Last season, Stagg’s Abbey Hobart solidified her credentials as an offensive threat.

That’s when she eclipsed the 1,000-point mark for her career, scored a program-record tying 37 points in a game and then followed it up with 36 points the next outing.

This season, she’s also working on becoming a presence on the other end of the court.

“I really want to lock in on defense,” Hobart said. “It’s always about watching and reading where the next pass is going to go.”

Hobart was locked in on defense and loaded up on offense Monday night. The senior guard scored 16 points — including 14 in the first half — to lead the Chargers to a 43-28 nonconference victory over host Shepard in Palos Heights.

Stagg (2-3) snapped a three-game losing streak by recording 22 steals, with 11 in each half. Hobart had six, followed by Juliane Roupas with five and Victoria Bedziechowski with four.

Stagg’s Abbey Hobart (14) goes in for the layup against Shepard during a nonconference game in Palos Heights on Monday Dec. 1, 2025. (Gary Middendorf / Daily Southtown)

Abby Ellsworth added 11 points and sank a 3-pointer with 2:06 left in the first half to put the Chargers ahead 21-15. Before that, neither team held more than a four-point lead.

Stagg went on to take a 27-16 halftime lead and didn’t look back.

“I’ve always liked shooting threes,” Ellsworth said. “It’s fun when they go in.”

Savannah Conrad paced Shepard (3-3) with 13 points. Jessica Manley scored eight of her 12 points in the first quarter.

Stagg’s Abby Ellsworth (5) looks to make a play against Shepard during a nonconference game in Palos Heights on Monday Dec. 1, 2025. (Gary Middendorf / Daily Southtown)

Even though the season is still young for Stagg, the 5-foot-8 Hobart has been waves. She was named to all-tournament team at Hinsdale Central and signed to play at Missouri S&T.

Stagg coach Allee Hernandez confirmed that Hobart’s desire to play in college has made her into a better defensive player.

“It’s definitely an improvement,” Hernandez said of Hobart’s defense. “Defense has been something we’ve been stressing since the jump this season because we know we have athletes.

“The improvement was something I noticed when she came back from her travel team in the summer. She told me it was a part of her game that she wanted to pick up to get prepared for college basketball.”

Stagg’s Juliane Roupas (1) looks to pass against Shepard during a nonconference game in Palos Heights on Monday Dec. 1, 2025. (Gary Middendorf / Daily Southtown)

Hernandez pointed out the key to defense is having a high basketball IQ, which Hobart possesses.

“You have to be able to read the floor and see where the passes are going,” Hernandez said. “A lot of it is not necessarily on-ball steal. It can be a teammate getting on-ball pressure and when they go to throw the pass, it’s reading that pass.

“Defense is a huge teamwork game. You all have to be on the same page.”

It’s still a work in progress.

After allowing 28 points in a season-opening win over Wheaton North, the Chargers gave up 54 points to Hinsdale Central, 54 to Neuqua Valley and 61 to Freeport before clamping down on the Astros.

Stagg’s Abbey Hobart (14) pushes the ball up the court against Shepard during a nonconference game in Palos Heights on Monday Dec. 1, 2025. (Gary Middendorf / Daily Southtown)

“I think we have a lot of potential,” Hobart said. “Our record doesn’t necessarily show it, but I think we can do a lot of things this year.

“It’s a fun team and everyone works hard and wants to get better. We all want to win. We have a lot of young talent on the team as well. We just have to get used to playing with each other.”

Hobart started playing basketball after watching her brothers at St. Alexander in Palos Heights, and when it was time for her to suit up, great things happened. She was teammates with Mother McAuley’s Quinn Arundel and the team was unbeaten in sixth, seventh and eighth grades.

Aside from scoring, and now defense, Hobart brings some other qualities to the Chargers.

“She’s a great leader on the team,” Ellsworth said. “She helps everyone out. She’s always there if you need a helping hand.”

Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/01/abbey-hobart-stagg-shepard-ihsa-girls-basketball/