Gloucester Catholic junior Macie Nugent has a point

GLOUCESTER CITY — Macie Nugent volunteered.

The Gloucester Catholic girls basketball needed a point guard. The Rams’ front court was crowded with three six-foot forwards. The junior went right to work.

“I mean, I couldn't say no,” Nugent said. “I just had to step up for the team, obviously. I had to work my ball-handling shooting. I had to work through everything. I couldn't just sit in the corner like I used to and just shoot 3-pointers. I had to add a lot more to my inventory.”

To be fair, Nugent did far more than spot up and fire away. A capable scorer on the block with senior twins Angelina and Natalia Barrera, Nugent was part of a nearly unstoppable, completely interchangeable front court.

Week of Jan. 24: South Jersey high school girls basketball Honor Roll

Week of Jan. 20: South Jersey high school girls basketball Mean 15

All the Rams needed was someone to get their frontcourt the ball.

“Macie just volunteered and I said: great,” coach Lisa Gedaka said. It shows a lot that she stepped in. We needed somebody that was going to take the bull by the horn and take charge of the team.”

The early returns have been positive. Nugent and the Barerras remain a force. Both twins are capable ball-handlers when needed but Nugent carries the bulk of that load. When either twin steps outside to briefly take the ball, Nugent becomes an immediate mismatch down low.

Nugent averages 12.2 of the 40.5 points per game the trio is scoring this season.

"She has grown as the season has progressed,” Gedaka said. “She's gained confidence. I think she's done a really good job and it's helped her gain confidence in herself. I think it's only going to make her a better player in the long run. She has the ball in her hands.”

The position change has unlocked a formula for the Rams successes. Making it all work has been an uncomplicated process. It starts with hard work.

“I’ve just been working on my ball-handling,” Nugent said. “I got a trainer which has been really good. I knew about this last year. I don't know how I would have done without working so hard on it. It's really been a confidence boost. Definitely.”

That confidence is paying dividends across the Rams lineup.

“You have to play this game with confidence, knowing that it's not always going to go your way,” Gedaka said. “No one plays a perfect game. It's nice to see when mistakes are made that you point guard forget about it, put it behind you and still attack the game competently. I think that Macie does that.”

Part of that is skill. Part talent. Mostly attitude.

“I don't think she is fazed whether she's playing great or playing poorly,” Gedaka said. “If she hits 10 shots in a row or misses her shots, she's very even keel. It's really important for any player, but especially with your point guard.”

Nugent has added to her inventory. A good student, she has her sights set on following her academic and athletic ambitions, wherever they take her.

“I think I want to try to play like a smaller school,” Nugent said. “I really like the smaller school vibe. That way I can pursue whatever I want on the educational side.”

Tom Rimback, sports reporter

Tom Rimback grew up reading the Burlington County Times and Courier Post sports sections and began writing for the BCT in 1996. He has covered everything from Super Bowls and Final Fours to Tri-County Swimming but he’s happiest on a sideline interviewing South Jersey scholastic athletes for the Burlington County Times, the Courier Post and The Daily Journal. Follow him on twitter @RimbackBCT. Email him with story ideas at trimback@thebct.com and, most importantly, support local journalism with a subscription.

Support local journalism with a subscription to the Courier Post, the Burlington County Times or the Daily Journal.

This article originally appeared on Burlington County Times: Gloucester Catholic junior Macie Nugent is on point for Rams