In high school basketball, a commanding center presence can be a massive team advantage.
We saw that with a few standouts from the past week. Three of our honorees are post-centric players who took over games and led their teams to important victories.
Coaches and players are welcome to submit nominations by emailing Ethan Fuller at ethan.fuller@basketballjournal.com or by messaging him on Twitter/X (@ethman43).
Here are this week’s stars from Jan. 19-25.
Eva Andrews, Needham
NCAA: Bowdoin
Andrews posted a massive triple-double in Needham's statement, 47-40 overtime win against Needham on Friday. She tallied 13 points, 23 rebounds and 10 blocks.
Ellen Baranowski, Norwood
Class of 2028, 6-2 center
Baranowski was the star of Norwood's big 63-57 overtime win against Medway on Tuesday, posting a game-high 29 points in the Tri-Valley League thriller.
Taylor Bergeron, Greenfield
Class of 2027, guard/forward
Bergeron logged 30-point and 24-point outings last week, leading Greenfield to victories against Smith Academy and Pioneer Valley Christian.
Gianah Estevez, Worcester South
Class of 2026, guard
Estevez scored 20 points in Wednesday's 70-31 win against Millbury, then laid down a 23-point, 12-rebound double-double with five steals to help the Colonels beat Bishop Fenwick, 55-43, in an Top 10 matchup on Saturday.
Avery Gamble & Maeve Horsman, Oliver Ames
Horsman: Class of 2026, 5-9 guard/forward
Gamble averaged 27.5 points across two Oliver Ames wins against Milford and Stoughton, chipping in eight steals in the Stoughton victory on Friday. Meanwhile, Horsman averaged 20.5 points and 11 rebounds with two-double-doubles in those same contests.
Meredith Gibbs, Dover-Sherborn
Class of 2026, forward
Gibbs amassed a 20-point, 18-rebound double-double on Tuesday, leading Dover-Sherborn in a 57-48 road win against Dedham.
Anna Kanders, Swampscott
Kanders exploded for a career-high 33 points in Swampscott's 71-58 victory over Gloucester on Tuesday. She also added 12 points, seven rebounds and four assists in Friday's 48-34 win against Masconomet.
Sarah Michel, Blue Hills
Class of 2028, center
Michel steered Blue Hills to wins against Bristol-Plymouth and Tri-County last week. She put up 25 points, eight rebounds and five assists against Bristol-Plymouth Tuesday and returned to score 20 points against Tri-County Friday.
Jae Scott, Wachusett
Class of 2026, 6-0 forward
NCAA: Tulsa
Last winter's MIAA Player of the Year surpassed 1,000 career points Tuesday against Grafton. Scott scored 24 points in that victory, then added 14 in Friday's win against Algonquin.
Muji Vader, Minuteman
Vader has become a regular on these weekly lists. Most recently, she scored 17 points against Northeast and 32 points against Lynn Tech, helping the Revolution stay unbeaten with two wins.
Alice Wallerstein, Lincoln-Sudbury
Class of 2026, guard/forward
Wallerstein carried her team in a narrow, 42-41 triumph at Cambridge on Friday, corralling 26 points and 12 rebounds.
