The Buchholz boys basketball team just completed a tough schedule that included five games in nine days.
The Bobcats lost a tough battle at Hawthorne last Tuesday that went down to the wire. Unable to get a steal with two seconds left, Hawthorne inbounded the ball from center court and passed it to C.J. Ingram who dribbled in for a dunk for the final five-point margin, 65-60.
However, Buchholz bounced back to win its next two.
Palmer Walton helped lead the Bobcats to a 2-1 week by scoring 61 points, grabbing 19 rebounds and blocking three shots.
He has been recognized as the Pavlik Orthodontics Athlete of the Week for the week of Jan. 22.
The senior had 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds in the loss to the Hornets.
His best game was his next, scoring 24 points, grabbing seven rebounds and blocking a shot last Friday against rival GHS in a 61-47 win to sweep the 2-game series.
“The game versus GHS we were dominant from start to finish and completed the sweep of the city,” said first-year Buchholz coach Eliott Harris. “That win secured the first winning season in eight years at Buchholz. It was an all-around defensive win.”
On Saturday Buchholz played in the Polk Hoops Shootout against Davenport and led from the tip to the end of the game, while getting up by 20 points at one point, in a 50-35 win.
Walton finished with 21 points, four rebounds and two blocks.
“Palmer is a fiery and tough competitor,” Harris said. “He hates to lose and will play whatever position that will help the team win. He is our leading scorer and shoots the 3-ball at a high clip.”
He becomes the 23rd athlete to be selected for the weekly award during the 2023-24 school year.
Last week’s winner was Cornelius White of the Gainesville boys basketball team.
The junior helped lead the Hurricanes to a 3-0 week by averaging 18 points & 9.7 rebounds per game. His best game came at Columbia (Lake City) in a 68-51 win as he scored 21 points and grabbed 16 rebounds.
Recent winners include Nyima Gillyard of the Trenton girls basketball team and Andrew Powell of the Oak Hall School boys basketball team.
For a complete list of winners, click here.
Coaches can email their nominations each week, along with stats, no later than Sunday night to mike.ridaught@mainstreetdailynews.com.