” Basie said. “But the younger kids have gotten so much better. Even in eighth grade, Julia, Tarah (Thomas) and Molly, they were all real good.
   ”We want to keep on going. These last two games we have had so much momentum. We’re trying to keep everything going and not stop. No matter who we are playing we’re never going to give up. We had some tough games last week and we know we messed up. But we’re working on fixing those things and trying to get all the kinks out to finish the season strong.”
   A strong finish would send Basie off to college feeling good about the program. A recipient of a scholar-athlete award from the Princeton Hall of Fame committee, she’s always looked to make sure she keeps a good balance between academics and sports.
   ”I try,” said Basie, who also plays field hockey and softball at Princeton. “My mom always makes sure I have my homework done before basketball. It’s not only about basketball. I like basketball a lot, but I know I am not going to get anywhere without an education.
   ”I have been accepted into three schools already and they’re smaller schools. So there is a chance maybe I could walk on. But I am trying to focus on doing well in school. I want to be a history teacher.”
   Over the next three weeks, Basie hopes she helps write a nice ending for those who look back on the history of this Princeton High girls’ basketball season.