Defense Wins Championships

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The old saying rings true time and time again! The NJSIAA State Tournament concluded last weekend and six champions were crowned. The following hoopers put the clamps on and gave their very best effort on defense to help their respective teams claim state championship glory!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='601329' first='Briana' last='Holt'] | University</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Group 1 State Champion</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Briana was a force all season long for the Phoenix but she saved the best for last in the title game against Shore. She exploded for a career-high 24 rebounds and was downright dominant in the paint. At 6'3", there wasn't anyone on Shore's roster who could contain her size and prevent her from pulling down ferocious boards. In fact, her 24 rebounds were more than Shore's total as a team (18)!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='431238' first='Katie' last='Collins'] | Manasquan</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Group 2 State Champion</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The UPenn commit notched a career-high in blocks (6) in Squan's state final victory against Madison. Her stellar defense gave the opponent fits as they tried to tally points on the board. At 6'2", she imposed her will early on and used every bit of her length to disrupt passing lanes and send shots back. Katie's team-high 9 rebounds were crucial as the Warriors converted buckets other way.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='406943' first='Bella' last='Mazur'] | Mainland</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Group 3 State Champion</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One half of the dynamic Mazur twin duo, Bella had a career year with the Mustangs culminating in a 31-1 senior season and Group 3 state title. In the final against Chatham, she put the clamps on and locked opponents down. Her stifling on-ball pressure wreaked havoc and forced numerous turnovers and headaches. Mainland only won it by 8 points and Bella's 4 steals were absolutely crucial in securing that big win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='835906' first='El-Anita' last='Joe-Samuel'] | Lenape</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Group 4 State Champion</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The phenomenal freshman roared onto the high school scene and decimated opponents game after game. She was excellent in her first-ever state tournament, leading Lenape to the pinnacle of Group 4 in a 43-28 state final win against Morristown. Her game-high 14 rebounds were huge in the low-scoring affair as she commanded the paint and protected the rim. At 6'0", she used her height and reach to confidently crash the glass and pull down aggressive boards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='559041' first='Tessa' last='Liggio'] | Red Bank Catholic</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Non-Public A State Champion</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If you know New Jersey basketball, then you're well aware of the mighty Liggio sisters! Sophomore Tessa put her scrappy blue-collar defense on full display in an 80-23 state championship win against Pope John, racking up 4 steals and a big rejection along the way. Her anticipation on D was remarkable and she wasn't afraid to get down and dirty, dive and scrap for loose balls and suffocate the ball-handler with intense pressure.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='333305' first='Mya' last='Pauldo'] | Morris Catholic</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Non-Public B State Champion</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mya's stifling defense heckled and hassled Rutgers Prep in state championship at Jersey Mikes Arena. She applied extreme ball pressure and scanned the passing lanes for deflections and steals. She forced turnovers, ignited the fast break and turned stellar defense into quick-hitting offense. At times, it almost felt like Mya was everywhere all at once, making it tough for the opponent to get past her for easy points in the lane. She was a tireless ball of energy!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->