Who are NJ’s unsung hero hoopers?
Beyond the Box Score The top scorers get the attention, flashy plays get the crowd going. There is usually that one player that makes the team whole. The player who does not show up in the box score and people…
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Continue ReadingBeyond the Box Score
The top scorers get the attention, flashy plays get the crowd going. There is usually that one player that makes the team whole. The player who does not show up in the box score and people won’t be talking about after the game. However, there is something unique that each of the players on this list bring to their team.
Charlotte Dursey – Westfield
The Westfield Blue Devils have plenty of scoring punch from the perimeter and in the post. What makes this squad tick is the defensive intensity and team play of junior, Charlotte Dursey. She is a quiet, under the radar type of player. It is easy for an untrained eye to watch the team play and walk away forgetting that she was even on the court.
The impact that she makes is undeniable. On offense, the guard never stops moving, with constant cuts, screens, and ball movement. Dursey is happier making the extra pass to any of her capable teammates, than actually looking for the shot herself, although she is more than skilled enough to put up some of her own points.
Defensively, Charlotte is very willing to get up in the opponents’ face, dive for a loose ball or even throw her body in front of an oncoming player. Her teammates feed off of the little things and pick up their defensive efforts when they see her putting every ounce of effort to sprint back and cut off the opponent.
Bella Galatt – Columbia High School
Her statistics do not pop off the page, and her physical measurements are not going to intimidate her opponents. However, there is something about Bella Galatt that makes her the inspiring leader of her team, even as a freshman.
Bella is a hounding defender. Her defensive efforts and ability to get clean steals or force turnovers inspires her teammates to pick up their effort and play with more energy. There is not one single aspect of her game that stands out, it is the whole package of little things that add up to make her a key contributor.
The entire game, Bella was a bundle of energy and an inspiration. She is easy to overlook, but does all of the little things that do not show up in a box score. There is untapped potential in her game, and with her intensity, passion, fearlessness, and innate leadership qualities, Galatt is a player to keep an eye on as she continues her career.
Nora Gaby-Biegel – Newark Academy
The senior does have stats that are nothing to scoff at. Her season high for points is 12, rebounds 10, assists 14. You cannot overlook some of the performances she has had. There are many other positive effects she has during the course of a game.
On ball defense, playing the passing lanes, anticipation are all innate qualities that she brings game in and game out. She has an uncanny ability to create a turnover and immediately capitalize with a quick, precise outlet pass to any number of her teammates for an easy fast break layup.
Her teammates know when the ball is in her hands that Nora will find them filling the lanes and cutting to the basket. She is a fantastic security blanket and a calm, cool, collective presence on the court.
Lauren Belcuore – Livingston
Lauren Belcuore waiting to play lock down defense. credit: TAPintoIf any team in the state needs a lockdown defender than look no further than Lauren Belcuore. A standout soccer player, this junior knows how to take those skills and put them to use on the hardwood.
Even the best scorers and ball handlers have issues shedding the in your face defense of Belcuore. She knows how to play her angles, cut off the ball, and good luck catching her out of position or back on her heels.
Belcuore is tenacious and relentless, hats off to anyone that beats her clean more than once. She does not necessarily create steals on her own, it is the constant ball pressure that forces opposing players to make forced and pressured decisions with the ball.