Angelica Do

Sport: Basketball

School: Leonia

Class: Junior. Age: 16

Accomplishment: Do led the Lions to a state-tournament upset at Newton, logging double digits in points (26) rebounds (13) and steals (10) for the fifth consecutive game, and she dished out 3 assists in a 51-40 victory.

………………………………………………………………………………..

When it comes to basketball, the Do family is into triple-doubles.

Angelica Do, a junior on the Leonia girls team, accomplished that on the court down the stretch of this season. She had five consecutive games of recording double digits in points, rebounds and steals – any three statistical categories can comprise a “triple double” in hoops, but those are her bailiwick.

Before high school, “I did everything else other than really score – I was mostly [getting] steals and rebounds, like the behind-the-scenes type of player,” Do said. “And then, when I came in into high school, I was able to score more.”

So much so that she became the eighth Leonia girl to net 1,000 career points earlier this season, and she still has one to play.

Do (pronounced “Doh”) has put up all-around numbers that might remind New Jersey basketball fans of Jason Kidd, whose exploits brought the Nets to NBA Finals in 2002 and 2003.

“My dad did mention Jason Kidd to me before,” Do said. “With the NBA, I would watch with my dad and my brother” – a triple “Do-ble”, perhaps? – “and my dad would explain certain players and styles.”

These days, the 5-foot-7 guard also tunes into women’s basketball for some inspiration.

“I’m a big fan of Caitlin Clark,” Do said. “She never gives up, no matter how much hate she gets, no matter how many times people push her down, she always gets back up even stronger.”

Do shows that same spirit. All season long, Lions coach Joe Prenenski has praised her hard work in returning from offseason knee surgery.

The work paid off in a North 1, Group 2 playoff upset of Newton last week. No. 12 seed Leonia made the 56-mile trek out to Sussex County and used a huge second quarter to knock off the No. 5 seed Braves, perennial contenders in the section.

Do put up 26 points, 13 rebounds and 10 steals – roughly her five-game average from Feb. 14-27 – and played with a poise that lifted the Lions to their 19th win.

“Her ‘defense-first’ mindset in the second half of the game was the key to our success,” Prenenski said.

The key to her success has been a lot of film study.

“I watched [Newton’s] highlights and games on Hudl and saw the way they play against other teams,” Do said. “Our coach studies a lot of video, too… he really helps us understand the other team, and every time after watching film, we learn new plays to match the team that we’re playing.

“Sometimes on the side, when I have no work and I’ve finished everything [for class], I’ll the check the film on the other team and just learn a little bit, especially for more competitive teams.”

By the time Leonia boards the bus for away games, film session is over, and music study begins.

“Especially on long bus rides, I like to listen to calmer music,” Do said. “Being stressed out takes away a lot of energy, so I just try to preserve my energy as much as possible.

“Then when we get closer, and especially when I get off the bus, I change my music to a little bit more hype to wake me up and keep me going.”