By BRIAN TORTELLA
Correspondent
The routine has always come naturally for Gateway senior Angie Zagone.
For the better part of the last four winters, all she’s known is the hardwood — firmly establishing herself as one of the best to ever represent the Gators’ blue and white.
Never one who hesitates to shoot, Zagone has consistently filled up the stat sheet as one of the best players in the Colonial Conference — reaching the 1,500-career-points plateau earlier this season. What’s even more impressive is that she reached that milestone despite the fact that the Covid-19 pandemic limited her freshmen campaign to just 11 total games.
“We rely so heavily on Angie every single game,” said seventh-year Gateway head coach Dan McGowan. “Teams double- and triple-team her, and we continue to call her number over and over. She’s so determined and talented that she’s capable of imposing her will on any opponent. One of the most remarkable things about Angie’s game is that she can truly score from any position. She has played every spot on the floor for us. That is a credit not just to her basketball ability, but to her knowledge of the game.
“Angie is the type of player and leader who helps to transform a program. She is so dedicated and committed every single practice. She’s had so many instances where she’s been banged up or working through an injury and we’ve offered her the opportunity to sit out a drill, and she just won’t. She truly loves playing the game, and she’s willing to do whatever it takes to win. As many points as she’s scored and achievements that she’s earned, Angie always prioritizes winning. That’s what makes her really great. I feel really fortunate to have had her in our program for the past four years.”
The 5-foot-9 shooting guard has scored at least 20 points on 12 different occasions this season, raising her season points total to 482. That includes a South Jersey single-game high when she dropped a school-record 50 points against conference rival Paulsboro on Feb. 8. (She also leads the team in rebounds with 187).
Her penchant for scoring was also shown in the fall when she notched 10 goals and a team-high nine assists playing field hockey for the Gators. Whether it’s on the field or the court, what makes Zagone special isn’t just scoring. It’s her ability to bond and connect with younger teammates.
“Angie shows younger players like myself what it takes to be dedicated to a sport and what success can come from that level of hard work,” freshman field hockey and basketball teammate Lexie Kirwin said. “I have gotten to play some varsity minutes with her and I always go out nervous. When she notices, she assures me I am good and still passes me the ball. That showed she had confidence in me and as a freshman that I really needed. To have someone of her ability build me up will be something I’ll always remember throughout high school. I hope to be able to do something like that when I am a senior. She sets a great example for underclassmen and our large JV team.”
Zagone played in her final high school basketball game Thursday night as Gateway fell to Pennsville, 59-55, in the first round of the NJSIAA South Jersey Group 1 playoffs. She scored a game-high 27 points in the loss.
She wraps up her career with 1,683 points — second in Gateway Regional High history behind only 2011 graduate Meghan Nowak, who scored 2,057 points.
“It’s great seeing a player dominate and build a name for herself in the game,” Nowak said. “She’s managed to set her own records and leave her own legacy behind, which is such a special accomplishment. It’s a shame that covid shortened her season and took the opportunity to break the record. Records are meant to be broken and it’s a huge accomplishment to challenge any record. I hope she is proud of all she has accomplished in her career.”
As for Angie herself, she said she’s undecided whether she’ll play a sport in the spring. She could go back to softball, which she played during her freshman and sophomore years, or she’s considering trying out for lacrosse. She’s currently uncommitted but is looking to play basketball at the next level and is in talks with different collegiate teams. One thing for certain — she’ll find success either way.
“I love my school,” Zagone said. “I love my friends. Gateway has a great community. I’ve played basketball my whole life, and I had a lot of fun. I love basketball.”
Brian Tortella is a correspondent for South Jersey Glory Days. Follow him on Twitter @tortreports
