Vote for The Charlotte Observer girls’ athlete of the week: Feb. 16

Below are the nominees for The Charlotte Observer high school athlete of the week.

The poll closes Friday.

You may vote as often as you like.

Note: Poll results may not always be shown.

This week’s nominees

Tyler Baughan, Community School of Davidson basketball: The 5-foot-5 senior scored 28 points in a 68-13 win over Langtree Charter on Feb. 9.

Baughan also scored 17 points, had five rebounds, two assists and six steals in a 38-35 victory at Christ the King on Feb. 6.

Baughan is averaging 17 points, five rebounds, three assists and eight steals per game for Community School of Davidson team (21-1) that had won 11 straight games through Monday.

Paige Bowman, West Charlotte basketball: The 5-7 senior scored 23 points, including seven 3-pointers, to go with seven rebounds, four steals and two assists in a 61-57 win at Harding on Feb. 9.

Bowman also scored nine points, had six rebounds, three steals and two assists in a 51-31 loss to Hough on Feb. 6.

Bowman is averaging 11.8 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.2 steals for West Charlotte (10-12).

Kaylee Carson, Independence basketball: The 5-8 senior scored 20 points, had five assists, two rebounds, one steal and one block in a 66-53 win at Providence on Feb. 6.

Carson also scored 21 points, had eight steals, two rebounds and two assists in an 82-36 victory at East Mecklenburg on Feb. 9.

Carson, an East Tennessee State commit, is averaging 16 points, five rebounds, three steals and three assists per game.

Abby Courtney, Lake Norman Charter basketball: The 5-5 freshman scored a career-high and freshman school-record 25 points to go with eight rebounds, seven steals, an assist and a block in a 50-40 loss to South Rowan on Feb. 9.

Courtney also scored six points, had nine rebounds, five steals and three assists in a 66-36 loss at Jay M. Robinson.

Tayler Curlee, Community School of Davidson diving: The Spartans’ senior won the 1A/2A state title in diving at the Triangle Aquatic Center in Cary on Feb. 8.

Curlee also won the 1A/2A West Regional diving title Feb. 2.

Curlee, a Liberty University signee, dives year-round with Carolina Dive Academy.

Amya Graham, South Point basketball: The 6-foot junior scored 24 points and grabbed 15 rebounds to earn her 20th double-double of the season in a 73-62 win at Crest on Feb. 9.

Graham also had 16 points and 10 rebounds in a 57-47 loss to Hunter Huss on Feb. 6.

Graham is averaging 19 points and 15 rebounds per game for South Point (14-8).

Grace McCarthy, Pine Lake Prep swimming: The Pride freshman finished as 1A/2A state runner-up in 200 individual medley in a school-record time of 2:05.49 while also finishing as state runner-up in the 100 freestyle in a personal-best 51.38 at the Triangle Aquatic Center in Cary on Feb. 8.

McCarthy also helped both the Pride’s 200 medley relay and 200 freestyle relay to state titles as the Pine Lake Prep won its first state championship since 2017, and third in school history.

Jaida McClure, Providence Day basketball: The 5-9 sophomore scored 26 points, including the 1,000th point of her high school career, and grabbed eight rebounds in a 50-45 overtime loss to Cannon School on Feb. 6.

McClure followed that up with nine points and six assists in a 51-42 victory at rival Charlotte Country Day on Feb. 9.

McClure is averaging 15 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals per game for Providence Day (19-9).

McClure has basketball scholarship offers from Coastal Carolina, Delaware and George Washington University, according to Providence Day basketball coach Josh Springer.

Lindsey Nolan, Providence basketball: The 5-10 senior scored 15 points, had 10 rebounds and two blocks in a 53-29 win over Rocky River on Feb. 9.

Nolan also scored four points, had seven rebounds and one block in a 66-53 loss to Independence on Feb. 6.

Nolan averages 11 points and 10 rebounds per game for Providence (10-11).

Ashanti Taylor, Porter Ridge basketball: The 5-10 freshman scored 32 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, four assists and four steals in a 65-55 win at Cuthbertson on Feb. 6.

Taylor is averaging 18.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 4.3 steals for Porter Ridge (17-5).

I’Ja Walter, Olympic indoor track: The Trojans’ senior won the 4A state title in the 300-meter dash in a school-record time of 39.50 at the JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem on Feb. 9.

Walter also led the 800-meter relay (school record 1:42.23) and the 1,600-meter relay (3:59.40) to 4A state titles as the Olympic girls’ track team finished as state runner-up.

Mackenzie Williams, Hickory Grove basketball: The 5-9 sophomore scored a career high 26 points, including 7-for-7 on 3-pointers, to lead Hickory Grove to a 55-35 win at Westminster Catawba on Feb. 8.

Williams, an all-Metrolina Athletic conference (MAC) selection, is averaging 11.5 points and 2.1 rebounds for Hickory Grove (10-12).

** Information published today includes statistics through Feb. 10.

If you want to nominate an athlete: Athletes of the week highlights high school players with outstanding performances. The goal is to recognize all athletes in all sports, both the most accomplished and the underrated or underappreciated players. If you want to suggest someone to be included in the athletes of the week column, send email to Jay Edwards at edwardswork23@gmail.com. Please include the athletes’ name, school, class and applicable game performance statistics. Coaches must be willing to verify information.

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