In largest turnout yet, Shane Blakeney is The Herald’s athlete of the week (Feb. 17)
This story has been updated.
In the poll’s largest turnout yet, Shane Blakeney of the Rock Hill boys’ basketball team is The Herald’s athlete of the week.
Blakeney earned the honor after churning out an impressive final week of the regular season for the Bearcats: The sophomore guard had 18 points, including the game-winning shot at the buzzer, to give Rock Hill a 57-56 win over Clover on Feb. 11. The win clinched his team’s playoff berth.
He also scored 23 against Northwestern a few days later.
Blakeney scored 11 in his team’s loss to Mauldin in the first round of the playoffs on Wednesday.
Blakeney earned over 55 percent of all votes this week — and 10,286 votes were cast.
Ger-Cari Caldwell of the Northwestern boys’ basketball team came in second, earning 24 percent of the vote. And Kelton Talford, representing Great Falls, finished third with just over 6 percent of the vote.
The list of finalists and the full results are below.
Athlete of the week finalists
Mariana Ballard, Clover girls’ basketball: The 5-4 senior averaged 10 points, six rebounds and 2.5 steals as Clover split games with Rock Hill and North Gaston this week.
Ballard had 12 points, seven rebounds and three steals in a heartbreaking 41-40 overtime loss to Rock Hill on Feb. 11.
Ballard posted eight points and five rebounds in a 69-44 win at North Gaston on Feb. 14.
Ballard, a Johnson and Wales signee, is averaging 9.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 3.1 steals per game for a Clover team (24-2) that has won 21 of its last 22 games this season.
Shane Blakeney, Rock Hill boys’ basketball: The 6-foot sophomore averaged 20.5 points per game as Rock Hill went 1-1 this week against Clover and Northwestern, respectively.
Blakeney had 18 points, including the game-winning shot at the buzzer to give Rock Hill a 57-56 win over Clover on Feb. 11. The win also clinched a playoff berth for the Bearcats.
Blakeney had 23 points in an 82-74 loss to archrival Northwestern on Feb. 14.
Blakeney is averaging 11 points, two rebounds and two assists for Rock Hill (12-12) this season.
Ger-Cari Caldwell, Northwestern boys’ basketball: The 6-foot-4 senior stepped up his game this week, averaging 20.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.5 steals in wins over Fort Mill and Rock Hill, as Northwestern finished a perfect 8-0 in Region 3-5A play.
Caldwell had 16 points, three rebounds and three steals in an 88-55 win over Fort Mill on Feb. 11.
He followed up with 25 points, six rebounds and four steals in an 82-74 victory over archrival, Rock Hill, Feb. 14.
Caldwell, who recently signed to play football for the University of South Carolina, is averaging nine points and four rebounds per game for Northwestern (22-4) this season.
Jaliyah Gaiton, South Pointe girls’ basketball: The 5-foot-6 senior guard came into the final week of her South Pointe basketball career averaging two points and two rebounds per game this season.
Gaiton exploded for a career-high 17 points to go with four rebounds and four steals in a 79-9 win over York on Feb. 13.
The next night, Gaiton had 12 points, three rebounds and six steals in an 80-35 victory at Lancaster.
Gaiton also had four points and four steals in a 48-45 double overtime win over Westwood.
South Pointe (23-2, 8-2) has won seven straight games.
Adrienne Ruffalo, Nation Ford girls’ basketball: The 5-foot-7 senior point guard scored 21 points to help Nation Ford win 67-53 at archrival, Fort Mill, to clinch a playoff berth on Feb. 14.
Ruffalo is averaging 15.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.5 steals per game for the Falcons (14-10) this season.
Kelton Talford, Great Falls boys’ basketball: The 6-foot-7 senior had a week to remember on and off the court.
Talford led Great Falls with 19 points in an 84-47 win over Timmonsville on Feb. 10.
The next night, Talford had 19 points in a 73-50 win at McBee.
Talford, a Winthrop University signee, was named to the Carolinas Classic All-Star team (South Carolina roster) on Feb. 12.
Petey Tuipulotu, Nation Ford boys’ basketball: The 6-foot-3 senior forward showed his versatility with nine points, eight rebounds, two assists and two steals to help Nation Ford to their first and only, Region 3-5A win of the season at archrival Fort Mill on Feb. 14.
Tuipulotu is averaging 16 points and seven rebounds per game for Nation Ford (9-17) this season.
Gracie Wilson, Rock Hill girls’ basketball: The 5-foot-5 sophomore guard averaged 14 points, three rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game in Rock Hill’s wins over Clover and Northwestern this week.
Wilson had nine points — three 3-pointers — three rebounds and three steals in a 41-40 overtime win over Clover, snapping the Blue Eagles’ 21-game winning streak on Feb. 11.
Wilson also had 19 points, including five three-pointers, in a 58-22 victory at archrival, Northwestern, Feb. 14.
Rock Hill is 19-7 this season.
Brielle Windisch, Catawba Ridge girls’ basketball: The 5-foot-8 freshman guard scored 22 points to help Catawba Ridge win 49-28 at Chester to clinch its first playoff berth in school history (in first year as a team) on Feb. 13.
Windisch is averaging nine points and four rebounds per game for the Copperheads (13-13) this season.
Grant Witherspoon, Indian Land wrestling: The Indian Land junior won his match at 145 pounds to seal the Warriors’ second straight 3A state championship at Dreher High School in Columbia on Feb. 15.
Witherspoon’s win gave Indian Land a 39-3 lead, putting the match out of reach for Gilbert High, who ultimately lost the state championship match, 59-6.
How to nominate
Want to nominate an athlete? Athlete of the week awards highlight 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” voting, send an email to Jay Edwards at edwardswork23@gmail.com. Please include the athlete’s name, school, class and applicable game performance statistics. Coaches must be willing to verify information.
Athlete of the week
If you can’t view the results below on mobile, click here.
This story was originally published February 17, 2020 at 8:26 PM.
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