Vote for the News & Observer high school Triangle athlete of the week (1.21.22)

Here are the nominees for the News & Observer’s Triangle high school athlete of the week.

Readers can vote as often as they want until Friday, around noon, when the poll will close.

Daniel Amadi, Friendship Christian basketball: The 6-foot-2 senior scored eight points, had 10 rebounds, seven steals, three assists and three blocks in a 41-1 win over St. Thomas More Academy Jan. 11.

He also had 15 points, 13 rebounds, six assists, six steals and three blocks in a 56-34 win over the Raleigh Hawks Jan. 14.

Amadi is averaging 8.5 points and 8.2 rebounds for Friendship Christian (3-9).

Julia Bandholz, Thales Academy Apex basketball: The 5-foot-11 freshman had a double-double with 12 points, 18 rebounds and two blocks to lead Thales Academy Apex to a 34-32 win at Thales Academy Rolesville Jan. 11.

Bandholz is averaging 11.1 points, 11.6 points and 2.5 blocks per game for the Titans (3-5).

Nasir Bell, Thales Academy Rolesville basketball: The 6-foot-2 senior had 39 points and six rebounds to lead Thales Academy Rolesville to a 66-61 win over Thales Academy Apex Jan. 11.

Thales Academy Rolesville (9-5) also beat St. Thomas More Academy, 66-25 Jan. 14.

Bell is averaging 29.4 points and 5.7 rebounds per game for the Knights (9-5).

Logan Dukes, Cary Christian basketball: The 6-foot-4 senior had 24 points, seven rebounds and two steals in a 61-56 win at Grace Christian Jan. 11.

He followed that up with 23 points, including five three-pointers, five rebounds, six assists and three steals in a 54-36 victory at St. David’s Jan. 13.

Dukes is averaging 23.4 points, five rebounds and 3.2 steals per game for Cary Christian (10-7).

Jerni Kiaku, Garner basketball: The 5-foot-7 senior had 29 points, four rebounds, 11 assists and five steals to lead Garner to an 81-53 win over Corinth Holders Jan. 11.

Kiaki, a N.C. Central commit, is averaging 22.9 points, 5.1 assists, 4.1 steals and 2.7 steals per game for Garner (12-2).

Rhian Lawrence, Cardinal Gibbons basketball: The 5-foot-7 junior double her season scoring average with 36 points to go with 15 rebounds and five assists to lead Cardinal Gibbons to a 71-52 win at Leesville Road Jan. 13.

Lawrence is averaging 16.9 points, seven rebounds and five assists for the Crusaders (12-2).

Justin Monden, Heritage basketball: The 5-foot-11 senior had 24 points, six assists, one steal and one block to help Heritage to a 59-47 win at Knightdale Jan. 14.

Monden is averaging 24 points per game for Heritage (4-9).

Brinna Mulligan, St. Thomas More Academy basketball: The 5-foot-11 senior nearly averaged a triple-double in two wins, with 21 points, 9.5 rebounds and 10 steals per contest in wins over Friendship Christian and Thales Academy Rolesville.

Mulligan had 19 points, nine rebounds and 11 steals in a 48-17 win at Friendship Christian Jan. 11.

She also had 23 points, 10 rebounds and nine steals in a 61-21 victory at Thales Academy Rolesville Jan. 14.

Mulligan is averaging 16.3 points, eight rebounds and 4.1 steals per game for St. Thomas More Academy (13-3).

Erin Riley, Holly Springs swimming: The Golden Hawks’ sophomore shined with podium finishes in all four events she competed in to lead her Holly Springs’ team to a victory over Leesville Road, Sanderson and Wake Forest at the Triangle Aquatic Center in Cary Jan. 11.

Riley finished as runner-up in the 200 individual medley, third-place in the 100 backstroke, while leading her team to victory in the 200 medley relay and a runner-up finish in the 400 freestyle relay.

Cale Stevens, West Johnston wrestling: The Wildcats’ senior went 5-0 on the mat at 220 pounds this week Jan. 12-13.

Stevens is 25-2 for West Johnston (18-6).

Dylan Wiggins, Cleveland basketball: The 6-foot-6 senior had 19 points and nine rebounds to lead Cleveland to a 75-48 win at Clayton Jan. 11.

He also had 12 points and 13 rebounds in a 67-51 victory over Fuquay Varina Jan. 14.

Wiggins is averaging 14.9 points and 8.3 rebounds per game for a Cleveland basketball team (14-1) that has won 11 straight games.

Houston Wills, Holly Springs basketball: The 6-foot-3 junior scored a season-high 20 points to go with five rebounds and five steals in a 98-38 win over Green Hope Jan. 13.

The next night, Wills had 15 points, three rebounds and three assists in a 78-72 victory at Apex.

Holly Springs (13-3) has won eight straight games through Saturday.

** Information published today includes statistics through Jan. 15.

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 edwardsraleighnewsobserver@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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