Top Defending Returners In The Northeast Iowa Conference

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Northeast Iowa Conference only possesses four teams in totality, making it a little more exclusive than other conferences around the state. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In this article we highlight one of the top defending returners from each team within the conference. Make sure to check em out!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Thanks for tuning in and enjoy!</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["996539"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6920754134e3f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='996539' first='Charley' last='Curtis'] is not afraid to take over for her team whenever it's needed. Leading up to this season and Curtis has been a consistent producer on both offense and defense. Curtis finished off her Junior season with 14 PPG, 3 RPG, 2 APG, &amp; 3 SPG. The two numbers the really stand out to me here are the PPG and SPG. PPG shows that she makes the most of her opportunities. SPG demonstrates that Curtis stays active defensively as a primary defender. There are not many others out there that averaged over 3 SPG last season so Curtis should be proud of that number from an outside perspective. This will be the last go-around at the high school level for Curtis over the next six months so I'm sure she will leave it all on the floor while doing all that she can to help her team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1382133"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6920754134ecd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The most essential prospect on both sides of the ball this Winter for Decorah High School should be [player_tooltip player_id='1382133' first='Elizabeth' last='Bucksa'] at the CG position. Bucksa filled up the stat sheet as her team's top dawg last Winter in a few positive statistical categories. She more-so really stood out as her team's rebounding machine with over 7 per game and her team's defensive specialist with over 2 Steals per game. If Bucksa has grown this offseason it's only going to supplement her already impressive defense and overall knowledge of the game. Two things that really show up when it matters the most for Bucksa. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1382134"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6920754134f1b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Waukon High School always brings a seasoned product to the floor whenever the season begins. This Winter the Indians will lose their big dawgs from past year's due to graduation so others will need to step up in their place. Others like PG, [player_tooltip player_id='1382134' first='Elle' last='Wilkins']. Wilkins is a quick moving, fast acting prospect on the hardwood. She competes with a lot of energy and a lot of purpose. There is never really a time that Wilkin's is on the floor and she is not prepared. She always seems to understand her own ability, her opponents, and everything in-between when it comes to tendencies. She is very good at timing when others are going to loosen up with the ball, giving her the chance to step up and make a play defensively more time than not. This should be one of the best, if not thee best, defenders that Waukon has on roster this Winter so I can't wait to see the season she puts together. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["832214"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6920754134f74"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">If you look at New Hampton's numbers the past few seasons, you notice that [player_tooltip player_id='832214' first='Ava' last='Leichtman'] has been their main player for some time now. Leichtman, the 5'6 SG, knows how to light the nets on fire with her scoring ability and she knows how to make a "game" her own in other ways. Leichtman is someone that can take over as her team's main scorer, defender, and rebounder in the blink of an eye. She might only be 5'6 but she isn't afraid to get into the lane and to mix it up with the tree's if need be either. With her combination of active hands, knowledge of the game, fast feet, a willingness to get better whenever possible and it's easy to see why someone like this has ample success up until this point in her career thus far. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->