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February 13, 2008

Nancy White writes her name into OCHS history

By TOM WILLIAMS
Sports Columnist


When Nancy White was a freshman, Paul Baruffi knew he was not going to be able to keep her out of the varsity picture.

"We moved her up to the JV team," he said, "but we were soon working her into varsity games for a quarter or two. She added something special to our team."

And she has been adding that special something now for nearly four years.

On Saturday, White hit a free throw with just over four minutes left in a game at Mainland against Camden Catholic and became the ninth OCHS girl - the first in eight years - to score 1,000 career points.

"I remember thinking when I was a freshman how awesome it would be to score 1,000 points," White said. "It really means a lot to me. It wasn't something I thought about during a game or anything. At least not until the last week or so."

"Nancy didn't talk much about it," said Baruffi, "but other people were talking about it. So, I'm glad she got it and that all the concern and anticipation is over."

After she reached the magical four figures, there were the typical balloons, the basketball autographed by her teammates and a party after the big win over Camden Catholic, the Raiders' 11th straight.

"This team is great," said White. "These last three years have been great. I couldn't have imagined winning as many games as we have and getting to the South Jersey championship game. It has been awesome to be part of all this."

The Raiders have won 69 games the last three years with White in the starting lineup and there are more games to be played this year. The team won 21 her freshmen year, when she was just beginning to contribute.

The thing about watching White is that she doesn't play like the typical 1,000-point scorer. She plays like she'd rather get an assist than score the two points herself. And she has well over 300 assists in her career.

While White has been a constant presence on the successful OCHS teams of the past few years, there has been one constant influence in her life.

"My dad has had a major impact on my life," she said. "He has always been there for me and my sister. He comes to every game unless it is just impossible. And he is really helpful, really encouraging. None of this would have happened without my dad."

Nancy's mother died suddenly when she was three years old. She was the director of sports for the Ocean City recreation department. "I think she would be real proud," she said. "I don't remember all the details but I remember hanging around the rec center all the time with her. She put the ball in my hands and got this whole thing started."

Once the basketball season is over, White has to make a big decision. She must choose between Widener, West Chester, Rowan and Kutztown as her home for the next four years. She has been to the first three and will visit Kutztown this month.

"I'll wait until that visit to decide," she said. "I want to major in education, though I don't know yet which level."

White, who was an all-conference field hockey player, expects to play only basketball in college. "During field hockey season I thought I'd want to play both in college," she said. "But now I'm pretty sure I only will play basketball."

On Saturday, Nancy White wrote her name into the record books with great players that came before - Lisa Foglio, Margaret Rowell, Stephanie Vanderslice Gaitley - you can see the list of Ocean City's 1,000-point scorers elsewhere in The Gazette. But her career is far from over. Her Raiders are preparing for a Group 3 Tournament that might produce the school's first South Jersey girls basketball champion in 29 years.

"That would really be awesome," she said.



Read more of Tom Williams' columns