OPENING STATEMENT: Stuart County Day School basketball player Lia States heads to the basket in a game last year. Last Friday, sophomore guard States scored nine points and had five steals to help Stuart top Seneca 39-34. The Tartans, who improved to 2-0 with the win, will be playing in the Sacred Heart Tournament at the Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart (Md.) from January 2-3. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)
By Bill Alden
Even before his Stuart County Day School basketball team played a game this winter, Tony Bowman had a good feeling about the squad.
“I think we are a lot closer this year, we have been around each other a little longer,” said Stuart head coach Bowman. “We have a new kid that came in, Carmela Arana, and getting her acclimated to the team was a big thing. She jelled pretty well with everyone.”
The Tartans have jelled quickly collectively, getting off to a 2-0 start, defeating Central Jersey Charter 71-5 in its season opener last Wednesday and then edging Seneca 39-34 two days later.
In the win over Central Jersey Charter, Stuart turned up the defense.
“In the first game, it was our defense; in the past we would be up and someone would give us a hard push and they would go hard and we could never come back and finish,” said Bowman. “I think now it is different, we play a lot better defense. We are working a lot better together and we can overcome some pushback now.”
Against Seneca, the defense was key again as Stuart struggled offensively.
“That was a much better test, there it was strictly defense,” said Bowman. “The offense wasn’t clicking the way it should.”
Senior forward Taylor States is primed to click this winter.
“Taylor should have a great senior season, she is a lot more composed,” said Bowman of States, who scored 11 points and had eight rebounds in the season opener. “She is listening and working hard. She should do well this year, we are going to put her at the three (small forward) a little bit this year. Before she was the four (power forward) and the five (center), she will be looking at the wing spot this year. We are going to move her around a little bit. She won’t have her back to the basket all of the time. She is going to face the basket and let’s see if players can play her that way.”
Stuart boasts depth in the frontcourt with junior Betsy Murphy, junior Mayah Chennault, and sophomore Thalia Hernandez-Lewis.
“We have Betsy and Mayah — I think those two should do very, very well in the inside game for us,” said Bowman. “And then we have Thalia. I expect her to do a lot better this year and have a bigger presence on the inside and to help the team coming off the bench.”
At guard, the pair of sophomore Lia States, the younger sister of Taylor, and sophomore transfer Arana should give the Tartans a potent one-two punch.
“This year will be a standout year for Lia — I am expecting more points and more leadership,” said Bowman, who got 17 points from States against Central Jersey Charter with Arana tallying 20 points in the win over Seneca. “Carmela came from Edison. She beings outside shooting, and dribbling. She is going to be a big plus with her ability to see the floor, shoot the three, and distribute the basketball. She will be a good asset for us.”
Arana has already developed a connection with the States sisters.
“The sisters work well together, the addition of Carmela to that tandem gives us more scoring and the ability to move the ball up the floor quicker,” said Bowman.
Senior guard Abby Chirik gives the squad experience and leadership.
“She didn’t score against Seneca, but her enthusiasm and her defense was great,” said Bowman. “I am sure in the near future she will have a good scoring night as well. She is steady.”
Senior Leila Hernandez-Lewis and junior Hadassah Broughton should also see time in the backcourt.
“We have Leila, I am expecting her to do more scoring and pushing the ball up a little bit,” said Bowman. “Leila, Carmela, and Lia can all play the point now, it depends on who is playing who we will have at point. Hadassah is back, she is probably the most aggressive defensive player I have on my team. She is a strong person on the team for hustle. She is just an all-around defensive threat.”
The Tartans have the pieces in place to employ a more aggressive style.
“Now we have enough people coming off the bench,” said Bowman. “They can complement the people who are already on the floor and they play well together. You are going to need a bench. We are playing a lot more man-to-man now.”
With Stuart playing in the Sacred Heart Tournament at the Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart (Md.) from January 2-3, Bowman is looking for his squad to maintain its defensive focus and show discipline when it has the ball.
“The keys to success for us is a strong defense and scoring from our defense and being able to finish,” said Bowman, whose team was slated to play at Hamilton West on December 22 before heading into the holiday break. “It is also the ability to run good sets on a regular basis. For the way I want us to play, if we run our sets the proper way on a regular basis we should do very well against any team.”
In the wake of his team’s 2-0 start, Bowman is feeling good about the rest of the season.
“I am looking forward to having a great time and enjoying myself,” added Bowman. “I am looking for the kids to enjoy themselves with winning basketball games.”