Lock Down Defenders

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>To me, defense is one of the most underrated parts of the game especially in the eyes of young athletes.  When competing at high levels, though, you need to be able to guard the best players on the opposing team.  These athletes have been making sure their defense stands out whether they are shutting down their opponents or racking up steals.  Make sure to see these athletes competing on both ends of the court.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Kameron Pearson","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'6u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12121","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Pine Forest","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cp class=u0022p1u0022u003eKameron Pearson uses every bit of her height and length to stop passes by keeping her arms outstretched.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eThis is effective as she hustles back on defense to stop fast breaks.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eAs one of the main ball handlers for her team, she does a nice job moving on the court with the ball to shift the defense, and she relocates after making the pass to clear out space or be ready for the pass for her own shot.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eHer ability to jump passing lanes and take the ball to the other end translates to points for her team.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["385134"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"u003cp class=u0022p1u0022u003eKa'Nyah O'Neal has been effective in her team's press grabbing steals as they try to get the ball up the court.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eShe jumps into passing lanes, and she knows exactly where to go with the ball once she gets the steal to make sure her team scores some points off of the turnover.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eShe moves with the ball on offense finding ways to form her own gaps and get the ball to her teammates, and she can take it all the way to the hoop herself for some points.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["406986"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"u003cp class=u0022p1u0022u003eLexie Dawson is disruptive on defense knowing how to move in the press to deflect passes or slide in front of opponents when the ball is heading their way on half court sets.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eShe finds ways to explode to the basket pushing the tempo and filling in the lanes herself.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eShe's the ideal teammate when it comes to setting up traps.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eRunning the point position on offense allows her to see the court finding her open teammates for their own points.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["285942"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"u003cp class=u0022p1u0022u003eJayda Angel is an explosive athlete being able to come out of nowhere to grab a steal, and before you know it she's on the other end scoring some points.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eShe has nice slides to keep her opponent in front of her, and she hustles on both ends of the court being ready for offensive rebounds in transition or knocking the ball away when she needs to defend the basket.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eShe has some bounce, too, being able to get up and over her opponents for some passes.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["288423"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"u003cp class=u0022p1u0022u003eAddison Sirianni has been tasked with guarding some of the toughest players in the state over the past month.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eShe's an excellent on ball defender always keeping her opponent within arms reach, and her lateral movement allows her to keep everyone in front making sure they don't have an easy path to the basket.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eOn offense, she attacks the basket finding her way into the paint with her ball handling and putting up the layup.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eShe can also knock it down from deep draining five in a half earlier this week.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["564664"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"u003cp class=u0022p1u0022u003eBraelyn Stilwell does a nice job sticking with her opponent stepping in front of them and closing off passing lanes.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eShe gets inside to get rebounds as well making sure her opponent doesn't get a second chance.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eShe works with the ball moving around the court to find her teammates on the other end as they get open underneath the basket.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eHer ability to attack the basket translates well to points as she has a nice finish at the rim.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eShe can catch and shoot around the arc as well.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_player_details_selected_featured_image":570170,"_player_evaluations_6_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_6_player_details_player_name":"Alaina Griffin","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_6_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_6_player_details_height":"5'5u0022","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_6_player_details_position":"12121","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_6_player_details_school":"Metrolina Christian","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_6_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_6_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"u003cp class=u0022p1u0022u003eAlaina Griffin was effective making her jumps on the press knocking the ball out of the way of her opponents.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eShe pushed the tempo finding her open teammates up the court off outlet passes or these steals.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eShe was always aware of where she was on the court knowing exactly how to move and protect the possession.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eAs an on ball defender, she is excellent sliding from side to side following her opponent and cutting off the path to the basket.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eYou can tell her effect when she subs out of the game and the opposing team immediately scores a three in her absence.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eHer ability to turn on the motor off her steals converts to some solo points for her on fast breaks.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":7,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63a3d53027bf4"} /-->