03/11/2009

Michael Dempsey
Borgia basketball
With leading scorer Nathan Scheer hobbled with an injury, Dempsey, a 6-foot senior guard, stepped up by doubling his season scoring average with 18 points in a 51-41 quarterfinal victory over Sikeston. A three-year starter, Dempsey is averaging 9.4 points, 3.63 assists and 2.26 steals per game this season. He plans to attend Mizzou next year and may try to make the basketball team as a walk-on.


Spence Myer

MICDS hockey
A 5-foot-10, 150-pound sophomore forward and team captain, Myer was named the MVP of the Mid-States Wickenheiser Cup. He scored the game- and championship-winning goal, snapping a 2-2 tie midway through the third period. Myer also had assist in the title game and finished the season second in the league in scoring with 37 goals and 27 assists.


Kevin Pettiford
Belleville East basketball
A 5-foot-10 senior guard, Pettiford poured in a game-high 41 points and set a school record for most assists in one game (18) in the Lancers' 126-115 quadruple-overtime regional-championship victory over rival Belleville West. A four-year varsity player and co-captain, Pettiford set the school record for assists (155) in single season last season and is averaging a team-best 13.7 points and 4.7 assists per game this season.


Jennifer Rocha
St. Dominic basketball
With her team trailing Boonville 43-37 with 3 1/2 minutes to play in a sectional playoff game, Rocha took over. The 5-foot-3 sophomore guard scored her team's final eight points in regulation, knocking down a 3-pointer with 9.4 seconds left to send the contest to overtime. In the extra period, she hit eight consecutive free throws as the Crusaders won 56-50. Rocha, who was 17 of 17 from the foul line, finished with a career-best 28 points and dished out six assists in the game.


Alex Roth
CBC hockey
A 5-foot-11, 190-pound senior forward, Roth was named the MVP of the Mid-States Challenge Cup after contributing two goals and one assist in a 4-2 victory over SLUH. Roth finished the season with 16 goals and 17 assists. A four-year varsity player, Roth was on three state-championship teams. Next year, he plans to play hockey for a Junior A team or at Lindenwood University.


Candyce Ussery
Hazelwood Central basketball
A 5-foot-7 sophomore point guard, Ussery hit a 23-foot 3-pointer with 2.7 second left in the fourth quarter, lifting the Hawks to a 50-47 come-from-behind win over Fort Zumwalt West and a berth in the Class 5 state semifinals. Ussery leads the team in assists (3.07 per game) and is averaging 2.11 steals per game. Candyce also plays soccer and volleyball.


Hazaria Washington
Cardinal Ritter basketball

A 5-foot-8 junior forward, Washington gave the Lions a berth in tonight's sectional with a last-second shot that beat Metro in the district championship game at Brentwood. With her team trailing by one, Washington took the ball the length of the court and hit a 12-footer with 1.6 seconds left to give Ritter a 27-26 win. Washington leads the team in scoring (13.2 per game) and steals (3.77).

Send athlete of the week nominations to Paul Kopsky at pkopsky@stltoday.com.