Returning Steals Leaders in Group 3

<!-- 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='583770' first='Luvenia' last='Morton'] | Orange</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>143 steals in 21 games; 6.8 spg</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Luvenia's on-ball defense was one of the state's best last season as she racked up steals in tremendous fashion. She swiped double-figure steals on three separate occasions, including a season-high 14 (part of a double-double) against Technology in early January. She has a very real chance at reaching 300 steals for her career at Orange before her junior season winds down.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='325195' first='Rhian' last='Stokes'] | Ewing</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>219 steals in 33 games; 6.6 spg</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The triple-double queen of the Garden State is also a defensive menace! In the four games she posted double-figure steals, she also ended up with a triple-double. Arguably the best on-ball defender in New Jersey, she's relentless and applies suffocating pressure. Rhian has a chance to achieve something not many in the state's history have: 700 steals for her career!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='414395' first='Reese' last='Downey'] | Absegami</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>126 steals in 27 games; 4.7 spg</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If Reese can keep up the aggressive intensity she's known for, she has a chance to tally triple-digit steals for the third time in as many seasons! Excellent lateral movement, quick hands and fantastic anticipatory skills makes life miserable for whoever she's guarding. 350 career steals by February is well within reach for the dynamic defender.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='325182' first='Taylor' last='Derkack'] | Colonia</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>113 steals in 28 games; 4.0 spg</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Already one of the greatest to ever sport a Colonia jersey, Taylor still has one last season in front of her to continue adding to her tremendous legacy. Her two-way game is fierce, with suffocating defense that forces a ton of turnovers and makes for a lot of steals. Already at 350 for her career, she has a very real possibility to eclipse 500 steals at the rate she's going!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='559047' first='Lexi' last='Carnegie'] | Teaneck</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>109 steals in 28 games; 3.9 spg</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The freshman exploded onto the high school scene last season and showed off extreme versatility and an impressive two-way game. In her first four games she racked up twenty steals and never looked back! Lexi has a chance to reach 200 steals for her career before her sophomore campaign comes to a close.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='601276' first='Analyse' last='Intenzo'] | Moorestown</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>110 steals in 28 games; 3.9 spg</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Analyse takes pride in her defense. She applies stifling ball pressure and hounds the opponent until she eventually comes up with the steal. She's laser-focused and relentless in her pursuit of the ball, which she proved game after game in her freshman season. Now in Year 2, Analyse may swipe her 200th career steal by the time playoffs come around.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='488804' first='Zoey' last='Spady'] | Westampton Tech</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>90 steals in 24 games; 3.8 spg</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Zoey is ready to make some noise this year! Now a senior in her third season at Westampton Tech, she has a chance to reach 200 steals for her career. Her 10 steals against Northern Burlington in January made everyone wake up and recognize that Zoey is a legitimate lockdown defender.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='406940' first='Te'Yala' last='Delfosse'] | Ewing</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>122 steals in 33 games; 3.7 spg</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Her length and versatility on both ends are hard to contain, making her two-way game one of the state's most elite. The Michigan commit posted a career best 122 steals last season, including two games in double-figure steals. Now a senior, Te'Yala will look to continue imposing her will and put herself in the position to eclipse 300 career steals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='489448' first='Lia' last='Manuel'] | Mendham</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>97 steals in 26 games; 3.7 spg</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 3-sport stud is a top-tier defender, using quickness and tremendous reflexes to suffocate and frustrate defenders and disrupt passing lanes. In her final game of her junior season, she posted a career-high 10 steals. Now in her final year of high school hoops, Lia will look to ramp up the intensity and try to reach career steal #300 before it's all said and done.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='488868' first='Brenna' last='Riddell'] | Steinert </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>82 steals in 24 games; 3.4 spg</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brenna is primed for a breakout in her final season with Steinert. Her commitment to defense helped carry them to the Mercer County Invitational Final and landed them in the Central Jersey Group 3 playoffs. 300 steals is well within striking distance before her high school career comes to a close.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->