DOUBLE TAKE: Princeton Day School girls’ basketball player Reilly Malin looks to unload the ball in recent action. Last Saturday, freshman Malin posted a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds to help PDS defeat Hightstown 56-20. The Panthers, who improved to 9-4 with the win, host Lawrence High on January 21, play at Princeton High on January 23, play at Somerville High on January 24, and then host Steinert on January 27. (Photo by Frank Jacobs III)
By Bill Alden
Reilly Malin didn’t waste any time making an impact for the Princeton Day School girls’ basketball team as it hosted Hightstown.
Freshman forward Malin scored nine points as PDS jumped out to a 15-6 lead.
“As soon as I got it in the middle, I turned to the basket and it was open and I made that first shot,” said Malin. “After that, I just started going to the rim.”
Bringing a 26-15 lead into the third quarter, the Panthers turned the contest into a rout as they reeled off a 13-0 run to start the half and never looked back on the way to a 56-20 win as they improved to 9-4.
“We knew that we could be up by much more so we came into the second half knowing that we could do,” said Malin. “Then we just executed well. We were talking a lot more on defense, I think that really helped. On offense we were just rolling.”
Malin was rolling in the paint as she tallied 11 points in the third quarter with five buckets in the post.
“I was just being strong and going to the rim,” said Malin, who ended up posting a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
As the season has gone on, Malin has been getting stronger and stronger.
“The speed has definitely increased a lot so I have to get used to the increased speed and the intensity,” said Malin. “I think that game showed that I just have to play basketball. It is all it is. I have just had to get more comfortable and used to the intensity and the type of defense and being more aggressive. In this game, I was just being strong, going right to the rim.”
Developing a connection with star point guard and fellow freshman Alana Williams has helped Malin gain a comfort level.
“She is really good, she has a lot of experience,” said Malin of Williams. “She knows what she is doing out there and that helps me. We are really good teammates. We have chemistry at this point of the season.”
PDS head coach Pat Reddington liked the way his squad got it done in the third quarter in outscoring the Rams 18-3.
“We kind of know that they like to do, we had a great scout on them,” said Reddington. “They did a good job in the first half making it tough on us. I didn’t think we were following the game plan in the first half. It was just reiterating what we were working on in practice and reiterating the scouting report. We have a team that really shares the ball. There have been a lot of games where we have a lot of different scorers in double figures. That is how we like to play the game.”
Reddington credited Malin with carrying the scoring load against Hightstown.
“Reilly did a really good job, she was the X-factor for us today,” said Reddington. “We have been looking for a game like that from her and we are excited to see it. We know she is capable of those type of games. She was more aggressive today, she was looking for her own number. She is very unselfish, you will see her finish with three, four or five assists at times. I think in the middle today, they were leaving her open. It was her time to go and she took advantage.”
Williams provided some unselfish play against Hightstown as she dished out eight assists to go along with 10 points, three rebounds, and two steals.
“Alana came out early and had some big games,” said Reddington. “I think teams have been focusing on trying to stop her. Now it is what else can we get from the other people. She was getting the girls the ball and getting the girls open when they are focusing more on her.”
Senior stalwart Juliana Hartman, who also stars in soccer, made a big contribution as she scored five points and had five rebounds and two assists.
“Jules is always a kid that gives everything she has; you see it in soccer, you see it in basketball,” said Reddington. “We love Jules and she does a great job for us. Her role here is whatever the team needs to win the game. She is not looking for anything specific besides the scoreboard at the end of the game.”
Starring in her role off the bench, freshman Mia Martin scored nine points with two rebounds and three assists in the win.
“Mia was the leading scorer of our middle school last year,” said Reddington. “She is another girl that we know has that in her. It is staying ready for her opportunity. There have been games where she hasn’t gotten as much opportunity. She has been working hard and staying focused knowing my time is going to come and I am going to be ready for it. Today you saw that. In the Trenton game we saw the same thing. She is doing well.”
With PDS hosting Lawrence High on January 21, playing at Princeton High on January 23, playing at Somerville High on January 24, and hosting Steinert on January 27, Reddington is looking for his squad to stay in the moment.
“It is continue to play together and continue to practice hard,” said Reddington. “Our goal is to just get better every single day. We keep trying to improve each game, each practice and making sure that at the end when it is playoff time, we are at our top.”
Malin, for her part, is confident that the Panthers will keep improving.
“I think we are in a really good place,” said Malin. “We have a really strong team. We have good chemistry. I think we just have to stay focused on the fundamentals and just execute what we can and control the controllables.”