Vote for the News & Observer high school football and athlete of the week (12.3.21)

Here are the nominees for the News & Observer high school athlete of the week.

Readers can vote as often as they want until Friday, around noon, when the polls will close.

Football player of the week

Anthony Crim, Rolesville: ran for three touchdowns in the second half of Rolesville’s 47-24 win over Leesville Road. One of them was for 92 yards as Rolesville outscored Leesville 33-0 in the second half.

Ethan Grace, Cardinal Gibbons: three sacks and six tackles in Friday’s 42-14 win over Panther Creek.

Amari Odom, Panther Creek: 24-of-42 for 336 yards and a touchdown in Friday’s loss to Cardinal Gibbons.

Christian Perris, Princeton: filling in for injured star Jaydon Brooks for the second straight game, Perris had 247 yards and three touchdowns on 34 carries in a 45-28 win over defending 2AA regional champ St. Paul’s.

DJ Scott, Leesville Road: 24 carries, 117 yards and a touchdown in a 47-24 loss to Rolesville.

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Athlete of the week

Sydney Barker, Jordan basketball: The 5-foot-8 junior guard averaged 23.7 points per game as Jordan lost three games by a combined six points to Durham School of Arts, Southeast Raleigh and Wake Forest.

Barker had 28 points and three rebounds in a 59-56 loss to Durham School of Arts Nov. 22.

She had 19 points, two assists and one rebound in a 37-36 loss to Southeast Raleigh Nov. 26.

Barker finished off the week with 24 points, seven rebounds and four assists in a 58-56 loss to Wake Forest, Nov. 27.

Taylor Barner, Panther Creek basketball: The 5-foot-7 sophomore guard averaged 23.5 points and four steals per game as Panther Creek got off to a 2-0 start this season with wins over E.E. Smith and Leesville Road.

Barner had 23 points, five assists and five steals in 68-24 win at Leesville Road Nov. 23.

She also had 24 points and three steals to lead the Catamounts to a 62-52 victory over E.E. Smith Nov. 27.

Katie Belle Sikes, Orange swimming: The Panthers’ sophomore won all four events that she competed in during a tri-meet with Cedar Ridge and Eastern Alamance Nov. 22.

Belle Sikes won the 50 freestyle (23.60), 100 freestyle (52.82), while leading the 200 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay to victories.

The Orange girls’ swim team beat Cedar Ridge, 83-60, while losing to Eastern Alamance 85-72.

Dawson Edwards, Jordan basketball: The 5-foot-11 senior guard had 17 points, nine assists and two steals in a 100-44 win over Durham School of Arts Nov. 22.

Edwards also chipped in seven points, four assists and three steals in an 84-44 loss at The Burlington School, Nov. 23.

James Jones, IV, Thales Academy Rolesville basketball: The 6-foot-1 senior had 32 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists to lead Thales Academy Rolesville to 77-72 comeback win over Oak Forest Nov. 22.

Jones IV averages 21.8 points and 10.5 rebounds for the Knights (2-2).

Julien King, Grace Christian basketball: The 6-foot-3 junior had 25 points, four rebounds and three assists in 72-52 win over Durham Academy Nov. 27.

King had nine points, nine rebounds and three assists in a 71-59 loss at Mount Zion Academy Nov. 23.

Grace Christian (4-5) also lost to Westminster Catawba (SC) 56-47 Nov. 26.

Rhian Lawrence, Cardinal Gibbons Basketball: The 5-foot-7 junior point guard averaged 21 points, 8.5 assists and 9.5 rebounds per game as Cardinal Gibbons beat Cannon School and Ravenscroft.

Lawrence had a triple double with 28 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds in an 87-57 win at Cannon School Nov. 23.

The previous day, Lawrence had 14 points, six assists and eight rebounds in a 56-22 victory over Ravenscroft.

Pat Malott, Apex Basketball: The 6-foot-1 senior guard had 37 points, including six three-pointers, to go with six assists and four rebounds in a 89-86 double overtime loss to Broughton Nov. 23.

Gabrielle Matthews, Rolesville Basketball: The 5-foot-6 freshman shooting guard had a game to remember with 15 points and 10 assists in her first career start to lead the Rams to a 74-28 win over Green Hope Nov. 22.

The next day, she also had eight points in a 59-46 loss at Athens Drive.

Gabriel Marquis, Raleigh Charter Basketball: The 6-foot-1 sophomore scored 28 points, including six three-pointers, to go with 10 assists, five rebounds and four steals to help Raleigh Charter to a 92-36 win over Friendship Christian Nov. 22.

Marquis also had 15 points, three rebounds and two assists in a 82-62 loss to Wayne Country Day Nov. 26.

Jayden Michael, Rolesville Basketball: The 5-foot-11 senior averaged 29.5 points and six rebounds per game as Rolesville split games with Green Hope and Willow Springs to open the season.

Michael had 24 points and six rebounds in a 65-58 loss to Green Hope Nov. 22.

The next night, Michael had 35 points and six boards in a 71-46 victory over Willow Springs.

William Otto, Broughton Basketball: The 6-foot-3 junior averaged 28 points, 6.5 rebounds and four assists per game to help Broughton to road wins at Apex and at Heritage.

Otto had 24 points, six rebounds and five assists in a 66-56 win at Heritage Nov. 22.

The next night, Otto was even better with 32 points, seven rebounds and three assists in a 89-86, double overtime victory at Apex.

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** Information published today includes statistics through Nov. 27.

Want to nominate an athlete?: Athletes of the week highlights high school players with outstanding performances. The goal is to recognize all athletes in all sports, both the most accomplished and the underrated or underappreciated players. If you want to suggest someone to be included in the Athletes of the week column, send email to Jay Edwards at edwardsraleighnewsobserver@gmail.com. Please include the athletes’ name, school, class and applicable game performance statistics. Coaches must be willing to verify information.