603 Postseason: Best Defenders

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As fun as offense is to watch, defense can truly win the game! NH High School basketball has had some top defenders shine bright this postseason.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A handful of impressive athletes and grind it out players spotlight a top Defender list, including a variety of player representation from all four divisions. All these players were consistently faced with the task of defending the top players on opponent rosters.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='387557' first='Sydney' last='Grogan']</strong> (Bedford) shined big time in division I as a gritty and in your face defender, with the ability to pick up full court. She led her Bedford team all the way to the finals as both their leader and top defender. A no quit personality, she often held opponents to significantly lower scoring averages.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='279892' first='Ava' last='Ruggiero']</strong> (Goffstown) was tough all season! Great energy on the court, she stood out as a court general. She did an excellent job controlling the pace of the game on both ends of the floor with her tenacious and scrappy Defense and her poise on the offensive side of the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- <strong>Sidney Roberge</strong> (Bow) is a beast! When you watch a kid like this play, you can just tell she prides herself on her defense. Strong in mind and in body, Roberge was a tough matchup for all of the division's top players.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- <strong>Kaylee McLellan</strong> (Kennett) is a feisty guard who played with a special intensity and supported her Kennett squad by&nbsp;creating havoc on both ends of the floor. A very improved player becoming a 3- pt threat, it is her versatility that made her so special playing the 1-4 position and defending positions 1-5.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- <strong>Sierra Riff </strong>(Colebrook) is a walking double double from the guard position. She rebounds well with anyone but defense is her calling. She is a no quit player always involved in every play. She is a true competitor&nbsp;and a strong leader. She loves to have the ball and plays defense with that focus. Opponents worst nightmares, she is willing and able to pester an&nbsp;offense for the full 90 feet.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- <strong>Katie Vellie</strong> (Moultonborough) was a consistent double digit scorer this season, but when it came to defense she was smart and athletic. Her game IQ stands out, especially on the defensive end. She understands cuts and rotations which she uses to her advantage on the defensive end of the ball getting steals and deflections consistently.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='393161' first='Brynn' last='Rautiola']</strong> (Conant) is an athlete and her athleticism&nbsp;shined bright defensively this year. Most impressive, she was not just a standout defensively in her division, leading her team to a state runner-up finish, averaging impressive&nbsp;scoring, and defending the top players from opponent teams, she was also named Player of the Year in her division.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486359' first='Sarah' last='Muir']</strong> (Concord Christian) is a gritty and feisty guard who made opponents' lives miserable for 32 minutes a game. As a point guard, she is smart and understands the movement of game&nbsp;play which allows for her to get deflections and steals, but it was her on the ball defense that thrived this year. She wanted the ball back all the time and that was obvious. She never let teams get comfortable in their offense and led everything from the top as the PG.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->