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White, Gambale thrive on being defensive

Friday, January, 25 By Matt Jenkins
Staff writer

Masconomet's Jamie White and Swampscott's Marissa Gambale may have different styles on the defensive end of a basketball court, but they strike a similar type of fear in opposing guards.

It's not unusual for point guards to pick up their dribble just over halfcourt to locate either White or Gambale's position on the court | or even to get rid of the ball before facing the heavy pressure that both players can bring.

It also should come as no surprise that the two teams that feed off the defensive pressure White and Gambale provide are currently rolling along with only one loss to date. Gambale is very good, but White is the rare type of player who is a game-changer on the defensive end.

White, the daughter of one-time Celtic great Jo Jo White, is quick, explosive on the leap and anticipates plays better than anyone around. Her defensive skill set makes her an even more dangerous defender when she's off the ball.

"I wouldn't want her covering me," Masconomet coach Bob Romeo said. "But in some of our defensive schemes, I like to have her off the ball so she can flow and find the ball. That's where she's so disruptive | in the passing lanes that look wide open.

"Jamie is what I call 'cartoon-character' fast. She's like a cornerback that baits the quarterback into throwing the ball. I think she baits passes, too. It's not how high she gets up, but how quick she gets up. Girls think they can throw the ball over her because she gets so low (in her defensive stance). The next thing you know, she catches it."

If there are noticeable flaws in White's game, it's on the offensive end. A reliable slasher, White is often left open on the perimeter. She remains almost a guaranteed 10 points a night, however, mainly because she turns her defense into offense so quickly.

Whether it's off a steal that she turns into an individual fast break or a deflection that results in an open shot for Masco at the other end, White takes points away from the opposition and puts them up for her own team.

"Her teammates are in tune with her now. They're almost watching her and anticipating her steal or deflection, and in their mind they're switching to transition," Romeo said. "We can turn a defensive play into two points in a hurry. It's a great luxury to have."

Swampscott coach Jack Hughes considers Gambale's selflessness to be a similar luxury.

Gambale is a point guard who only takes three or four shots a game, according to Hughes. She knows her role is to handle the ball on offense and shut down the opposing team's best guard on defense.

"Her feet are extremely quick," Hughes said. "She makes it very difficult to penetrate against her."

You often hear about offensive players who make their teammates better through sharp passing and drawing so much attention from the defense. It's rare when that type of praise is heaped on a defensive player, but both White and Gambale fit in that category.

Gambale plays with a couple of other solid defensive players in sophomore guard Kara Gilberg and junior forward Allie Beaulieu. Gambale's ability to lock up the best guard allows Gilberg and Beaulieu to play better help defense.

"Kara is the other guard and is a terrific defensive player. She anticipates things better than anybody and if you put everything together with Allie, she might be the best," said Hughes. "Her help defense and what she understands is the best I've ever seen.

"We don't have much in the height department, that's for sure. But what we do have is a solid five (defensively), especially with those three. And it all starts with Marissa."

It's a similar situation in Topsfield, where the chaos White creates opens things up for the Chieftains' other strong defensive players | senior guard Annie Burns and senior center Caroline Stewart. She also raises the level of play of everyone else.

"Jamie makes the whole defense good, no question," Romeo said. "If you asked other coaches, the first thing they would say is how they try to run the offense away from Jamie.

"I remember in the North Shore Tournament last year she was so disruptive to the two offenses (Bishop Fenwick and Beverly) that the point guards were stopping one step over halfcourt to make the first pass. It was great to watch from my side."