Alexandria Moore, a thorn in facet for Thornridge’s opponents, will get 17 steals in a recreation. ‘Simply keep on my ft.’

Off the basketball courtroom, Thornridge sophomore Alexandria Moore is a mannequin citizen.

However on the courtroom? Properly, that’s a a lot totally different story.

To place it mildly, Moore is a thief of impeccable talent. She’s very observant, utilizing her velocity on the observe to get her palms on errant basketballs time and time once more.

“I simply keep on my ft,” Moore stated. “I don’t stand in a single spot. I watch the ball, and I watch the place their eyes are going.”

That’s been paying off all season for the Falcons. She’s averaging a whopping eight steals a recreation, however that’s solely the half of it.

Let’s return to Nov. 18 and a recreation in opposition to Southland Prep. It was a good 48-45 time beyond regulation victory for Thornridge, however it additionally was a recreation the place Moore recorded 17 steals.

That complete tied her for fifth place all-time for steals in a recreation, in response to Illinois Excessive College Affiliation. The file is 22 steals set by Lyons’ Sheila Carroll in 1990.

“We run a help-side protection, however she has eye on anticipating the cross,” Thornridge coach Tiarra Pollnitz stated. “She reads eyes and shoulders and is aware of methods to run the passing lanes very nicely.”

All of that’s the reason Moore was inside hanging distance of tying and even breaking a long-standing state file. However pardon the pun, there’s extra.

She fouled out with 4 minutes to go in regulation. Now, add that point, plus 4 extra minutes of OT, and that state file might need fallen.

“I didn’t know she had 17,” Pollnitz stated. “I knew she had lots. After I acquired to 10, it was halftime.”

Lest you assume these 17 steals had been an anomaly, take into account within the subsequent recreation, a 59-19 victory over Noble, she had one other 11 steals for the Falcons (4-16, 0-8).

Steals aren’t the one factor at which Moore excels.

She’s each a captain and Thornridge’s place to begin guard, a job she assumed as a freshman. She’s averaging 15 factors and 6 rebounds this season.

Moore acquired into basketball as a fifth grader as a result of her junior sister, Sylessia, took up the game. The most important affect Alexandria had again in these days was her mother, Sylvia Mitchell.

“My mother taught me,” Alexandria stated. “When she realized I used to be moving into basketball, she would take her time working with me one-on-one. She performed in highschool and center college.”

Sylessia remembers these days nicely.

“My mother is large on fundamentals, and he or she taught us the fundamentals,” Sylessia stated. “We used that in center college. She would typically come and assist out the entire workforce.”

Along with operating observe for Thornridge — the place Pollnitz quipped “she’s the quickest women I’ve met in my life” — Alexandria Moore is also a cheerleader. She has large plans for the remainder of highschool and past.

For instance, she want to research media and communications in faculty, ideally at Florida A&M. She needs to host reveals and podcasts. However that’s then — that is now.

“I’m within the course of of creating a channel on YouTube and shopping for the gear to do it,” she stated. “It’s going to be about being an energetic teenager, balancing sports activities, private life and educational life.”

However there’s one other layer to Moore than her profession aspirations and basketball. She’s succeeding as a pacesetter on and off the courtroom for the Falcons, one thing Pollnitz appreciates.

“I might simply say that my management type is I do what I might need my workforce to take action they’ll study from me,” Moore stated.

Gregg Voss is a contract reporter for the Each day Southtown.