Top 10 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 to pick pockets and show off their defensive prowess.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='559047' first='Lexi' last='Carnegie'] | Teaneck</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>74 steals in 13 games; 5.7 spg</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lexi was averaging nearly six steals per game before she went down with injury mid-season. She kicked off her sophomore campaign tying a career-high (8 steals) against Hackensack &amp; put in major work against really good teams to follow, including back-to-back games with six steals (against Ramapo &amp; STA). With a healthy season ahead, Lexi has a chance to eclipse 300 career steals by February.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='879070' first='Bre' last='Evans'] | Neptune</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>123 steals in 28 games; 4.4 spg</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bre is incredibly active and scrappy on defense, putting the clamps on and never letting up! As a junior, she totaled triple-digit steals for the first time in her high school career. She tied a career high 9 steals against Freehold Township mid-way through the season! Against some of the state's top powerhouse teams, Bre showed fearlessness and commitment to the defensive assignment, recording 2 steals against Manasquan, 3 against St. John Vianney, 2 against St. Rose and 5 in two meetings with Ocean Township.</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>120 steals in 28 games; 4.3 spg </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Reese's 120 steals marks the third consecutive time she hits the triple-digit mark in season totals! She torched opponents with a dynamic two-way game and frustrated girls night after night as she forced turnovers at a rapid pace. Even against some of the best teams on Gami's schedule, Reese delivered in a big way: 6 steals against Egg Harbor, 7 steals against Donovan Catholic, 7 steals against Moorestown and 15 combined steals in four meetings with juggernaut Mainland.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1191907' first='Maddy' last='Schwartz'] | Seneca</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>100 steals in 23 games; 4.3 spg</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>She let her defense do all the talking last year! While it was definitely a year of growing pains for the program, Maddy's defensive excellence was a bright spot for the Golden Eagles. She swiped 18 steals in two contests with Camden Tech, including a career-high 11 steals in their second meeting. She gave Rancocas Valley the business with 9 steals, suffocated Trenton with 6 steals and gave Winslow and Haddonfield fits with 7 steals a piece.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='600914' first='Amber' last='Wooding'] | Lawrence</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>88 steals in 21 games; 4.2 spg</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Amber is Lawrence's engine on both ends of the court! In an early January win over Nottingham, she notched a career-best 9 steals (to go along with 30 points). She followed up that spectacular performance with 6 steals against Notre Dame, 8 against Princeton and 8 against Bordentown in the final game of her sophomore season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kaelynn Hester | North Plainfield</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>99 steals in 25 games; 4.0 spg </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>K's defensive prowess took her game to new heights last season. She was a formidable and relentless defender who forced a flurry of turnovers night after night. She tallied a career-high 10 steals in a January blowout 42-point win over Sayreville, part of a double-double performance (16 points). With 129 steals to her name, she has a real shot at reaching 200 steals before her junior season is complete.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='865919' first='Shamia' last='Fryer'] | Orange</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>77 steals in 20 games; 3.9 spg</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Despite Orange's abbreviated season, Shamia splashed onto the scene as a freshman and made a name for herself as a scrappy on-ball defender. She recorded 8 steals on four separate occasions (vs Weequahic- twice, Golda Och &amp; Shabazz). She swiped a season-high 10 steals in February against Technology (part of a double-double performance with 12 points). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mae Murphy | Moorestown</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>111 steals in 30 games; 3.7 spg</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mae's breakout season was complete with a triple-digit tally in total steals. She grabbed a career-high 8 steals early in the season against Rancocas Valley and kept her foot on the gas the rest of the way! Against powerhouse teams, she was impressive; 7 steals in two meetings with Paul VI &amp; 6 steals against Gloucester Catholic. If she can carry this momentum over into the approaching season, a big senior campaign may be in the works!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='662796' first='Javaeh' last='Agosto'] | Snyder </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>93 steals in 26 games; 3.6 spg</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Javaeh was rock solid last season from start to finish! She put forth an excellent effort that resulted in more than a few steals per contest. She played gritty, hard-nosed defense and established full command in her time on the court. Her career-high 7 steals came in a mid-January win over Dickinson. If she keeps up that same intensity, she may hit the 250-steals mark for her career by season's end.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='601343' first='Kaylee' last='Lauber'] | Somerville</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>90 steals in 26 games; 3.5 spg</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As her sophomore season wore on, Kaylee just kept tallying the steals! She opened the season with 4 against South Hunterdon and never looked back en-route to 90 on the season, an increase of 18 from her freshman campaign. Her career-high 8 steals came on February 1st against an always tough Bound Brook. It didn't matter the opponent because Kaylee was ready for the moment each and every time. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->