County Athletes of the Week for Jan. 24-30
County Female Athlete of the Week for games played between
Jan. 24-30. (Photo by John Krueger)
The weather may still be cold, but athletic contests are beginning to heat us as Shelby County basketball teams are heading toward possible playoff berths, while soccer teams from Tenaha and Center reach the midpoint mark of their season. Center kickers are getting ready for District 35-4A play. Powerlifting teams from Center and Shelbyville are also getting 'warmed up'.
Spring athletes are also getting into shape as they work toward baseball, softball, tennis, track, powerlifting and golf teams work to get in shape and hope that the weather begins warming up soon.
When we honor athletes, we try to choose those players that stand out on their squad and try to make a difference on their squad when the games are on the line. These are the athletes we are honoring this week:
Shelby County Male Athlete of the Week - Justin Lewis (Joaquin)
Joaquin's Justin Lewis in his third year as a varsity performer for the Joaquin Rams. During the week of Jan. 24-30 he had two outstanding performances for the Rams as he led the team in scoring in both games and JHS posted a 1-1 record. On Jan. 26 Lewis scored 16 points, while pulling down 10 rebounds and blocking two shots and recording a steal in a 62-54 Joaquin win over Cushing. On Jan. 29 Lewis scored a team-high 15 points, while pulling down six boards in a 57-41 setback at the hands of New Summerfield. For his effort Lewis has been named the Shelby County Male Athlete of the Week.
Shelby County Female Athlete of the Week - Okievia Bratchett (Tenaha)
Tenaha junior guard Okievia Bratchett has been a steady performer for the Lady Tigers' basketball team as it made its drive for a berth in the Class 1A state playoffs. During the Week of Jan. 24-30 Bratchett led the Lady Tigers in scoring in both contests as they improved to 16-10 on the season and 9-1 in District 22-1A action. On Jan. 26 Bratchett scored 17 points in a 59-27 victory over New Summerfield. On Jan. 29 as THS neared a playoff berth, she poured in 16 points in a 49-30 win over Mount Enterprise. For her efforts Bratchett was named Shelby County Female Athlete of the Week.
Individual School Honors
Center Male Athlete of the Week - Damian Bolton
Center's senior post player Damian Bolton has been a steady performer all season long for the Roughriders. During the week of Jan. 24-30 he led the 'Riders to a pair of victories and was named CHS Male Athlete of the Week. On Jan. 26 Bolton scored 10 points and grabbed five rebounds in a 73-37 win over Central. Then, on Jan. 29, Bolton led the way with 19 points, 10 rebounds and a pair of steals as the Roughriders knocked off Diboll, 68-45. The win over Diboll was Center's 11th straight.
Center Female Athlete of the Week - O'Mattie Swindle
O'Mattie Swindle scored more than half of the Center Lady Rider points in their games during the week of Jan. 24-30. Against Central on Jan. 26 she scored 12 of the Lady Riders' 19 points in a loss to Central. She also added two rebounds. In the 55-43 setback to Diboll on Jan. 29, Swindle scored 26 points in this contest, in addition to five steals and one blocked shot. For her efforts during the week, Swindle has been named as the CHS Female Athlete of the Week.
Joaquin Female Athlete of the Week - Katelyn Cockrell
Joaquin Lady Ram Katelyn Cockrell has been named the Joaquin Female Athlete of the Week for games played between Jan. 24-30 when she led the Lady Rams in scoring in both contests. Against Cushing on Jan. 26, Cockrell scored six points in a 47-26 setback at the hands of Cushing. Then, on Jan. 29, she was the only Lady Ram who scored in double figures when she poured in 11 points in a 44-38 setback to New Summerfield.
Shelbyville Male Athlete of the Week - Walter Hill
Walter Hill, a 6-1 senior post player for Shelbyville, has been named the Dragon Male Athlete of the Week for games played between Jan. 24-30. Despite the Dragons falling to Kirbyville and Woodville, Hill was the leading scorer in both contests. On Jan. 26 Hill scored eight points in a loss to Kirbyville, and then he tied for the top scoring honors with six points in a loss to Woodville. Hill rebounded from a midseason scoring slump as he began finding his shooting range.
Shelbyville Female Athlete of the Week - Summer Williams
Shelbyville 5-4 sophomore guard Summer Williams has been named the Lady Dragon Athlete of the Week for games played between Jan. 24-30. Despite the fact that the Lady Dragons dropped both contests, Williams led Shelbyville in scoring in one of the games, while leading the defensive charge in a setback to Kirbyville on Jan. 26. On Jan. 29, against the No.3-ranked Woodville Lady Eagles, she led SHS in scoring with eight points.
Tenaha Male Athlete of the Week - Victor Johnson
Tenaha 5-11 senior forward Victor Johnson had a balanced attack and has been named the Tiger Athlete of Week after leading the team to a 2-0 mark in games played between Jan. 24-30. In the Jan. 26 game against New Summerfield, Johnson dropped in 15 points, while tallying four rebounds, five steals and three blocked shots in an 80-58 Tiger win. On Jan. 29 he scored 16 points and pulled down 12 boards in a 74-61 win over Mount Enterprise.
Timpson Male Athlete of the Week - Christon Ballard
Timpson's Christon Ballard and the Bears only played one game during the Week of Jan. 24-30, but he made the best of it and earned Timpson Male Athlete of the Week honors for his efforts. Ballard scored 11 points on Jan. 29 when he led the Bears against Gary. The Bears fell in the game, 57-52, Ballard offensive output has improved as the season has gone on.
Timpson Female Athlete of the Week - Shanee Adams
Timpson Lady Bear Shanee Adams has been a steady performer during the 2009-10 season. She led the Lady Bears in scoring during their one game played between Jan. 24-30 and has been named the Lady Bear Athlete of the Week for her effort. In the contest against Gary on Jan. 29, Adams poured in 15 points in a 50-44 setback to the Lady Bobcats.