Mid America Classic Standout Defenders

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 29th Annual Mid America Classic is annually hosted by the <a href="https://mcphersonoptimistclub.org/mac-classic/">McPherson Optimist Club</a>. It traditionally attracts teams from a variety of classifications from around the state. The slate of teams tipping off for tonight's first round attracted 4A-6A teams from the Ark Valley Chisholm Trail, Centennial, Greater Wichita Area, and Sunflower Leagues. And as I mentioned in the preceding article about top day 1 <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2024/01/mid-america-classic-standout-shooters/">shooters</a>, the stats crew that cranks out the numbers for every Bullpup home game makes reviewing the numbers for top defensive performances a snap. Now let's get to look at day 1's top defenders.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='779218' first='Hayden' last='Halliday'], 5'5", PG, Olathe South, 2027 - Halliday is an important piece of the Falcon puzzle on both ends of the floor. But here's the thing about her defense, the same intelligence and composure she shows on the offensive end is there too. She is not the quickest defender nor the routine get-in-your-face kind of player. What she does not do is allow you to beat her. Especially if you cannot routinely shoot the 12-15 footer she gives you. And with her low center of gravity and solid strength, drivers are not able to just bump her off. She did pick up a pair of steals but her effectiveness frequently will not show itself in a statistics column.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ashlyn Davis</strong>, 5'10", C, Andover Central, 2024 - Davis was an effective post presence on both ends of the floor. She has solid size but it was her quickness and activeness that made her so. She walled up and challenged shots when appropriately, not collecting a single foul. She pulled down 5 rebounds and collected a steal in a game where the Jags never led until the 5 minute mark of the fourth quarter. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='430812' first='Azailah' last='Funches'], 6'0", SF/PF, Shawnee Mission South, 2024 - In a blow-out win like the 6A #1 ranked Raiders had it can be hard to just single out a strong defensive performance. Funches is my pick in this instance. Wichita Northwest had a hard enough time generating looks but when they had them within 10 feet of the basket they were either swatted, forced to turn the ball over, or were severely altered. Funches just controlled the paint on both ends picking up a pair of both blocked shots and steals. An Oral Roberts University commit she showed strength, hops, and smart use of her athleticism and length.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='827717' first='Delaney' last='Larson'], 5'5", PG, Manhattan, 2026 - There are not many next level defenders with the ability to set up top players to make a mistake. Larson is among them. Not just quick and active, Larson is smart and fierce. A punctuation mark was drawing a back court charge on Shawnee Mission East's [player_tooltip player_id='192777' first='Abigail' last='Long']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='672683' first='Eve' last='Long'], 6'2", C, Olathe South, 2027 - On both ends of the floor Long has a fluid, mature game in which she plays within herself. She took up space in the paint and anticipates solidly from the weak side to help. She only collected 1 blocked shot but she altered many and just flat prevented shots with her patrolling of the paint. And on the defensive glass she uses her hops and length to control it. 10 of her 13 rebounds were defensive. Andover Central was only 2/6 from inside the arc and Long's play was, literally, a big reason why.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> [player_tooltip player_id='192777' first='Abigail' last='Long'], 5'8", SG/PG, Shawnee Mission East, 2024 - Long draws a substantial amount of attention due to offensive talents but her off-ball defensive instincts are terrific. She anticipates ball reversals and other passing situations well to jump passing lanes. Once with the ball, forget it. Speed, handles, athleticism, scoring ability and she unselfishly passes to teammates to get the transition basket.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='606251' first='Jayla' last='McLeod'], 5'9", PF/SF, McPherson, 2024 - McLeod is just something to watch. The Bullpups jumped on Clearwater from the start, never trailing on the way to a 22 point win. The team collected 13 steals and out-rebounded the Indians 34-15. McLeod led all scorers with 14 points but where she did the damage statistically was in steals (4) and rebounding. While she only had 5 what McLeod routinely does and did is tip the ball to where either she or a teammate can get it. She has terrific hops and great length. And with the physicality McPherson is known for she got to balls other players could not.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='817405' first='Emery' last='Ruliffson'], 5'6", CG, Manhattan, 2024 - Ruliffson drew the responsibility of defending Shawnee Mission East's Yale-bound [player_tooltip player_id='192777' first='Abigail' last='Long'] the majority of their game. With solid quickness, physicality, and strength she worked hard away from the ball to deny Long any easy touches. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='850392' first='Ashley' last='Zastrow']</strong>, 5'10", PF, Shawnee Mission East, 2024 - Yes Zastrow had a bunch of turnovers. Most were in live situations after rebounds, making a steal, or pressured after making a catch. Nearly all were in active, hustling situations. On the way to collecting 8 rebounds, a blocked shot and a pair of steals Zastrow showed herself to be a physical, hustling defender who walls up well inside. She showed terrific hops and two-handed rebounding technique out of a box-out. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->