Tartans basketball looking for improvement
By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
Harlyn Bell is a goalie in field hockey and lacrosse, but she contributes on offense and defense during the basketball season.
”I like defense better,” said Bell, a senior at Stuart Country Day. “I feel it’s more rewarding, though points on the board aren’t bad.”
The Tartans captain helped Stuart improve to 2-1 with a 31-30 win over George School in the consolation game of the George Invitational on Saturday.
”Our team is doing really well,” Bell said. “They look really great. We had a few scrimmages and we came out really strong, really intense. I think we definitely look better than last year. We definitely improved so that’s definitely promising.”
Ally McGowen’s free throw with 13 seconds left provided the difference. The sophomore was starting in place of one of two missing regular starters, but the Tartans still pulled it out.
”I was very confident,” said Bell, a Princeton resident. “(Saturday) we did win without two starters. Our whole team bonded together. I knew we were going to win. Our intensity was there, our drive was there, it was all there.”
Bell has seen steady improvement during her time at Stuart. Two years ago, the Tartans won just twice. Last year, Stuart jumped to 8-8.
”I think we are fully committed to having a winning season,” Bell said. “We had an even season last year and I think we’re committed to getting a winning season. I think we’ll get it.
”We have four starters back from last year,” she added. “I think people are going to step up this year. We only lost one senior so that’s promising. We’re kind of an older team, but we also have a lot of freshmen coming in. It’s a good mix.”
Senior forward Nneka Onukwugha and junior forward Kate Walsh provide two towering scoring presences. In their season opener, they each had 12 points. Onukwugha also had 12 rebounds for a double-double and Walsh picked up from a strong sophomore campaign with eight rebounds. Junior Rose Tetnowski has stepped into a starting role and helps with the ball-handling along with Bell and junior guard Harley Guzman. McGowen provides minutes off the bench and freshmen Maddie Michaels and Gin-Gin Phlen are contributing.
”They’re learning very quickly and understanding what I’m asking of them,” said Stuart head coach Justin Leith. “It’s actually taken less time than my boys a couple years ago to adapt to the level of practice and what I’m asking them to do. They’re acclimating well.”
Leith, the Stuart athletics director, is in his first year as the head coach. It’s his first varsity head coaching job with a girls team.
”I’m thrilled with their effort,” Leith said. “I’ve done a lot of individual work with some very high level athletes, but this is my first time being varsity coach of girls. It’s fun. I’m not taking any different approach, maybe a little more patience.”
Leith has seen the Tartans adopt his more aggressive defensive push. Stuart used its press at the end of the game after McGowan’s free throw to steal George’s final attempt to win it.
”We turned up our press,” Bell said. “As long as I’ve been at Stuart, we’ve never pressed another team. Coach Leith has really focused on putting that in, so our defensive skills have really improved through the season. We stepped up. With 13.5 seconds, we were intense and we stopped that ball.”
Stuart pulled ahead with a clutch free throw from McGowan. In addition to moving into the starting lineup for the game, she was thrust into a tough pressure spot and came through for the Tartans.
”I was completely confident,” Bell said. “I know Ally. We’re really great friends. I knew the work she’s been putting in. I thought there couldn’t be a better time to show how much she’s improved. I think she really stepped up to the plate, she didn’t let anything get in her head and she made that shot and we won. It was good for her. It was a good confidence boost.”
Said Leith: “We looked at this as an opportunity, not look at like we’re down two starters. Ally ended up starting and she did a great job.”
Stuart’s defense was a key without two of its starters. The Tartans were able to limit George to only 30 points. They held Barrack Hebrew to just 19 in their season opener even after taking off their press defense.
”I think we’re a lot more aggressive this year,” Bell said. “Coach Leith is trying to make our game more defensive. If we stop it with our press then we have more offensive opportunities. We’re really focusing on controlled aggression, not crazy fouling but still pressuring the team.”
Defense is what Bell enjoys most but she’s also able to contribute at the other end. She doesn’t feel the pressure to be a top scorer, but her versatility makes her a tough matchup for opponents.
”I think I’m the same thing as last year,” Bell said. “I’m a multi-purpose player. If they need me down low in the post, I’m ready to go down there. If they need me on the outside at shooting guard, I can do that. Anything they need I can go there.”
Bell worked at her ball-handling more than anything since last season. She gives the Tartans balance in the backcourt to go with a good-looking front court.
”Everyone has their role,” Leith said. “It’s a very team-oriented team. We don’t have just one person that we’re trying to get the basketball to. We’re trying to learn basketball that way.
”I’m really pushing focusing on the process of getting better,” he added. “If we do continually get better, the wins will come. We’re focusing on getting better. Even if we have a win and didn’t get better, I don’t consider it a success.”
Progress has been steady in the early going. It has the Tartans confident that things will shape up even more by season’s end.
”Defensively, it’s understanding the concepts of our halfcourt defense and pressure defense, learning how to cut the floor in half and take things away we’re trying to take things away,” Leith said. “In the beginning they didn’t really get it at all, now there’s glimpses of good things.”
Stuart will look to move forward with its next game Wednesday when it hosts Villa Victoria. It’s a chance to progress further and start a winning streak.
”We have to keep up our intensity,” Bell said. “Throughout the last game, we were put in a really adrenaline filled situation. Hopefully we can carry that intensity we had Saturday into the next game and we should be good.”