Six on EJ’s Hustle Index

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This bunch of hoopers win the 50/50 ball with undeniable hustle and grit. They can be relied on to do whatever it takes to help their team win games and for that reason, their efforts should be noted.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='651493' first='Grace' last='Heims'] | Point Pleasant Beach</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Donning new threads for 2026, Grace made the switch from St. Rose to Point Beach recently and brought her high-effort game along with her. Going from reserve to starter, her impact was felt immediately, sinking two triples en-route to 8 points (an assist and a steal) in her Gulls debut vs Henry Hudson. More recently vs Monmouth, she chipped in 6 points and imposed a lot integrity on defense, with 2 blocks and 3 steals; crucial plays in the narrow 6-point win. As her confidence continues to build, one thing that doesn't waver is her effort. She'll dive and scrap for possession, execute offense with patience and get in good position to draw a charge.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1355087' first='Juniper' last='King'] | Wildwood Catholic</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hovering around six feet tall, Juniper's effort on the glass and on defense this season has been stellar. The sophomore forward is averaging 5.8 RPG &amp; 1.2 SPG and also has a handful of blocks this season. Toughness on defense against Ewing (7 REBS &amp; 3 STLS) and OLMA (6 REBS &amp; 3 STLS) was crucial in nabbing the narrow dubs. Her energy is necessary and without it, Wildwood Catholic's strong 16-7 record would look a lot different.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1260413' first='Charlie' last='Berger'] | Millburn</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Maximum effort has been the name of the game for Charlie in her freshman campaign. Her defensive intensity and integrity has been majorly impactful in the way Millburn has closed out wins against Bloomfield (3 steals, 35-30 win), Union (3 steals, 46-42 win) and Parsippany Hills (5 steals, 41-36 win). Gritty, in-your-face pressure has made for nearly two steals per game and countless other deflections that won't show up in the box score. She doesn't back down from the assignment and there's just no second-guessing herself! She's going out there and doing whatever it takes to win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mary Ganim | Blair</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Typically tasked with defending the opposing team's best player, Mary's pesky defense and relentless motor has been an integral part of the Bucs' success. So much of what she does won't show up in the box score or on any stat sheet; effort-based basketball. Deflections, recovering loose balls, screen assists and anticipation in the passing lanes contributes to winning plays. She might be small in stature at 5'3", but her game is big and tough! On paper, she's averaging over three steals per game. Notable performances include 4 steals against Putnam Science (CT), 4 against Royal Crown School (Canada) and a career-high 12 against Lawrenceville. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='871258' first='Sarah' last='Farrow'] | Middle Township</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If we're talking hustle index, Sarah's contributions are off the meter! Supremely tough and though undersized at her position, you would never know it because of the way she approaches each game. It doesn't matter the stage or the caliber of opponent, she plays fearless, hard-nosed basketball and competes hard. She attacks the glass and has no problem banging with the bigs for rebounds. Her "never back down" mentality has seen averages of 9.6 RPG &amp; 2.4 SPG, as well as countless bruises and bang-ups. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1736844' first='Rose' last='Ciccolella'] | Dunellen</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The stats don't always show the full picture... and in Rose's case, they certainly don't do it justice. While she's averaging a solid 1.7 SPG, the numerous deflections she gets per game is much higher. Her game is fueled by athleticism, tenacity and strong will to help a very young Destroyers squad stay competitive. The 5'5' guard has notched two games with double-digit rebounds and is averaging just under five per contest. Tough!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->