Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports

By Ray Hamill — Several local basketball teams impressed this past weekend, leaving us with no shortage of options for this week’s Humboldt Sports athletes and team of the week.

The Ferndale, McKinleyville, Eureka and Del Norte girls all won their respective tournaments, while there are potentially two or three athletes of the week on the Fortuna boys team alone.

Two, however, have stood out among their peers through the opening three weeks of the season, and get the nod for this week’s honor.

Eureka’s Makaila Napoleon and Fortuna’s Drew Gillette each were named tournament MVPs for their respective teams, and each has been performing at a consistently high level.

The McKinleyville girls, meanwhile, showcased once again why they will be a far more difficult prospect in this year’s Big 5 with a tournament victory at their own Lady Panther Classic, earning them the nod for this week’s team of the week.

ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

Makaila Napoleon

Eureka Basketball, Senior

Napoleon was named tournament MVP after leading her team to the championship at the Lincoln tournament in San Francisco this past weekend.

Napoleon scored 66 points over the three days, and has been instrumental in the team’s 8-2 start.

For more on the senior’s big weekend, see Four local teams win tournament championships …

Drew Gillette

Fortuna Basketball, Senior

Gillette has been one of the driving forces behind the Huskies very impressive start to the season.

The senior guard was named tournament MVP at the Logger Classic over the weekend, scoring 26 points in the championship game against Daugherty Valley, giving him 71 points over three games.

For more on Gillette’s big weekend, see Huskies win their third straight tournament …

TEAM OF THE WEEK

McKinleyville Girls Basketball

The McKinleyville girls claimed their own Lady Panther Classic with a big win over St. Bernard’s on Saturday evening, improving to 7-2 on the season and sending out a warning to the rest of the Big 5 that this is a much improved Panthers team.

With a high intensity pressure game, they’re also a fun team to watch.

For more on their big weekend, see McKinleyville girls prevail at Panther Classic …