BIG 5 BOYS — Arcata Tigers sophomore wins second MVP award

By barstoolfanatics on March 14, 2024 • ( Leave a comment )

Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Luke Lemke won his second MVP award of the year after being named Big 5 MVP in boys basketball.

By Ray Hamill — It’s been a year Arcata’s Luke Lemke won’t easily forget.

The standout sophomore has been named the Big 5 MVP in boys basketball, just three months after he was named Little 4 Offensive MVP in football.

Lemke played a pivotal role in helping the Tigers rally to win a share of the Big 5 championship, as well as the Dick Niclai tournament.

And he set the tone for his teammates with his work ethic while lifting his game to a new level this winter.

“I think it came down to two words — effort and attitude,” Arcata head coach Kellen Maynard said. “From day one he came in ready to work his butt off.”

Lemke wasted little time preparing for the season.

The morning after he and his teammates lost their North Coast Section playoff game in football, the hard-working sophomore was in the gym getting ready for a winter on the basketball court, something that immediately impressed his coach.

“That kid has the best attitude you can ask for and gives an unbelievable effort,” Maynard said. “He was always picking up his teammates in the huddle and I think his attitude rubbed off on the other guys.”

For the season, Lemke averaged over 15 points and almost seven rebounds a game, as he showed tremendous improvement from his freshman campaign.

“He struggled a little bit early in the season. I think he was trying to find where he fit in. He was a sophomore without much varsity experience,” Maynard added. “But by the time league rolled around, he flipped a switch and just took off.

“He just has a different gear he can get to. He’s fearless and he’s not afraid of contact. He won’t back down from anyone bigger than him.”