Returning Steals Leaders in Group 1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Offense may come and go but defense is forever! And you know what they say... defense wins championships! These hoopers were locked in from start to finish last season and look to continue picking pockets and show off their defensive prowess.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='414402' first='Jessica' last='Devine'] | Middlesex </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>172 steals in 29 games; 5.9 spg</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jessica goes into her junior year as one of the state's best defenders with a chance to eclipse 300 career steals halfway through the upcoming season. Scrappy, relentless and gritty are all words to accurately describe her game. She achieved double-figure steals in four games last year and helped her team make an appearance in the Central Jersey Group 1 Final.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='414340' first='Macie' last='McCracken'] | Wildwood</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>128 steals in 29 games; 4.4 spg</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A suffocating on-ball defender, Macie had two games last season where she put up a double-double in points and steals! It was this incredible defense that propelled the Lady Warriors to a 22-8 record and an appearance in the South Jersey Group 1 Final. She has a chance to eclipse 300 career steals before her junior season is all said and done.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='808906' first='Yomaris' last='Blake'] | American History</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>87 steals in 20 games; 4.4 spg</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Playing a shortened 20-game season, Yomaris proved that she is one of Group 1's premier defenders, piling up 87 steals including a season-high 12 against Technology (part of a triple-double performance). With her junior year in front of her, she is primed to eclipse 200 steals before February and help her team achieve a .500 record for the first time in program history.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='601507' first='Sanaa' last='Thomas'] | Glassboro </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>84 steals in 20 games; 4.2 spg</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sanaa put all of Group 1 on notice in her freshman year as she put the clamps on and racked up steals in rapid succession, game after game. Her stellar defense led her team to a title in Flight C of the Tri-County Conference Tournament. She has a chance to achieve 200 career steals as she looks to guide Glassboro to another appearance in the NJSIAA Tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='325169' first='Morgan' last='Marshall'] | University</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>126 steals in 31 games; 4.1 spg</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The dynasty that is University girls basketball added yet another piece of hardware last season as they were crowned Group 1 State Champs.... and Morgan's lockdown defense had a lot to do with the Phoenix's success. She enters her senior season with a very real possibility at eclipsing 300 or even 350 steals for her career. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='414430' first='Allie' last='Shenloogian'] | Park Ridge</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>123 steals in 31 games; 4 spg</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Already one of the leading scorers in the state as a sophomore, she was also one of the top steals leaders too, putting her phenomenal two-way game on full display. In addition to hitting the 1,000-point milestone, Allie has a chance to also cross 300 steals for her career before her junior campaign comes to a close.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='414311' first='Ellie' last='McCarron'] | Palmyra</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>97 steals in 25 games; 3.9 spg</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In just the second game of her sophomore season, Ellie put up double-figure steals (11) and never looked back from there! At just under 4 per game, she terrorized ball-handlers and intercepted the passing lanes masterfully. She helped lead her team to a South Jersey Group 1 quarterfinal appearance and looks to continue that dominance in Year 3. 250 steals is well within reach before the season is all said and done!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='601420' first='Taylor' last='Bass'] | Pennsville</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>92 steals in 25 games; 3.7 spg</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Taylor burst onto the high school scene and played like a seasoned vet! Stifling ball pressure and very active hands made for a ton of steals. 92 of them to be exact. As she enters her sophomore year, Taylor has the chance to eclipse 200 steals and get her team back in the playoffs to compete for a South Jersey Group 1 title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='414351' first='Rainelle' last='Blocker'] | Clayton</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>93 steals in 25 games; 3.7 spg</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With sheer athleticism, excellent lateral movement and super scrappy hands, Rainelle is an absolute terror on defense! She posted three games in double-figure steals and applied pressure each and every time she took the court. 200 career steals is within the realm of possibility before her junior year winds down.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='808905' first='Katie' last='Powers'] | Glen Ridge</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>87 steals in 24 games; 3.6 spg</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Katie's commitment to stellar defense helped her team achieve a tremendous 24-5 record and make an appearance in the North Jersey, Section 2 Group 1 Final. She has a chance to cross 200 steals for her career as a junior and continue showing everyone why she's a force to be reckoned with.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->