Top defenders in Southern Illinois in February
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These ladies showed defensive prowess in their games. Most of these girls are their team’s top defender. They take on big defensive responsibilities most nights. Defending at the rim and on the perimeter was on display for them all. Kylah…
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Continue ReadingThese ladies showed defensive prowess in their games. Most of these girls are their team’s top defender. They take on big defensive responsibilities most nights. Defending at the rim and on the perimeter was on display for them all.
Kylah Parkhill
Kylah Parkhill
Kylah Parkhill of Hamilton County is a great on-ball defender. Her lateral quickness allows her to beat her opponent to the spot. Anytime she would shoot a shot she would chase the shot. While chasing the shot, she would put herself out of the play but be able to put herself in the right place. Parkhill’s best attribute defensively was how she defended pick-and-rolls. She always went over on screens and was able to deflect a number of Pinckneyville main guards passes and drives. She picked up full court most of the game. Parkhill came up big with some late game free throws to get the win for Hamilton County. She finished with 10 points and three steals but forced many more.
Alyssa Koerkenmeier is a 6’6 junior at Mater Dei Catholic. Her defensive presence as a rim protector, and as a switch defender kept Pinckneyville from taking many shots at the rim. No matter if she got switched onto a guard, she would still understand her assignment of protecting the rim. Even when she did get switched onto a guard, she was able to hold her own. She was able to pull down four offensive rebounds during the game.
Highlights
Alaiyah Penn
Alaiyah Penn
Alaiyah Penn is four/five for Carbondale. Her best skill is her offensive rebounding ability. She’s always at, or around the basket trying to get a rebound to put it back up and score. She can be physical with other post players not giving them a comfortable post up spot. She tends play over in the post, so she doesn’t give up the entry pass.
Alli Christopher
Alli Christopher
Freshman guard of Marion Alli Christopher uses her height (5’2) to her advantage. Because of her height she’s able to avoid screens at a high rate. Christopher was sliding right over most screens. Defensively her foot speed is top tier. For a good amount of time, she was in the game she would pick up defensively full court. She caused three late game turnovers in the fourth quarter.
Amelia Beer Amelia Beer 5’11” | SF Mater Dei Catholic | 2026 State IL is long (5’11) and good on-ball defender. There were three times in the game where she locked her match-up down. On all those possessions she made the player give up the ball. Pinckneyville had a hard time setting up and penetrating to the basket. Her length makes it very difficult to get past her. She guarded Pinckneyville’s main guard a good amount of her minutes.