5 Defensive Standouts From Day 1 of PGH’s Northeast Region Finals

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Every team needs players who are willing to lay it all on the line on the defensive end of the floor. Here are five of the most productive defenders that we saw during Day 1 of the Prep Girls Hoops Northeast Region Finals. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["943364"],"_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-6a1e455e42f93"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Malinda Morgan for Team Museum 17U was all over the place on the defensive end of the floor. She made winning plays, causing multiple turnovers in the backcourt with her tenacious ball pressure. Morgan also thrived in the passing lanes out on the perimeter, getting deflections and making catches difficult for her opponent. Offensively, Malinda was aggressive in getting to the rim and drawing fouls. She showed textbook mechanics at the free-throw line, with a pretty release and efficiency. Morgan's energy set the tone defensively, especially in their matchup on Saturday vs The Compound.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Leah Norman","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12120","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Centereach High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"Team Compound","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a1e455e43098"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Leah Norman imposes her will when she's on the floor. She absolutely eats up both the offensive and defensive glass using her size and frame at a high level. Norman can be an anchor defensively as a shot blocker. She communicates a ton on the back line of the defense. Leah also has an effective post game as well. She converts around the rim strong, can finish with both hands and soft touch. Norman does a great job of seeking the opportunity to get out and run leading to easy transition points. Leah Norman provides value on both ends and is willing to do the things that don't pop up on the box score to raise her team's chances to get a win. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1851319"],"_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-6a1e455e43122"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Rielle was living in the lanes on Saturday generating turnovers. She was one of many that played with high effort and energy throughout the weekend. Jackson was also consistently collapsing opposing defenses with her ability to get downhill. She has a clean handle to get into the paint. Her aggressiveness on her drives led to getting to the line multiple times. She brings that relentless motor on both sides of the ball. Rielle produced two-way impact at the wing position just as well as any player that we saw on Saturday afternoon. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1775905"],"_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-6a1e455e4318a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">When it comes to playing with a strong competitive spirit no one displayed that better than Hall did. She had the highest motor especially in her game vs Dreamers Elite. Alexus was all over the floor doing anything possible to give her team possessions. Hall plays with pure toughness whenever she's on the court. It stands out even more with her activity on the boards. Alexus gave her team multiple second chance opportunities throughout the game. She was definitely one of our favorites to watch this weekend because of the energy she provides to her team every game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1810160"],"_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-6a1e455e431d9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hailey Cunningham joined the list of players that we enjoyed watching on Saturday with her grittiness and energy. She gets after it on the defensive end especially on the perimeter. Cunningham made sure she was in the vacinity of any 50/50 ball throughout the game doing a great job of especially crashing the glass. Offensively, Hailey was at her best when she was attacking closeouts and getting to the rim. To simply put it Cunningham knows her role on her team. She's a pest on the defensive end that has potential to grow even more on her offensive game as well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->