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Like many of her friends, Lindsey Mack wakes up early during the summer and takes the hour-plus ride from Secaucus down the shore. But rather than enjoying the sand or boardwalk, Mack, seeking the best competition the state can offer, is at HoopGroup Headquarters in Neptune.
“It’s a long drive, it’s like an hour-fifteen minutes, but I never cared because it’s the best competition there and I know it will get me to be the best I can be,” said Mack, who started going on a regular basis as a fifth grader along with Secaucus natives Zoe Pero and Kristina Ulrich. “Sometimes it stinks because I know they’ll be at the beach. But I know its going to help me in the future when I’m in college.”
It’s a trip that the 5-foot-10 Mack makes three days a week during the summer. Once there, the Fairleigh Dickinson commit says she spends roughly four hours working on her game with multiple instructors, including shooting coach Kristen Somogyi – the state’s all-time scoring leader – and her AAU coach Gail Caverly with Central Jersey Hawks Lightning and Tiny Green.
Mack then heads back up to Parisi’s in Fair Lawn, to lift weights and work on her speed and agility. She and her Secaucus teammates also play in summer leagues at Paterson Kennedy and Pascack Valley.
“She’s not resting on her laurels, she’s continuing to work hard and get better, not only for next year, but for college,” Secaucus head coach John Sterling said. “Lindsey’s the type who will work seven days a week to get better and I’m glad to see it paying off for her.”
Thanks to this routine, Mack believes she has significantly improved her ability to drive and finish toward the basket.
“I feel like I’m in a lot better shape since I’ve done a lot of running and lifting. I feel like I’m faster on the court and driving the lane (better). For example, I don’t think I get knocked off my path as easily because I’m a lot stronger.”
Considering she was already one of the state’s best perimeter shooters, such a combination may be a lethal one for opposing teams.
As a junior, Mack shot an eye-popping 45-percent (76-for-168) on 3-pointers and 57-percent from the field. Such efficiency allowed her to score in double figures in 29 of her team’s 30 games last year. For the season, Mack averaged 17.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.7 steals and 2.2 assists per game to help lead the Patriots to a 26-4 record and their second Hudson County title in three years.
“Rather than just being a standup shooter, she wants to be one who can also take the ball off the dribble and get a basket,” Secaucus head coach John Sterling said. “I would expect once the season starts, we’ll really be able to see that she can take it to the basket a little stronger and be more a duel threat – off the dribble and with the jump shot.”
Expectations will be extremely high for Secaucus as it is set to return the entire lineup from last season, led by Mack, junior guard Amanda Ulrich and sophomore guard Damaris Rodriguez. In each of the last two seasons, Secaucus has been denied its first-ever sectional title by University (Newark) in the final, something the Patriots have not forgotten.
“It really motivates me and my team because we’ve made it so far,” Mack said. “We’re always so close, but this time I want to finish it off.”
