Based on online fan voting, here are Reporter-Telegram’s players of the week for high school boys and girls for the period December 11-17: This honor is sponsored by Midland Meat Company. Fan polls can be done at mrt.com/aotw each week throughout the school year.
Man
Texas Brinkley, So., Garden City
Brinkley averaged 20 points and helped the No. 9 Bearcats win two games in basketball.
He scored a game-high 24 points in Garden City’s 74-34 loss to Winters on December 13, and again finished all scorers in a 58-36 victory over No. 17 Grady on December 16. Leading by 16 points.
Brinkley’s performance received the most votes from readers for Reporter-Telegram’s Male Athlete of the Week award.
Brinkley and Bearkats are off to an impressive 16-2 start to the season, returning to the core group after last year’s squad finished 22-9.
“All the hard work Texas has put in this past offseason is starting to pay off,” said Garden City head coach Brad Hall. But in the last few weeks he’s been really focused on stepping up his defensive game and made a big impact on us on that side of the ball. It sets the mood.”
Woman
Jessi Everett, Senior, Grady
Everett averaged 17.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3 assists and 3.5 steals as he led the Lady Wildcats basketball team to two wins.
She started the week by scoring 16 points in Grady’s 35–32 victory on December 13.
The point guard scored a game-high 19 points to lead the Lady Wildcats to a 49-40 victory over Garden City on December 16.
Everett’s on-court achievements were noted by readers of Reporter Telegram, who named her Female Athlete of the Week for December 11-17.
Everett helped the Lady Wildcats to a 9-5 start to the season.
During her junior season, she was a key member of the Grady team, finishing 20-13 and reaching the postseason in a tough district.
Everett averaged 10 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 4.3 steals last year, earned 8-1 first team honors and was named to the Garden City All-Tournament Team.
Lady Wildcats head coach Jim Dennis said, “Jesse keeps our team moving forward. She does a little bit of everything for us.