Central Bucks West senior Nicole Munger surpassed the 1,000-point mark in the Bucks’ win over Pennridge on Tuesday. To view photos of the celebration, please visit the Photo Gallery.
By Mary Jane Souder
Matt Bamford calls Nicole Munger “the ultimate program kid.”
The Central Bucks West assistant – and former University of Michigan assistant – recalls a conversation he had with Michigan coach Kim Barnes Arico.
“I remember sitting in her office back at Michigan and (her) asking me about Munger and if she was a kid we needed in the program,” Bamford said. “I told her that she is the most passionate kid I’ve ever come across and will be one of those kids you will never forget on and off the court.
“Two days later, when they came to visit, a scholarship was offered, and the rest is history.”
Munger will be a Wolverine next year, but these days she is far more concerned about a Central Bucks West squad with high expectations.
A bona fide star, Munger shies away from the spotlight, but she found herself front and center on Tuesday night when the Bucks hosted Pennridge. Word had spread quickly that she needed just 12 points to surpass the 1000-point milestone, and fans turned out in force to witness the historic event.
With the student section counting down, Munger put on a clinic. She missed her first shot of the night but was money on just about every shot the rest of the way.
At the end of the first quarter, Munger had nine points, and after sinking a foul line jumper that brought her within one of the milestone, Munger – with 5:23 remaining in the second quarter – hit the trey that put the Bucks on top 33-13 and ensured the standout guard a spot in history.
It was her third of six three-pointers on a night that saw her score 31 points. She is the first female at CB West since Lauren Peters in 2008 to reach the magical 1,000-point plateau.
The ceremony celebrating the milestone was brief.
“We talked about what we wanted to do, but she was adamant that it was going to last a minute,” coach Terry Rakowsky said. “I said, ‘Nikki, I’ll guarantee you if I have to kick everybody out of the gym that you’ll be there for a couple of pictures, and the game is gong to start again.’
“She said, ‘Okay, coach, if you’re going to do that, then we can stop the game.’ We had to at least acknowledge it.”
The Bucks went on to earn a 71-39 win over the Rams, and when it was over, Munger acknowledged it had been a special night.
“I knew the situation, and I don’t want to take anything away from it – I was really excited for it, but I like to go with the flow,” she said. “This year we’ve been really playing as a team, and I think that’s what has really gotten us where we are. I didn’t really want anything individual.
“I really did enjoy it. It was great. I want to thank everyone for coming out. It was a great experience for me, my family and the team.”
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On the basketball court, Nicole Munger is the focal point of opposing team’s defenses. It goes with the territory when you’re one of the state’s premiere players, and the CB West senior – a first team all-state selection as a junior – certainly falls into that category.
The senior captain has developed quite a fan base, and after games, it’s not unusual to see Munger surrounded by youngsters who aspire to follow in her footsteps.
Their connection to the senior guard doesn’t begin and end with a quick postgame chat. The Bucks have close ties with the Doylestown Athletic Association.
“These kids spend the spring with us and the summer with us, and our older kids are just awesome,” Rakowsky said. “We’ll follow some of their games during the year.
“Honestly, one of the reasons we are where we are right now is because DAA and CBAA are probably two of the best youth programs in the country.”
The list of stars coming out of those programs is a lengthy one and includes Caroline Doty, Tory Thierolf, Jesse Carey and Munger.
“There might be 15 Division One kids that have come out of DAA or CBAA in the past 10-15 years,” said Rakowsky, going on to credit DAA’s basketball director Art Bass. “When I first took over at West, I knew that’s who I had to contact. It’s an awesome program.”
Rakowsky has made an intentional effort to include young players in his team’s activities.
“We put camps on in the summer, and the kids run summer drills with us, spring drills with us,” he said. “Munger is like a god to them, but all of our kids are.
“They’re wonderful with the kids. We’ve just been really blessed with wonderful upperclassmen who have an appreciation for treating the younger kids the right way. We’re very fortunate.”
The youngsters are regulars at West’s game, occupying the bleachers behind the team bench.
“They come into the locker room at halftime,” Rakowsky said. “They stand back, and we just treat them like they’re part of the team, and our kids love it.
“We had a third grade group come all the way up to Quakertown last week, and they came into the locker room.”
In Munger, a player who Rakowsky has gone on record saying he would pay to watch practice, the aspiring youngsters have quite a role model.
“When you think about it as a coach, what more of an example would you want than to have them watch her and how she handles herself,” the Bucks’ coach said. “It’s that way whether it’s in the weight room in summer and fall or doing speed and agility and ball handling drills with them. She’s awesome.”
According to Bamford, Munger’s style could not be better suited for Michigan.
“I remember sitting and talking to her at dinner one night and telling her that there is not a better coach out there that values what she does more than Kim Barnes Arico,” the West assistant said. “It’s a perfect fit.”
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