Editor’s note: We prohibit the use of bots and any other artificial methods of voting. Suspicious activity could lead to the disqualification of candidates and a permanent suspension of the Athlete of the Week poll. No voting by email: Votes by email and after 5 p.m. Wednesday are not counted.
Welcome to the Bay Area News Group (Mercury News & East Bay Times) boys Athlete of the Week poll.
For the entire academic year, we will provide a list of candidates who stood out over the previous week and allow you, the reader, to vote for the winner.
This week, we consider performances from Feb. 5-10.
Polls close at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Vote as many times as you’d like until then without using bots or any other artificial methods of voting.
Votes by email and after 5 p.m. Wednesday are not counted.
Scroll to the bottom for the poll.
Winners are announced each Friday online and in the print edition of the Mercury News and East Bay Times sports sections.
Candidates for future Athlete of the Week polls can be nominated at [email protected].
We accept nominations until 11 a.m. each Monday.
We also review stats submitted to MaxPreps by coaches/team statisticians.
On to the nominees:
Seamus Deely, San Ramon Valley basketball: The senior scored 20 points, pulled down 11 rebounds and handed out five assists as San Ramon Valley overcame an early 17-4 deficit to defeat host De La Salle 68-59 in the East Bay Athletic League tournament championship game. The Wolves beat Monte Vista and Granada to reach the final.
James Downes, Monte Vista soccer: Scored on what his coach, Beau Fisher, called a “clinical header” in the second half to ice the Mustangs’ 2-0 victory over Dougherty Valley in the EBAL tournament championship game. The senior also scored the decisive goal in a 1-0 semifinal victory over San Ramon Valley.
Anthony Lacy, Oakland basketball: The senior finished with 21 points on 9-of-13 shooting to lead Oakland to a 79-69 victory at home over Modesto Christian, one of Northern California’s traditional powerhouses. Also had eight points in a 61-47 victory over Fremont-Oakland.
Alexander Lopez, Mt. Diablo wrestling: Seeded No. 2 in his weight class, the senior defeated one of the East Bay’s top wrestlers, Benicia’s Nicolas Trujillo, by pin in overtime to capture a Diablo Athletic League championship. The victory avenged Lopez’s loss to Trujillo earlier in the season, 6-3. Lopez will move on to the North Coast Section championships.
TJ O’Brien, Sacred Heart Prep basketball: The senior scored 22 points on 9-of-15 shooting as Sacred Heart Prep beat The King’s Academy 57-49 to win the outright West Bay Athletic League championship. O’Brien began this week averaging 15.3 points per game.
Elijah Perryman, Clayton Valley Charter basketball: The 6-3 junior scored 22 points to lead the Ugly Eagles to a 62-61 victory on the road over Ygnacio Valley to capture the Diablo Athletic League tournament championship. Clayton Valley was one of the six teams selected for the NCS Open Division playoffs.
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Brayden Rosa, Wilcox basketball: The junior scored 36 points and handed out eight assists as the Chargers won an overtime thriller over Milpitas, prevailing 72-67 in Santa Clara Valley Athletic League De Anza Division play. He also scored six points to help Wilcox beat Los Altos earlier in the week.
Zion Sensley, Archbishop Riordan basketball: The Saint Mary’s-bound senior scored 29 points as the Crusaders clinched their first outright West Catholic Athletic League championship since 1990 with a 74-51 victory on the road over Bellarmine. He also scored 26 points earlier in the week as Riordan beat second-place Archbishop Mitty 76-56.
Hugo Soto, Del Mar soccer: The sophomore scored his only goal on the season, per MaxPreps, and it was a big one. It lifted the Dons to a 1-0 victory over Pioneer in Blossom Valley Athletic League Santa Teresa-West Division play. Pioneer entered the match undefeated in the league. Del Mar began this week second behind Pioneer in the standings.
Vinny Smith, Terra Nova basketball: The 6-5 senior scored 19 points as the Tigers turned back Peninsula Athletic League Ocean Division champion Woodside 41-39 to close out league play. Terra Nova finished the regular season 15-9 overall and 7-3 in the Ocean, one game behind Woodside.
Alessandro Velazquez, Menlo School soccer: The senior had a hat trick — three goals — in the Knights’ 5-0 victory over Eastside Prep in a WBAL game. He also scored a goal and delivered in an assist in a 4-0 league victory over Priory. Menlo ended the week with a record of 12-3-3 overall and 10-2 in the league.
