Winner of The News Tribune’s Athlete of the Week (Dec. 29 to Jan. 3)
Voting is now closed for The News Tribune’s Athlete of the Week for contests played between Dec. 29-Jan. 3. Thanks to everyone who voted and supported local student-athletes.
This week’s winner is:
Aiquari Emmanuel Johnson, Franklin Pierce boys basketball
The senior guard dropped 27 points with six rebounds and six assists in Tuesday’s win over Foss, adding 22 points in Monday’s loss to Renton and 13 points in Wednesday’s loss to Nooksack Valley.
The poll is located below. You can read about all of the candidates and their accomplishments below.
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Want to nominate a South Sound high school athlete in the future? Email reporter Jon Manley (jon.manley@thenewstribune.com) or Tyler Wicke (twicke@thenewstribune.com) or send a direct message on Twitter/X (@manley_tnt or @WickeTyler) with the athlete’s first and last name, school, year, position and a stat line from game(s) during the past week. Nominations must be submitted by 5 p.m. Sunday.
Willow Bonnici, Gig Harbor girls basketball — Posted a double-double with a team-high 15 points, 20 rebounds, two assists, a steal and two blocks while shooting 50 percent from the field in win over Mark Morris.
Payton Brown, Muckleshoot Tribal boys basketball — Junior guard dropped 32 points (10-17 FG) with six rebounds and two steals in Saturday’s 66-63 win over Evergreen Lutheran.
Natalie Buchanan, Black Hills girls basketball — Junior guard stuffed the stat sheet and dropped a game-high 26 points (10-19 FG) with 11 rebounds, eight steals, and six assists in Tuesday’s win over Capital, adding 15 points in Saturday’s loss to Onalaska.
Adalynn Busch, Tahoma girls basketball — Senior post tallied three-straight double-doubles with 13 points and 12 rebounds in Monday’s win over Monsignor McClancy (N.Y.), 12 points and 19 rebounds in Tuesday’s win over Apollo (Ariz.), and 12 points and 12 rebounds in Saturday’s loss to Union.
Trey Collier, Silas boys basketball — Junior guard tallied 22 points and three steals in Tuesday’s win over Renton, adding 17 points in win over Foss and 12 points in loss to Bonney Lake.
Hakeen Collins, Franklin Pierce boys basketball — Senior wing posted a 25-point, 12-rebound double-double in Wednesday’s loss to Nooksack Valley, added 21 points in Tuesday’s win over Foss, and had five points and nine rebounds in Monday’s loss to Renton.
Juliana Gocha, Lakes girls basketball — Freshman guard had 17 points, four rebounds, and three assists in Saturday’s 76-22 win over Federal Way.
Gabriel Habeck, Evergreen Lutheran boys basketball — Eagles senior had 22 points and four assists in Tuesday’s win over Chief Kitsap Academy, adding 15 and 17 points in losses to Yakama Nation Tribal and Muckleshoot Tribal.
Aiquari Emmanuel Johnson, Franklin Pierce boys basketball — Senior guard dropped 27 points with six rebounds and six assists in Tuesday’s win over Foss, adding 22 points in Monday’s loss to Renton and 13 points in Wednesday’s loss to Nooksack Valley.
Hudson Lindsay, Concordia Christian Academy boys basketball — Senior guard posted consecutive double-doubles in Friday’s win over Darrington (29 PTS, 10 REB, 8 AST, 3 STL) and Saturday’s loss to Vashon Island (22 PTS, 11 REB, 3 AST).
Truth McDaniel, Muckleshoot Tribal boys basketball — Junior guard had 22 points and four assists in Monday’s win over Taholah, adding 22 points and three steals in Tuesday’s win over Summit Classical Christian.
Kaliyah Miller, Gig Harbor girls basketball — Senior guard had 12 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and two steals in Friday’s win over Mark Morris.
Giovanni Moimoi, Kentridge boys basketball — Senior forward had 15 points and three assists in Monday’s loss to Bishop Montgomery (Calif.), adding 16 points and two assists in Tuesday’s win over Maranatha (Calif.).
Bailey Nettleton, Tahoma girls basketball — Senior guard dropped 21 points with six rebounds and three steals in Monday’s win over Monsignor McClancy (N.Y.).
Mia Nielsen, Capital girls basketball — Scored 19 points, had four assists and five steals in loss to Black Hills on Tuesday.
Luke Overbay, Tumwater boys basketball — Junior forward posted consecutive double-doubles in Monday’s win over Adna (13 PTS, 13 REB) and Tuesday’s win over Montesano (13 PTS, 11 REB).
Kari Paulino-Hayes, Lakes girls basketball — Freshman guard had 15 points, six rebounds, five assists, and five steals in Saturday’s win over Federal Way.
Kolven Posey, Auburn Mountainview boys basketball — Senior guard totaled 22 points with three rebounds and two steals in Monday’s 67-64 win over Shorewood, adding 12 points in Tuesday’s win over Mountain View and 17 points in Wednesday’s loss to Woodinville.
Annique Smith, Silas girls basketball — Senior wing posted an 11-point, 14-assist double-double with eight rebounds and eight steals in Tuesday’s win over Kelso, adding 23 points (6 REB, 7 AST, 6 STL) in Wednesday’s loss to Puyallup. Smith’s 14 assists Tuesday marked a career-high.
Brandi Stanford, River Ridge girls basketball — Senior point guard had 19 points, five assists, four rebounds, and three steals in Wednesday’s win over Seattle Academy, adding 23 points in Tuesday’s loss to Lynden Christian and 17 points in Monday’s loss to Snohomish. Was named to the Lynden Christmas Classic all-tournament team.
Tyler Venable, Black Hills girls basketball — Junior guard dropped 25 points with six rebounds in Tuesday’s win over Capital, adding 11 points and seven rebounds in Saturday’s loss to Onalaska.
This story was originally published January 5, 2026 at 12:00 PM.
