Some of This Season’s Standout Defensive Athletes

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Yesterday, I highlighted how getting to the free-throw line and making those are significant factors in a game. Today, I'll highlight some kids who create havoc on the defensive end and earn steals and blocks, which end opposing teams' possessions without ever allowing a shot to go up toward the rim.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='342190' first='Marissa' last='Albright']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Des Moines Lincoln senior is second in the state in steals per game. Watching some of her film makes it easy to understand why she's earning nearly six steals per contest. Albright reads opposing guards well and jumps passing lanes constantly. When Albright jumps passing lanes, it looks like she's a defensive back who's running a route for a receiver, and she always seems to make plays on the ball. Albright's also an excellent athlete. She can push the ball up the floor and make plays in transition after earning steals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='160550' first='Madison' last='Hillman']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The St. Angsar forward is the only player in Iowa averaging over four blocks per game and over three steals per game. Hillman's athleticism helps her make plays on the ball. She also uses her length to change shots around the rim. Throughout 36 minutes, Hillman's length will create live-ball turnovers and limits the looks the other team can take while in the flow of an offense. It's not often you find kids with the size and athleticism that Hillman possesses.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='127623' first='Katy' last='Reyerson']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Northern Iowa commit has used her athleticism to make plays on both ends of the court this season, but today we're looking specifically at what she's done on the defensive end. The wing has earned over three steals and three blocks per game this season, and when I see her on film, it makes sense. You can feel her pressure, size, and length when you watch her on a screen, and I can only imagine you feel that more in person. She affects the game on both ends of the floor and has her West Marshall team in a solid position to compete in the postseason.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='246156' first='Sadie' last='Maas']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The six-footer is one of the better paint defenders in the state. Maas does an excellent job of defending without fouling. She seems like she's always timing up her jump to block opposing shots, and she's got three per game thus far. Maas uses her length at an expert level to alter attempts around the rim, and those blocks change the momentum of games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->