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JACKSON – The 2021 Michigan high school basketball season finally tipped off this past week with a loaded slate of competition.
The Jackson area saw its fair share of impressive performances and feats, but we want to know which individual performance ranks above the rest from the opening week of action. Readers of MLive and Jackson Citizen Patriot can vote as many times as they’d like from now until 9 a.m. Friday for the student-athlete they believe deserves top billing for their accomplishments.
Below are our Top 10 candidates for Player of the Week.
Lexus Bargesser, Grass Lake
The junior standout averaged 27 points per game this week, including a 35-point outing against Addison, to further cement her status as a 4-star prospect and a Top 50 recruit in the 2022 class. Bargesser helped power the Warriors to wins over Hanover-Horton (66-14), Addison (101-11) and Ypsilanti Arbor Prep (80-69).
Shea Tripp, Michigan Center
Tripp opened her season with a quadruple-double against Manchester, finishing with 22 points, 18 rebounds, 12 assists and 10 steals to power the Cardinals to a 76-40 home win. The senior standout then added 14 points, 10 rebounds, five steals, seven assists and one block to lead Michigan Center to a 62-14 win over Napoleon.
Carson Sanders, Hanover-Horton
The junior forward for the Comets averaged 19 points and seven rebounds per game this past week. He opened his season with a 25-point, six-rebound outing against Adrian, 16 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two blocks against Grass Lake and added 17 points, seven rebounds and three steals against Vandercook Lake.
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Austin McKessy, East Jackson
The junior playmaker scored 27 points and added six rebounds, four steals and two assists to lead East Jackson to a season-opening win over Manchester and added 19 points, four steals and two rebounds in a win over Whitmore Lake.
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Gwen Rogozinski, Stockbridge
Rogozinski scored 28 points to lead Stockbridge in a 60-45 loss to Chelsea on Monday, and added 22 points, seven rebounds and five assists in her team’s win 55-41 win over Pinckney on Saturday.
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Hillary Griffin, Parma Western
Griffin finished with 10 points, five rebounds, three steals and two assists against Battle Creek Harper Creek and power her squad to a rivalry win over Jackson Northwest on Thursday with 21 points, five rebounds, five assists, three steals and four blocked shots.
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Zoie Bamm, Columbia Central
The sophomore center averaged 21 points per game for the Golden Eagles this week. She opened her season with a 16-point outing against Dundee, a 24-point performance against Adrian Lenawee Christian and added 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in a win over Hillsdale.
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Dawson White, Jackson Northwest
The senior guard for the Mounties finished with 21 points, including seven in the fourth quarter, to lead Northwest to a rivalry game win over Parma Western and followed that up with a 16-point performance against Mason in overtime Saturday.
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Maddox Overweg, Springport
The freshman started her varsity career with a 24-point outing in a win over Reading and added 13 points, three steals and two assists in a loss to Olivet.
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Lowyind Pullen, Homer
The senior forward scored 22 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead the Trojans in a 77-47 win over Union City on Saturday.
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**If you have issues accessing this week’s poll, try using this direct link: https://poll.fm/10745616**
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MORE JACKSON-AREA SPORTS COVERAGE
Jackson-area basketball highlights: Northwest boys score dramatic overtime win
Napoleon senior voted top Jackson-area boys basketball player to watch in 2021
Jackson-area basketball highlights: Bamm’s double-double fuels Columbia Central to league win
Late surge leads Lumen Christi hockey past Jackson United
Leslie senior voted top Jackson-area girls basketball player to watch in 2021
Jackson-area basketball highlights: Northwest boys bounce back with rivalry win
Defensive spark helps Parma Western girls ignite comeback win over Jackson Northwest
Jackson-area basketball highlights: Michigan Center, Napoleon boys roll in league openers
New-look Hanover-Horton fends off pesky Grass Lake in Cascades Conference opener
Jackson-area basketball highlights: Michigan Center’s Shea Tripp notches quadruple-double
Jackson-area basketball highlights: Hanover-Horton boys roll in season-opener