Westlake’s Olivia Elsokary tops national girls basketball single-game steals record
Westlake High sophomore Olivia Elsokary can smell fear.
“At a certain point, I think the defenders know I’m coming,” Elsokary said.
The standout guard put together one of the nation’s best high school basketball performances ever when she recorded an eye-popping 25 steals in the Warriors’ 48-31 victory over Santa Barbara on Dec. 20.
The 25 steals set a national record in girls basketball, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) record book. The previous record was set by Sureka Hammonds of Parkwood High in North Carolina in 1992. She had 24 steals in a game against Indian Land of South Carolina.
“I’m in shock,” Elsokary said of learning her performance was a national record. “Kind of unreal. I couldn’t believe it.”
Neither the CIF Southern Section nor the CIF State associations keep a record for steals.
Elsokary had 14 steals at halftime.
“We knew it was a big number, but we weren’t sure,” Westlake coach Josh Budde said. “She set a school record and career high earlier this season with 13 against Dos Pueblos. But we didn’t know it was 25 until watching the film after.”
For Elsokary, who is also a standout flag football player who had a team-high 14 interceptions this past season, the game didn’t feel any different.
“Defense is my favorite part of the game,” she said.
As far as knowing how many steals she had during the record-setting game.
“I didn’t even realize,” she added. “It felt like any other game.”
Steals, unlike points scored, can be a judgment call when it comes to crediting a player with a steal. But after reviewing the definition of a steal in the NBA, Elsokary’s 25 steals become more legitimate.
She undoubtedly forced 25 turnovers with her pressure, presence or skill. On a few plays, she pokes the ball away from the ball handler and her teammate possesses the ball. By rule, because Elsokary created the turnover, she gets credit for the steal.
Here’s how the NBA rulebook defines a steal:
“A steal is credited to a player that legally takes the ball away from an opponent, intercepts a pass, or otherwise obtains possession on the ball following an opponent’s turnover (provided the ball has remained inbounds and the clock has not stopped). If a player deflects a pass or dribble and controls the deflection either away from an opponent or toward a teammate resulting in eventual possession for the defense, the player causing the deflection is credited with the steal.”
“It never dawned on me that it could be a national record. It couldn’t have happened to a better person,” Budde said. “She’s an outstanding teammate, player and young lady. I’m so proud of her.”
Elsokary had 136 steals as a freshman and broke the school’s season record of 131. As of Jan. 7, she has 148 steals this season in 16 games. That’s a jaw-dropping 9.25 steals per game. Her career total sits at 279. The career steals record at Westlake is 317 set by Lauren Goldstein (1988-92).
Elsokary is a stellar athlete at 5-foot-8. The defensive skills and anticipation are evident on the football field, too.
Elsokary led the Westlake girls flag football team with 14 interceptions this season in 24 games. She was also the Warriors’ best offensive threat, with 1,960 yards receiving and 38 touchdowns.
That kind of athleticism will take Elsokary as far as she wants it to.
“I want to be a college athlete for sure,” she said. “Just not sure if I want to play basketball, or maybe flag football.”
With the way things are going, it would not be far-fetched to see women’s flag football become a scholarship sport at the NCAA level. It’s already a club sport. USC and Arizona plan to have teams competing this spring.