Weekly High School Girls’ Basketball Player of the Week Nominations

The Charlotte Observer is seeking input from fans to determine the high school girls’ basketball player of the week. The voting period closes at noon on Friday, and participants can cast their votes as often as they like.

For those interested in staying updated on local high school sports, signing up for the free newsletter is an excellent option. This week’s list of nominees features standout players from various schools across the region, each making a significant impact on their teams.

Top Performers of the Week

Lydia Cipriano – North Lincoln

This 6-foot-2 sophomore had an impressive week, showcasing her all-around skills. On January 12, she contributed nine points, seven rebounds, three assists, and three blocks in a 64-13 victory over Bunker Hill. She continued her strong performance on January 14 with 12 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and three blocks in a 63-15 win against Fred T. Foard. Cipriano closed out the week with 26 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and one block in an 85-83 loss at Maiden. Her consistent play has resulted in an average of 11 points, six rebounds, and three assists per game this season for North Lincoln, which has a record of 13-4.

MacKenzie Clutter – Mount Pleasant

As a senior point guard, Clutter delivered a standout performance on January 16, scoring 25 points, collecting eight steals, three rebounds, and three assists in a 59-38 win over Parkwood. Her contributions have been vital to Mount Pleasant’s success, averaging 22.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 6.8 steals per game this season. The team currently holds a 7-9 record.

Ma-Kaela Gidney – Hickory Ridge

Gidney made headlines with her exceptional performance, particularly on January 16 when she scored 28 points, grabbed 11 steals, and dished out seven assists in a 79-11 win over Harding. She also set a school record with 345 career steals in that game. Gidney averages 20 points, four rebounds, three assists, and 4.5 steals per game for Hickory Ridge, which has a 12-4 record.

Annabella Hall – Berry

Hall played a crucial role in Berry’s 58-45 victory over Olympic on January 16, scoring 30 points and grabbing seven rebounds. Although she only managed seven points in a 53-22 loss at Central Cabarrus on January 12, her overall contribution remains valuable. She averages eight points and three rebounds per game for a team that is 4-7 this season.

Chaya James – Olympic

James dominated the court with a triple-double in a 42-38 win over Harding on January 12, recording 25 points, 17 rebounds, and 10 blocks. She followed that with 24 points, 14 rebounds, and seven blocks in a 58-45 loss at Berry on January 16. James averages 17.4 points, 13.1 rebounds, and 4.9 blocks per game for Olympic, which has a 2-14 record.

Jaleila Littlejohn – North Gaston

Littlejohn made history by breaking a 35-year-old school record with 50 points, along with 13 rebounds, five assists, and five steals in a 58-51 win at Crest on January 16. Her performance highlights her potential as a key player for North Gaston, where she averages 33 points and 14 rebounds per game.

Reece Long – Lake Norman Charter

Long’s performance was instrumental in two wins for Lake Norman Charter. On January 13, she scored 26 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and recorded four steals and three blocks in a 77-14 victory over Corvian Charter. She added 23 points, eight rebounds, four steals, and a block in a 64-28 win over Bradford Prep on January 16. Long averages 23.1 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 3.8 steals per game for a team that remains unbeaten at 15-0.

Julia O’Malley – Providence Day

O’Malley, a Johns Hopkins University signee, showed her dominance with 18 points on 7-for-9 shooting and nine rebounds in a 73-31 win over Covenant Day on January 13. She followed that with 12 points on 6-for-7 shooting and four rebounds in a 64-27 win over Charlotte Country Day on January 16. O’Malley averages seven points and five rebounds per game for a team that is 16-3 this season.

Imani Shelton – Ardrey Kell

Shelton contributed 18 points in a 47-32 win over Charlotte Catholic on January 12. She averages 11.5 points and nine rebounds per game for an Ardrey Kell team (13-3) that has won seven straight games this season.

Summer Thomason – Myers Park

Thomason achieved a career-high with 24 points and four rebounds in a 59-30 win over Palisades on January 16. Myers Park has a record of 11-5 overall this season.

Shariah White – West Cabarrus

White had a remarkable performance on January 13, scoring 21 points, grabbing seven rebounds, and recording eight steals in a 59-39 win over Cox Mill. She followed that with another strong showing on January 16, scoring 21 points, six rebounds, four assists, and three steals in a 67-49 win over Central Cabarrus. In that game, White reached her 1,000th career point.

How to Vote

To participate in the poll, users must type “yes” into the box below before the poll appears. After entering “yes” and hitting return, the poll will be displayed. For those who cannot see the box on mobile devices, a direct link is available. Voters can cast their votes as many times as they like throughout the voting period.