Soccer players voted Republic’s athletes of week

Two soccer players have been selected as The Arizona Republic’s athletes of the week, sponsored by Diamond Kitchen & Bath.

Leo Gutierrez, Salpointe Catholic soccer, was chosen for this week’s boys’ award by readers on azcentral.com. He scored 3 goals and had 6 points in the Lancers’ win over Mesa Mountain View on Dec. 15 and led the state with 21 goals and 44 points as of Dec. 18, when the poll was posted.

Other nominees were: Wyatt MacKay, North Canyon basketball, who scored 49 points in a win over Betty H Fairfax, making 21 of 28 shots; and Koa Peat, Perry basketball, who had 20 points, 17 rebounds, six assists and four blocks in an 83-69 win over St. Mary’s last week and 26 points and five rebounds in a 93-52 rout of Boulder Creek.

In the girls’ poll, Morgan Bair, Cactus Shadows soccer, topped the voting. She scored 3 goals in the Falcons’ Dec. 15 win over Independence and 2 goals in a Dec. 12 win over Westview. She led 5A with 13 goals and 29 points as of Dec. 18 when the poll opened.

Also nominated were America Cazares, Pueblo basketball, who scored a school record 59 points, including 10 made 3-pointers, in a 101-16 road win over Palo Verde on Dec. 13; and Elli Guiney, Millennium basketball, who scored 30 points in the Tigers’ 78-76 double overtime victory over rival Valley Vista on Dec. 14.

Nominees are based on performances in AIA-sanctioned sports. Polls are posted on Monday and voting closes at 5 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/).