Zillah's Xavier Castilleja voted VarsityWA's Basketball Athlete of the Week, Jan. 12-17
Castilleja had 16 points, including a 3-pointer in the final seconds, leading to the game-winning four-point play in a 78-74 win over Royal
Update, Jan. 23: Congratulations to Zillah’s Xavier Castilleja, who was voted as VarsityWA’s Basketball Athlete of the Week for games played Jan. 12-17.
Castilleja sank an acrobatic 3-pointer in the final seconds, leading to the game-winning four-point play in the Leopards’ 78-74 thriller over Royal in a top-five ranked 1A SCAC showdown. Finished with 16 points.
Thank you to everyone who voted. The next poll (for games played Jan. 19-24) will be posted on Monday, Jan. 26. To nominate an athlete, please send us an email or direct message by 5 p.m. Sunday for consideration.
Original post, Jan. 21: The seventh full week of the high school basketball season in Washington featured big individual playmaking and defensive performances around the state.
Here are 10 standouts up for VarsityWA’s Basketball Athlete of the Week voting for winter-holiday games played the week of Jan. 12-17:
Xavier Castilleja, Zillah boys basketball: At end of wild sequence, sank acrobatic 3-pointer in final seconds, leading to game-winning four-point play in Leopards’ 78-74 thriller over Royal in top-five ranked 1A SCAC showdown. Finished with 16 points.
Joe Harward, Bellingham boys basketball: Posted a pair of productive double-double outings in Northwest Conference play — 24 points and 11 rebounds against Lakewood, and 30 points and 14 rebounds against Ferndale.
Hayden Kaut, Napavine girls basketball: Montana signee poured in a season-high 26 points, including a 12-of-15 showing from the free throw line, while pulling down 17 rebounds in a top-10 ranked 2B Central win over Toutle Lake.
Jamison McCann, Ridgefield boys basketball: Senior guard keeps piling up big scoring games, tallying a game-high 39 points, including 13 in the first quarter, in a 2A GSHL victory over Hudson’s Bay.
Jamaize McGriff, Emerald Ridge boys basketball: Senior forward had a game-high 25 points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots as the Jaguars knocked off unbeaten Bonney Lake in a 4A SPSL crossover showdown.
Landen Northrop, Richland boys basketball: Top-ranked Bombers went over 100 points in both MCC games last week — and this senior guard tallied 26 points against Kamiakin, and a game-high 32 points against Hermiston of Oregon.
Olivia Patshkowski, Central Valley girls basketball: Sophomore having a big GSL season with a run of five consecutive 20-point games, including 25 points and 14 rebounds in a win over Mount Spokane, and 26 points in a loss to Mead.
Karly Stewart, Lakewood girls basketball: Turned up the scoring production with four consecutive 30-point outings, including 35 points against Bellingham, and 30 points against Sehome.
Tyler Venable, Black Hills girls basketball: Junior guard scored a game-high 27 points, and went over 1,000 points for her career in the Wolves’ 2A EvCo victory at Centralia. Had 23 points earlier in the week in a loss to Tumwater.
Brian Webster, O’Dea boys basketball: Brought the Irish back from a late 11-point deficit by canning a game-tying 3-pointer with five seconds remaining in O’Dea’s loss to Rainier Beach. Webster finished with a team-high 29 points.
Editor’s note: Click on the poll or follow this link to vote. Voting will remain open until noon Friday and is unlimited. To nominate an athlete in future weeks, please send us an email or direct message by 5 p.m. Sunday for consideration.
