District basketball tournaments last week paved the way for a basketball-heavy Marion County Athlete of the Week poll this week.
Considering five Ocala-area basketball teams captured district titles and eight more continued seasons worthy of an FHSAA playoff berth, the number of basketball performances worth an Athlete of the Week poll nomination comes at no surprise.
Meanwhile, Vanguard girls soccer continued its perfect season with another shutout victory, 8-0 vs. Citrus, to keep its playoff season alive. As such, a number of Knights soccer players also found themselves nominated for this week’s Athlete of the Week poll.
Below you’ll find 21 Ocala-area athletes who notched standout performances during the week of Feb. 2-7. Readers will have an opportunity to vote for who they believe is deserving of this week’s Athlete of the Week honor until Friday at noon. Voters are encouraged to vote early and often as there is no limit to the number of times you can vote.
Athlete of the Week nominees are compiled by what’s available on MaxPreps and by submission, so coaches, athletic directors and statisticians are encouraged to send nominees and their stats to ocalasports@usatodayco.com for consideration.
Marion County Athlete of the Week nominations for Feb. 2-7
Brayan Perez, senior, Lake Weir boys basketball – 25 points, rebound, assist, steal in win vs. Crystal River
Antonio Jackson, senior, Lake Weir boys basketball – 23 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals in win vs. Crystal River
Darnell Goodman, senior, North Marion boys basketball – 12 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals in win vs. Santa Fe
Lamont Sweeting, senior, North Marion boys basketball – 14 points, 4 rebounds, steal in win vs. Santa Fe
Jameya Brown, sophomore, North Marion girls basketball – 20 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists in loss vs. Eastside
Jackson LaFirst, sophomore, Redeemer Christian boys basketball – 16 points, 2 rebounds, 3 steals in loss vs. St. John Lutheran
Selena Martin, junior, Redeemer Christian girls basketball – 23 points in win vs. St. John Lutheran; 15 points in win vs. Seven Rivers Christian
Laramie Butler, sophomore, Redeemer Christian girls basketball – 15 points in win vs. St. John Lutheran
Ava Gibson, freshman, Redeemer Christian girls basketball – 22 points in win vs. Seven Rivers Christian
Braylon Dickerson, junior, St. John Lutheran boys basketball – 14 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals in win vs. Redeemer Christian
Mike Neal, senior, Trinity Catholic boys basketball – 12 points, 8 rebounds, assist, 2 steals in win over Saint Francis Catholic
Joshua Powell, senior, Trinity Catholic boys basketball – 12 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals
Izabella Melendez, junior, Trinity Catholic girls basketball – 13 points, 4 rebounds, assist, 3 blocks in win vs. PK Yonge; 10 points, 3 rebounds, assist, 4steals in win vs. St. Joseph Academy
Jayhanna Owusu, senior, Trinity Catholic girls basketball – 10 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 6 steals in win vs. PK Yonge; 6 points, 7 rebounds, steal in win vs. St. Joseph Academy
Alessa Washington, senior, Trinity Catholic girls basketball – 11 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals in win vs. PK Yonge; 19 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 5 steals in win vs. St. Joseph Academy
I’jaia Bethea, junior, Vanguard girls basketball – 12 points in win vs. Lecanto
Kenaria Dowdy, senior, Vanguard girls basketball – 8 points, 11 rebounds, assist, steal in win vs. Lecanto
Saniya Kendrick, junior, Vanguard girls basketball – 12 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals in win vs. Lecanto; 13 points, 2 rebounds, assist in loss vs. Springstead
Kendal Davis, sophomore, Vanguard girls soccer – 4 goals, assist, 3 steals in playoff win vs. Citrus
Ruby Scott, senior, Vanguard girls soccer – 2 goals, 2 assists, 12 steals in playoff win vs. Citrus
Addison Fratello, senior, Vanguard girls soccer – 21 steals in playoff win vs. Citrus
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Marion County Athlete of the Week poll, nominations for Feb. 2-7
Reporting by Ainslie Lee, Gainesville Sun / Ocala Star-Banner
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
