STATES RUN: Stuart Country Day School basketball player Lia States puts up a shot in recent action. Last Thursday, sophomore guard States scored 12 points with three rebounds and three assists as fifth-seeded Stuart fell 79-46 to top-seeded Rutgers Prep in the semifinal round of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) South Jersey Non-Public B Tournament. The Tartans finished the winter with a 15-10 record. (Photo by Frank Jacobs III)
By Bill Alden
As the Stuart Country Day School basketball team prepared to play at Holy Spirit in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) South Jersey Non-Public B Tournament quarterfinals, Tony Bowman preached discipline at both ends of the court.
Fifth-seeded Stuart got the message as it pulled out a 43-41 over the fourth-seeded Spartans.
“We went down there and they played well,” said Stuart head coach Bowman. “They ran the offense, they listened and played great defense.”
The Tartans took a 30-22 lead into the fourth quarter and then had to hang on for dear life to get the win.
“We got a little distracted, our foul shooting the fourth quarter was poor and our passing wasn’t the best,” said Bowman. “When you get tired, you don’t do things right. That played a big role.”
Making it to the sectional semis was a big plus for the program.
“It is just one step closer to saying we are building a good program,” asserted Bowman, who got 17 points from Carmella Arana in the victory with sophomore guard Lia States chipping in 13 points and nine rebounds.
Stuart faced a very good team in the semis as it took on top-seeded Rutgers Prep and while the Tartans fell 79-46, they took a step forward, battling hard despite missing four key players. The defeat left Stuart with a final record of 15-10, a marked improvement on the 6-15 mark the program posted in the 2024-25 season.
“I knew I was undermanned and playing a powerhouse team,” said Bowman. “I wanted to make sure my team didn’t give up. They played the entire time and didn’t give up. I was pleased.”
Trailing 42-16 at halftime, the Tartans made some adjustments and were much more competitive in the second half.
“We played man [to man defense] for the third and fourth quarter and things changed,” said Bowman. “We started scoring, we started doing more things and it just really worked out for us. I was very happy about their energy. They played the whole four quarters with eight kids.”
Star guards Arana and Lia States excelled again as Arana tallied 23 points with four rebounds in the loss and States scored 12 points and grabbed three rebounds.
“They didn’t cry, they didn’t say I want to stop,” said Bowman of his backcourt tandem. “It was what can I do next coach, what can I do better. It was really a promising night for Stuart.”
Over the last four years, senior star forward Taylor States has done a lot for Stuart.
“Taylor was the start of my program, she was the base,” said Bowman of the older States sister, who scored 248 points with a team-high 172 rebounds this year and totaled 987 points and 592 rebounds in her Stuart career.
“She was the powerhouse for me with the inside game, She carried us for almost three and half years. All I can say is positive things. She came in and worked hard, she put forth a good effort. This year, she complemented the guards. We didn’t have to depend on her so much. Her inside presence made the guard play a lot easier.”
The team’s two other seniors, Leila Hernandez-Lewis (90 points and 96 rebounds in 2025-26) and Abby Chirik (82 points, 20 rebounds), made valuable contributions as well.
“I wish I had Leila one more year, she is the quickest guard on the team with the ball in her hands and she is the quickest defender,” said Bowman. “She improved a lot. Abby is a good all-around athlete. She is also my spot up jump shooter. When we move the ball around to get her a good shot, she knocks it down. That is what she has been doing for us all year.”
The addition of sophomore transfer guard Arana (425 points, 87 rebounds) was a game changer for Stuart.
“The big thing was that we got Carmela, it was a situation where she didn’t know anybody,” said Bowman. “This was their first time playing with her, she fit in real well. She got the team together. They liked her, she liked them.”
Arana combined with Lia States (292 points, 147 rebounds) to give the Tartans a potent 1-2 punch in the backcourt.
“They have been carrying us throughout the year, it has not been the inside game which it routinely is in the last three years,” said Bowman. “This year has been guard-oriented. They have been holding us down, offensively and defensively. When we had guards playing against us averaging 20 or some odd points, they don’t average that much against us the we play man-to-man.”
Junior forward Betsy Murphy (61 points, 90 rebounds) exemplified the progress made by the Tartans this winter.
“One of my biggest improvements was Betsy Murphy,” said Bowman. “She is tough athlete. She is a leader on and off the floor. In practice, she works hard, listens, and suggests. I think this year, she is the kid that matured the most. When she started the year, she wouldn’t shoot. Now she is shooting all of the time. I am just so happy for her.”
Looking ahead, Bowman believes the program will keep improving.
“I think we are in a great place,” said Bowman. “Every year, we are looking better. The last two years, we didn’t make it to the semifinals and we made it to the semifinals this year. We are going in the right direction.”