Best friends since birth, Emma Steidle and Ana Pellecchia share the court at Clearview HS
MULLICA HILL, N.J. — Best friends since birth, and basketball teammates since grade school, Emma Steidle and Ana Pellecchia are a dynamic duo both on and off the court.
Although they are a year apart, Emma and Ana have been best friends and basketball teammates for as long as they can remember. 鈥淏asketball has been in my life since the day I was born,鈥� says Emma. Both of her parents played in high school and college, and have been coaching for years. Emma鈥檚 older sister, Bella Steidle, is currently playing Division I basketball at Loyola University.
So, it was no surprise when Emma demonstrated both the skill and the love for the game. She started playing for Harrison Township at age 6. Not only were her parents her coaches, but she also got to play her favorite sport with her best friend, Ana.
Ana鈥檚 love for basketball also emanated from family members. 鈥淎t first I wasn鈥檛 sure about basketball, but seeing my brother play and my dad teaching me more about it, my love for it grew,鈥� Ana says.聽Emma and Ana played on聽 the Harrison Township Mustangs travel basketball team from elementary school through the 8th grade. The team had exceptional skill and chemistry which resulted in championship wins each year. 鈥淓mma鈥檚 parents, Mike and April Steidle, are one of the main reasons why I’m the player I am today,鈥� Ana says. 鈥淭hey have taught me so much about the game and how to not only be a great player, but a great teammate.鈥�
In addition, the girls began playing AAU for the Philadelphia Belles when Ana was in 3rd grade and Emma in 4th. They worked their way up to the Bluestar National Team and have traveled to places like Indiana, Chicago, Wisconsin, and Washington DC to compete with some of the best teams in the country.
In 2021, the Philadelphia Belles Bluestar team won six National Championships and finished with a record of 58-1.聽Now, both girls juggle the聽Belles with the Clearview Girls Varsity Basketball team. Both Emma (11th grade) and Anna (10th grade) have been Varsity starters since their respective freshman years. Emma is primarily a point guard (and sometimes a shooting guard) and Ana is primarily a lefty point guard (and sometimes a combo guard).
鈥淧laying at Clearview has allowed me to become a leader and develop my communication skills in so many ways,鈥� Emma says. 鈥淚鈥檝e grown to love all of my teammates, coaches, and the CRHS girls basketball environment as a whole.鈥� Emma was Team Captain and MVP her sophomore year. Other accomplishments include: first team All-Conference, Tri-County and SJIBT Player of the Week, USJN All-Star selection, and NJ.com鈥檚 Top Freshman and Top Sophomore. She has a career high of 26 points and 6 three-pointers in one half.聽Yet, one of the most special memories was getting to play on the same team as her big sister during her freshman year at Clearview. 鈥淧laying with Bella is something that I will always cherish,鈥� she says.
Ana made a strong impression on the team as a freshman last year. Averaging 14 points, Ana was named聽SJ Sports Zone Rookie of the Year,聽first team All Tri-County Conference and SJIBT Overall Conference Player of the Year. 鈥淚 really love playing on the Clearview basketball team,鈥� Ana says. 鈥淭he girls and I really get along well and like to have fun on and off the court.鈥�
Both Emma and Ana share a dream of playing Division I basketball in college and are already being recruited. Until then, they plan to enjoy every moment playing together for both Clearview and the Belles. 鈥淪ince we are both teammates and best friends, we have a really strong bond on the court,” Ana says. “This bond truly helped with the success that we have.”
Emma agrees wholeheartedly. 鈥淧laying with my best friend and making all of these accomplishments alongside each other has been an amazing experience. We know each other so well on and off the court.鈥� she says. 鈥淗aving my best friend as my teammate is a privilege that I will never take for granted.鈥�
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