Highland, Perry students earn honors

Highland track and field athlete Jae Genet and Perry basketball player Koa Peat have been chosen as this week’s Arizona Republic high school athletes of the week, in weekly polls sponsored by Diamond Kitchen & Bath and posted on azcentral.com.

Over 2,500 votes were cast.

Genet was nominated following her performance at a tri-meet against Chandler Basha and Mesa Dobson, where she threw 142 feet in the javelin on her very first competitive attempt in the event. The converted softball player is currently fourth in the country with that mark.

Also nominated were Xavier College Preparatory basketball Sarah Miller, who had 23 points in the Open Division final as Xavier Prep took down Phoenix Desert Vista 60-53 to win the state title; and Sandra Day O’Connor basketball player Sarah Miller, who scored 10 points to help O’Connor beat Perry 5646 in the 6A state championship game.

In the boys poll, Peat was nominated after his showing in the Open Division state tournament. Peat had 35 points, 16 rebounds and 7 assists in the semifinal win over Basha, then had 21 points and 13 rebounds in the state final against Millennium. Also nominated were Millennium basketball player Sabien Cain, who put up 33 points with 8 3pointers, including 7 in the first half, in a 71-67 loss to Perry in the Open state basketball championship game; and Saguaro baseball player Cam Caminiti, who went 5 for 8 at the plate with 2 doubles, a triple and 5 RBIs in a win over Bradshaw Mountain, while also pitching four innings, striking out six and walking one, giving up 3 hits with no earned runs.

Nominees are based on performances in AIA-sanctioned sports. Polls are posted on Monday and voting closes at 6 p.m. on Wednesday. Results are announced the next day on azcentral.com and in The Arizona Republic on Friday. Nominees are chosen by Republic sports staff, with input from coaches and readers. Submit a weekly nominee at static.azcentral.com/ sports/high-schools/nominations/).