City

Josie Polk, Lawrence High

Sport: Girls’ basketball.

Class: Junior

Ht: 5-10.

The week: Polk put on an offensive show during the Lions’ first three games of the season, averaging 24 points a game. A pair of 21-point games were followed by a 30-point outburst against Kansas City Harmon on Tuesday as LHS scored a 94-37 win, improving its record to 2-1. The junior forward led the Lions in scoring last season, and she’s well on her way again this year.

Comment: “(Tuesday) night, she was just playing ‘Horse,'” LHS coach Kristin Mallory said. “She hit three, four, five shots in a row, and they still left her open. But she’s played well the last three games in all aspects of her game.

“I can’t say enough of the improvement from her sophomore year to her junior year.”

Area

Emily Brown, Baldwin

Sport: Girls’ basketball.

Class: Junior.

Ht: 6-2.

The week: At the Eudora Invitational, she followed up a 24-point performance in a 59-49 win against Topeka Highland Park with her first career triple-double. The junior scored 28 points — including the game-winning basket — snagged 11 rebounds and blocked 10 shots in a 52-50 victory over Kansas City Ward in the semifinals.

Comment: “She’s taken the next step to the next level early this season, and it’s exciting to see,” Baldwin coach Eric Toot said. “I realize she’s not going to put up huge numbers every night, but she can be real consistent for us. She’s always had some talent around her in the past, but she’s one of the older girls now and I think she feels more in the leadership role.”