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Jackson Donahue takes step forward in Penn's loss

12/09/2015, 11:00pm EST
By Rich Flanagan

Jackson Donahue (above) had a season-best four 3-pointers in Penn's loss to Temple on Wednesday. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Rich Flanagan (@RichFlanagan33)
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Stepping onto the court at the Palestra for a matchup with a Big 5 opponent presents so much history and success for an incoming freshman who is just merely looking just for an opportunity to play.

It can be a nerve-racking and uneasy moment. For Penn freshman Jackson Donahue, it was the opportunity to showcase what he can do.

The 6-foot, 175-pound freshman guard from Pawcatuck, Conn. scored a season-high 12 points on 4-of-8 from behind the 3-point line in the Quakers’ 77-73 loss to Temple. He hit all four of his 3-pointers in the second half, including one which cut the Owls’ lead to five with under a minute to play in the game.

Donahue said the increased attention and exposure of the Big 5 stage presented a great chance to come out and make an impact.  

“I hadn’t scored at the Palestra yet and once that first one went down, my confidence shot up,” Donahue said. “(Antonio Woods) said it best, ‘There’s nothing like the Palestra when it gets going.’ This kind of game has so much in terms of bragging rights for the city. It sucks that we couldn’t come out with it, but I think we proved that we belong in this league and we really can compete with some of these teams in the Big Five. The energy in this building is incredible, night in and night out so I think that always gives us a boost.”

The Quakers came into the game shooting 28 percent as a team from the three-point line. Donahue himself shot 50 percent while logging a season-high 16 minutes. Donahue was averaging 1.0 point per game and had only played 21 minutes through the Quakers’ first eight games.

Despite it being a losing effort, Donahue saw reason for optimism as they head onto a ten-day break before playing Ursinus at home on December 19.

“This is definitely a boost. We’re a deep team and everyone comes out ready to play,” Donahue said. “When you get the opportunity, you just have to make the most of it. You just go with whoever is playing the hardest and whoever is shooting the best. It’s definitely a confidence boost for me, but all around I think the team effort tonight was incredible and we’re going to carry it forward.”

In the first half, Donahue was 0 for 2 from beyond the arc, and Penn (4-5) trailed 38-30 at halftime despite shooting 50 percent from the floor.

Quakers head coach Steve Donahue (no relation) had stressed to Donahue and his teammates about their struggles early in games and how to bounce back from it.

“Coach (Donahue) had been stressing that we come out and start games off a little lackadaisical. We’ve been going down early and just haven’t been starting off as well as he have hoped,” Jackson said. “I think tonight by that starting five going out, starting off strong and battling really just gave energy all down the bench.”

Following the game against Ursinus, Penn will open its Ivy League schedule at home against Princeton. Sophomore Sam Jones leads the Quakers with 28 made 3-pointers this year, and starting guard Woods hit three in the loss to Temple (4-4).

Donahue is hoping to step in and be a go-to shooter for the Quakers as Ivy League play approaches.

“Coach stressed that in the locker room saying ‘come January 9 this is preparation for it so that we’re the best team in the (Ivy) League,’” Donahue said. “I think it’s great that we’re starting to knock down our shots. We struggled the last couple games with that. Hopefully, this carries on, we continue to knock down shots and prove that we are this kind of team.”

With Donahue and Jones knocking down perimeter shots, Woods slashing to the rim and senior center Darien Nelson-Henry controlling the post, the Quakers could boost a very formidable matchup for any opponent.

Despite his breakout performance, Donahue does not see his role changing but he is hoping his team can capitalize on his team’s talent and depth for the rest of the season.

“Coach has always stressed for me and Sam in particular that if we can get to the point where we’re both on the floor, it would be amazing and really space out the offense,” Donahue said. “It allows Darien to do what you saw late there in that game and it really spaces him out. I’m not really sure my role changes but it’s good for the aspect now that we’re more deep, shows we’re more of a threat and that we have tools that go all the way down the bench.”


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