Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Alfonso Medina

By Ray Hamill — High school basketball season is in full swing here on the North Coast with league play fast approaching.

And several local teams have been impressing through the early going, which is reflected in our Humboldt Sports Athletes and Team of the Week, which is sponsored as always by College of the Redwoods Athletics.

Our two athletes of the week have been setting the tone for their respective teams all season and that continued to be the case this past weekend.

After a big season on the soccer fields in the fall, Fortuna senior Allie Cox has adapted seamlessly to the basketball court and is enjoying another outstanding season as the Fortuna girls are off to a flying start.

The Huskies guard led the way once again over the weekend, as the Fortuna girls improved to 9-3 after placing first at the Lady Trojan Classic at Orland.

Cox scored 38 points over the three games and played some very strong defense on her way to being named tournament MVP.

Fellow senior Alfonso Medina also has been outstanding for the Fortuna boys through the early season.

Medina has been a consistent bright spot for the Huskies in their 7-4 start to the season, including another strong showing at the weekend Justin Gardner Memorial Tournament at Nevada Union High School.

The standout senior is coming off back-to-back games with 20 or more points and has been contributing all over the court.

Our team of the week, meanwhile, goes to South Fork boys basketball.

The Cubs are off to a 9-3 start and appear well positioned to defend their Little 4 championship in the new year.

Head coach Taylor Morrow’s team has already won a pair of tournaments, including placing first at their own Gene Cotter Memorial Tournament in Miranda this past weekend.

Allie Cox, fifth from left and her teammates celebrate their tournament championship at Orland on Saturday.

ATHLETES OF THE WEEK 

Allie Cox

Fortuna Basketball, Senior

One of the best all-around high school athletes on the North Coast, Cox is enjoying an outstanding senior year, and she is doing so in multiple sports.

The senior standout was named tournament MVP at Orland after leading the Huskies to three wins in three games in tournament play.

If Cox and her teammates continue to play as well as they have been in their December tournament they will be a handful for anyone when the Big 5 tips off in the new year.

For more on her big week, see High-flying Huskies continue to roll in Trojan Classic final …

Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Alfonso Medina

Alfonso Medina

Fortuna Basketball, Senior

Medina has been equally impressive for the Fortuna boys.

We knew he would be one of the top local high school players this season and he has lived up to that billing.

In addition to back-to-back double-doubles in the Huskies’ opening two game at Nevada Union, the senior standout scored 28 points in the consolation championship and added 20 points and eight rebounds in a non-tournament game at South Fork on Tuesday night.

For more on his big week, see Fortuna boys score 88 in tournament consolation showdown …

Submitted photo – The Cubs celebrate their recent tournament championship at Anderson Valley.

TEAM OF THE WEEK

South Fork Boys Basketball

The two-time defending Little 4 champions are showing no signs of slowing down this season.

In fact, judging by the opening few weeks of their season they could be better than ever as they look for a three-peat of league titles in the new year.

Several players have been stepping up, including standout senior Tommy Rotbergs, who  had his best game of the season at both ends of the floor in Saturday’s tournament championship against Averroes.

Trevor Hunt also has looked very good early in the season, as has Rubin Lopez, Shevy Bero-Van Meter and Wesley Way, among others.

For more on the South Fork boys’ big week, see  South Fork boys top Averroes in Gene Cotter Memorial final …