To Catch a Thief

Bella Vista senior guard Kelly Logue is so good it's nearly criminal. Her numbers are so gaudy and monstrous that you may very well do a double take when you see them. But it isn't the team-leading 22.4 points per game or 3.6 assists per contest that make her stand out. Good numbers, sure. But how does 6.6 steals per game catch your eye?

The only way most of us will ever come close to such an absurd number is in video games on easy mode with fouls turned off. It is a crazy number worthy of that second look you just gave it, but it is not a typo.

"She has extremely quick hands," said Bella Vista Head Coach Gwyn Jackson. "She has a desire to get the ball on every play."

Jackson went on to gush about how Logue holds the school record for steals and continues to shatter her own records year after year.

"She has really good instincts," said fellow senior teammate and close friend Leah Parrish. "She has the best anticipation I have ever seen. She never lets her opponent get away with anything."

But still, 6.6 steals per game? How?

"We zone press a lot which makes it easier to steal the ball," said Jackson. "But she always knows where to be. She sets up the offensive player (into making a mistake)."

It is Logue's defense that is responsible for a large chunk of her impressive scoring numbers too.

"A lot of her points come off of her defense," Jackson said. "She gets a lot of layups off of steals."

Since Logue has clearly impressed teammates and her coach and frustrated any number of helpless opponents, what does Logue herself have to say about her preposterous numbers?

"It doesn't sound like that much to me," Logue said about her steals average. "After a game I will see the stats and it seems like I didn't do anything."

She is quick to deflect any praise given to her in favor of praising her teammates.

On being a leader: "I love that my team trusts me enough to lead them."

On this year's team: "We all get along really well and respect each other. We have so much talent and potential."

In response to Parrish saying that Logue is a "pretty vocal" leader: "It's in my nature to be loud."

She can reject praise all she wants, but she will still get it. Logue's abilities on the court have helped the Broncos to a 5-0 start with an average margin of victory of 31 points. The tough preseason schedule penned by coach Jackson may just give the team the upper hand in the playoffs this year. So far, however, only Kennedy has made the Broncos sweat. Bella Vista downed Kennedy 59-55 on Dec. 3 on the road.

Logue's talent on the court is immense, of that there is no question. So too is her ability to remain modest in the face of praise. But her talents off the court may be what ultimately define her upcoming college career.

Logue has about 10 schools in mind, one of which is UC Santa Cruz where she and Parrish could potentially end up going together. Basketball will be on the docket, but Logue is also an accomplished singer who loves musical theater. It would not surprise coach Jackson if Logue chooses a Division II school in order to satisfy her musical appetite.

She even sings the national anthem before the occasional home game for Bella Vista. So will her other interests play a role in what school she ultimately picks?

"I think so," she said. "Right now I still don't know what I'm going to do with my life."

Whether it's stealing the ball or the spotlight, the future looks bright for this humble thief.