Lauren Hoffman does it all for Mount Saint Joseph Academy

UPPER DUBLIN >> Lauren Hoffman’s full game was on display Wednesday afternoon. The Mount Saint Joseph Academy junior scored a game-high 20 points and had the defensive assignment of guarding Upper Dublin’s top scorer.

Hoffman scored in a variety of ways. The guard hit four three-pointers in the first half, added three layups and went 2-for-2 from the free throw line.

“My threes were working in the beginning of the game,” the Huntingdon Valley native said after the Mount’s 46-31 win at Upper Dublin High School. “That helped me a lot. Also I try to be aggressive, go to the basket and I think that helped me a lot. 

“I’ve always shot threes. Starting here at the Mount I wanted to become a good driver and (head coach Matt) Feeney in practice yesterday helped us drive a lot, get used to contact, be physical. He’s helped me be a better driver and I still want to work on that and become better at scoring going to the basket.”

Hoffman is taking on a bigger role for the Magic this season. After not playing varsity as a freshman, she started alongside three classmates as a sophomore last year. The offense ran through 1,000-point scorer Grace Niekelski, who graduated and is playing at Dartmouth College.

“(Niekelski) was the leader of the team,” Hoffman said. “She scored most of the points. She helped the team out a lot. Now that she’s gone, it’s the four juniors – me, Georgia (Pickett), Chloe (McGrorty) and Kiersten (Pumilia). We know that we have to be leaders for the team because we’ll be here next year as well. I think just being good leaders, bringing the leadership role and showing everyone else on the team what we expect helps us a lot. I think next year we’ll be a really strong team again.”

“Better decision-making and more confidence,” Feeney said of Hoffman’s development.

Hoffman’s poise was on display at the end of Wednesday’s game against the Cardinals. With a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter, she helped take the air out of the ball playing keep away with Pumilia.

Defensively, Hoffman was matched up with Upper Dublin sophomore Amy Ngo. Ngo, who scored 17 points Tuesday night against Bishop Shanahan, finished Wednesday’s game with 12 points.

“I love playing defense,” Hoffman said. “I think that’s a pretty good part of my game. I usually guard some of the best players on the team. I find it enjoyable trying to shut them down and become a good defender. I think that’s really fun for me – trying to stop good players.”

“Lauren’s long and quick,” Feeney said. “We knew that would give (Ngo) trouble, so that’s the matchup we wanted today.”

Hoffman and the Magic return to Athletic Association of Catholic Academies play Jan. 6 when they host Gwynedd Mercy Academy.