UC Santa Cruz Athletics — Kaylee Murphy

By Ray Hamill — Former Eureka Logger Kaylee Murphy enjoyed another milestone achievement on the collegiate basketball courts over Christmas and that earns her the nod for one of this week’s Athletes of the Week, sponsored by College of the Redwoods Athletics.

The 2018 Eureka High graduate reached 1,000 career points for UC Santa Cruz in a 71-51 win over Minnesota Morris on Dec. 22, becoming just the fifth player in program history to do so.

The senior forward also is the team’s all-time career leader in rebounds, breaking the record in her junior season.

Joining her as one of our athletes of the week is Fortuna High junior Alfonso Medina, who is enjoying an outstanding season with the Huskies.

Medina posted back-to-back double-doubles at the Dixon Ram Jam basketball tournament this week while leading the Fortuna boys to Friday night’s championship game.

Medina and the Huskies are now 10-5 on the season as they get set to tip of the Big 5 next week.

Another Big 5 team that is enjoying an impressive pre-league campaign is McKinleyville and the Panthers are this week’s team of the week after winning the Enterprise tournament.

The Panthers won three games in tournament play and improved to 13-3 on the season.

ATHLETES OF THE WEEK 

Kaylee Murphy

UC Santa Cruz Basketball, Senior

Murphy continues to leave quite the legacy for the Banana Slugs, as she continues her assault on the program’s all-time records.

In three-and-a-half seasons with the team, the former H-DNL standout is averaging a double-double for her career with 12.8 points and 11.8 rebounds a game.

She now has 1,015 career points and 930 career rebounds.

The D-III Santa Cruz women are 10-2 on the season.

Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Alfonso Medina

Alfonso Medina

Fortuna Basketball, Junior

Medina has been a leading force for the Huskies, who are off to an impressive 10-5 start .

The junior standout finished with 28 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists in a 77-73 win over Marin Academy on Wednesday, and followed that with 23 points, 10 boards and eight steals in a 61-33 win over Dixon on Thursday.

For more on Medina and the Huskies, see Fortuna boys advance to Dixon championship game …

Submitted photo – The McKinleyville boys celebrate their tournament championship on Thursday.

TEAM OF THE WEEK 

McKinleyville Boys Basketball

The Panthers have arguably been the most impressive of all local teams so far this season.

The Mack boys are the first H-DNL team to 13 wins and appear well up to the challenge of the Big 5 after winning the Enterprise tournament this week.

The tournament championship was the second of the early season and included victories over Fall River (69-57), University Prep (47-45) and Enterprise (46-40).

Senior Jack Clancy was named tournament MVP, while defensive standout Jordan Brown was named all-tournament along with sophomore teammate Cole Armstrong.

For more on the Panthers, see our Boys Basketball Roundup …