Enquirer names Greater Cincinnati high school athletes of the week, Jan. 8

In a vote that ended Jan. 8, Cincinnati.com readers selected winners for the Cincinnati Enquirer Athlete of the Week, presented by Mercy Health, for the Dec. 28-Jan. 3 voting period.

Winners will receive a certificate, sent through the school's athletic department, after the end of the season.

More:Here's how to nominate Greater Cincinnati high school sports athletes of the week

More:Introducing the Enquirer's Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky 2020 Fall Sports All-Stars

You do not have to be a subscriber to vote, a period that lasts Monday evenings to 5 p.m. each Friday during the season. Please submit any nominees by Sunday evening for the previous week's performances to mlaughman@enquirer.com. 

This week's winners are:

Winter team, boys: Lebanon basketball – Lebanon won its sixth-straight, a 66-51 win at Anderson Dec. 29.

Winter team, girls: Seton swimming – Seton outswam Oak Hills to the tune of a 67-26 victory on Dec. 28.

Boys basketball player, big school: Dominic Cantrella, Turpin – The senior point guard hit the game-winning basket with seconds left in the game to lift the Spartans over Elder 52-50, scoring 16 points on 6-of-7 shooting.

Boys basketball player, small school: Carter Sunderman, Williamsburg – He scored 22 points in the 65-60 win over Riverview East Dec. 29, adding 5 rebounds.

Girls basketball player, big school: Emery Crook, Kings – The senior guard had a season-high 15 points to lead the Knights in a 52-30 win over Anderson Dec. 30, adding two steals and a rebound.

Girls basketball player, small school: Kacy Badylak, McNicholas – She scored 24 points, in addition to 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks, in the 68-59 loss to Kings Dec. 28.

Boys bowler: Sam Emmerling, Colerain – He had a 439 (214, 225) in the Back-to-School Bash Jan. 3, helping the Cardinals ultimately win the championship.

Girls bowler: Alyssa Ferguson, Clermont Northeastern – She led the Rockets with a 343 series to beat Blanchester Dec. 30.

Ice hockey: Tyler Black, Northern Kentucky Norse – The goalie had 33 saves in two wins last week over Moeller JV and Gahanna, giving up only 2 goals.

Boys swimmer/diver: A.J. Even, La Salle – The senior achieved a personal record of 1:14.8 in the 100 backstroke at the Walnut Hills meet.

Girls swimmer/diver:  Lily Cowan, Anderson  - The junior, ranked in the top three in the Eastern Cincinnati Conference in the 200-yard freestyle, was a part of two winning relays (500-yard and 300-yard freestyle) and for Anderson at the West Clermont Relays Dec. 29.