Each week, the sports crew at King FM and KSTC shuffles through the stack of stats we get form all our area schools high schools and NJC sports programs and find the best performances of the week. Then, you get to vote for the performance you think should be dubbed “King of the Week” presented by Ertle Brothers Discount Auto. Then, each Saturday morning we announce the player you voted as simply the best!

Here’s the 411 on the rules…

1. A player can be nominated as many times during a sports season as he/she can. Once players have been nominated for the “King of the Week” honor, your votes and your votes alone in the poll on the right-hand sidebar will choose which one was the best. In the event of a tie, the sports crew reserves the right to break the tie as they see fit.
2. Please limit yourself to one vote per week. The sports crew should not need to consume their time in eliminating votes due to abuse. If the player you have the intense desire to vote for over and over truly had the best performance of the week, others will vote for that performance. (Note: Nowhere in the rules does it state you cannot encourage others to vote for a given performance). Please have respect for those who follow the rules and those who put on this process. Please do not require drastic changes to be made to this process.
3. Once a player has been named “King of the Week” they do not become eligible to be nominated for “King of the Week” again until the postseason of their current sports season or the next sports season (whichever occurs first).
4. And finally, I didn't think I needed to put this out there but apparently I do. King of the Week voting is for entertainment purposes only! This is not a prize-winning contest with trophies, plaques, scholarships, or anything else. This is merely internet public opinion of which performance was better. It bears no weight in any other venue.

Get it? Good. Now take a look at this week’s crop of nominees and vote in the poll on the sidebar for the one you would like chosen as “King of the Week” presented by Ertle Brothers Discount Auto:

Alicia Nichols (Brush) - The Beetdiggers are 11-1 on the season thanks to a 2-0 week last week.  Alicia was a big part of that putting up 26 points, 13 rebounds, 12 assists, 8 steals, and 4 blocks on the week.

Carlos Hernansez (Otis) - The Spanish exchange student went off against Bethune on Friday night, dropping 30 on the Bobcats.  Then, as an encore, he notched a double-double against Idalia completing the first time through YWKC play undefeated and top-ranked in the state.  On the week, Carlos scored 44 points.

Danielle Rinaldo (Merino) - One night after her team suffered their first loss of the season, and Danielle put up just 7 points against Burns, Wyoming, she nearly recorded a triple-double against Haxtun.  Danielle scored 16 points and had 9 assists and 9 steals against the Bulldogs at NJC on Friday.

Jolee Fitzsimons (Caliche) - With her team suffering through a 4-game losing streak, Jolee stepped up when asked and helped the Buffs top Wiggins 37-28 on Friday.  Jolee came off the bench and scored 12 points and pulled down 6 rebounds getting the Buffs back on track.

Leighton Fetzer (Haxtun) - With his team reeling from several loses in a row, and just one win since Christmas, Leighton took over a second half like not many players can against Merino on Friday at NJC.  Leighton finished the game with 17 points, 15 of those in the second half propelling Haxtun to a convincing 20-plus point win.

Travis Covelli (Weldon Valley) - The Warrior junior, who broke his femur during football season, has been instrumental in leading his team since getting healthy to start 2010.  Coming off the bench on Saturday, Travis led his team to a 40-39 win over Peetz, scoring 15 points and upseting the previously-undefeated-in-league Bulldogs.

Tyler Vandenbark (Fleming) - The young Wildcats have established themselves as a solid #2 in the North Central League, and the freshman Vandenbark was a big part of that in a huge 51-48 win against Prairie on Saturday.  Tyler scored 14 points, finishing the week with a total of 23.

Will Bell (NJC) - With his team playing run-and-gun chaos, the sophomore big man has been afforded many opportunities at second-chance points.  Will took advantage of it against Air Force Prep on Friday night tallying a double-double, scoring 26 points, including the game-winning tip-back with 5 seconds left.

Xavier Talton (Sterling) - X had a huge night Tuesday night against Frederick.  The super sophomore score 22 points against the Warriors and added a 10-point night against Roosevelt on Friday.  The 13-0 Tigers benefited from his assists on the week, however, as Talton dished out 12 dimes in the two games.

After a rousing week of voting, Caliche's Jolee Fitzsimons edged Weldon Valley's Travis Covelli with 4% more of the vote!