HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
Boys
Cale Hellums, Sr., Tomball
Notable:
Hellums rushed for 312 yards and three touchdowns on 38 carries during a 35-21 victory over Rockwall-Heath in the Region II-6A Division II semifinals Saturday in San Antonio. The senior Army commit has accounted for more than 900 yards of total offense and nine touchdowns in three playoff games. Tomball will take on Bridgeland for the regional championship Saturday.
Other nominees
Caleb Flagg, Sr., North Shore:
Flagg made two huge defensive plays during the Mustangs’ 26-20 victory over Tompkins in the Region III-6A Division I semifinals Friday. The senior safety collected an interception in the fourth quarter and later sealed the game when he pushed a Tompkins player out of bounds short of the marker on fourth down on the Falcons’ final possession. North Shore will battle Atascocita for the regional championship Friday.
Vincent Banks, Sr., Emery-Weiner:
Banks had a standout game for the Jaguars during a 48-0 victory over the Texas School for the Deaf in the TAPPS six-man state semifinals Friday. The senior linebacker collected eight tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and a blocked punt. He also had a receiving touchdown on offense. Emery-Weiner will take on San Marcos Academy for the state championship Thursday in Waco.
Jeremy Payne, Soph., Hightower:
Payne rolled up 224 yards, including a 92-yard touchdown run, on 25 carries during a 31-21 victory over district rival Manvel in the Region III-5A Division I semifinals Friday. Payne has rushed for more than 1,600 yards and 10 touchdowns this season. Hightower will tangle with another district rival when it meets Paetow for the regional championship Friday.
Girls Andrea Sturdivant, Fr., Fort Bend Austin
Notable:
Despite only being a freshman, the point guard is averaging 20.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 3.5 steals per game for Austin, which is off to a strong 10-2 start. Sturdivant had a huge game against Marshall, collecting 18 points. She also added seven rebounds, seven assists, five steals and a block during the 79-18 victory.
What coach Laqueisha Dickerson said:
“Andrea is a special player. Although she is only a freshman, she has a very high basketball IQ and a dawg mentality. She scores for us, but she is a passfirst point guard. Her ability to read defense grows daily, and she knows how to get her teammates involved.”
Other nominees
Makynna Robbins, Soph., Lutheran South:
Robbins collected 28 points on 13-of-21 shooting during a 65-53 victory over St. Thomas Episcopal. The sophomore also added 16 rebounds, five steals, two assists and one block for the Pioneers.
Ayla McDowell, Fr., Cypress Springs:
McDowell led the Panthers to two victories to improve to 7-2. The 6-2 freshman finished with 12 points, 10 rebounds, five blocks and four assists against Dawson and added 22 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks against Washington.
Jada Thompson, Jr., Klein Collins:
The junior forward tallied 27 points on 12-of-16 shooting during a victory over Dekaney. She also had eight steals. Thompson followed that up with 12 points on 6-of-6 shooting against Clear Lake as the 8-2 Tigers won their sixth in a row.