Cherrale Ricks

Lawrence High

Class: Senior

Sport: Girls basketball

HT: 5-9

The week: Ricks was the big reason the Lions took third at last week’s Firebird Winter Classic, averaging 12.5 points and 10.3 rebounds during the three-day tournament. Though often shorter than her opponents Ricks is powerful inside, usually going over defenders to the hoop. And rebounds? There’s few better. Her 31 rebounds were three shy of the tournament record. It’s no wonder she was named to the All-Tournament team.

Comment: “She was just huge for us,” LHS coach Kristin Mallory said. “She was awesome on the boards, and at times, she was really the only person we had on the inside.

“Cherrale just makes a big difference.”

Anna Skaggs

Baldwin

Class: Senior

Sport: Girls basketball

HT: 5-8

The week: Skaggs was a big reason the Bulldogs won their second straight Top Gun Tournament title last Saturday at Wellsville. The forward averaged 17.6 points in the three-game stretch, including a 29-point outburst in a 68-37 romp against Gardner-Edgerton, a career-high. A three-year starter, Skaggs has been instrumental in the Bulldogs’ 13-1 start, and that’s what Baldwin coach Eric Toot has come to expect.

Comment: “I think she’s been underrated as a player, because people look at scoring so much,” Toot said. “She’s what you might call a complete player. She can definitely score, she’s shooting about 40 percent, but she’s so unselfish, she always looking for her teammates. As a coach, I kind of wish she’d shoot more.”