Last week the Williston boys basketball team finished third at the 15-team Kingdom of the Sun tournament at Vanguard (Ocala).
Kyler Lamb averaged 17 points per game over four games as the Red Devils went 3-1 with wins against Hawthorne, host Vanguard, and 6A No. 11 Leto (Tampa).
Their only loss was a 62-53 loss against nationally ranked Winter Haven, the Red Devils’ (13-1) first defeat of the season.
His best game was against Hawthorne when he scored a team-high 22 points on the first day of the tournament in a 61-49 win.
He helped the Red Devils pull away after the Hornets got within six points with six minutes to play.
The senior hit a shot in the paint to end a 9-0 run by the Hornets and then delivered a pair of two-handed dunks, the second of which was a spin move on the left baseline for a 57-45 lead with 2:35 to play.
“Kyler is just Kyler,” Ervin said after the game. “He comes out every night and he’s quiet, you never know how many points he has. He’s a next-level player and we understand what we’re going to get every night out of him and that’s 20-plus and eight or 10 boards. He does a great job of controlling both ends of the court.”
Lamb, who was named to the Kingdom of the Sun All Tournament team, is averaging 19 points, nine rebounds, three blocks and three assists per game through 14 games this season. He was named to Mainstreet’s 2023 Bosshardt Realty All Area team and the 2022 All Area team.
“Kyler is a complete player he can play on both ends of the court offensive and defensively,” Ervin said. “He’s a stand out. Not only is he a great basketball player, but off the court in the community, in the classroom, he is just an outstanding young man.”
He becomes the 19th athlete to be selected for the weekly award during the 2023-24 school year.
Last week’s winner was C.J. Ingram of the Hawthorne boys basketball team.
The junior averaged a double-double with 26 points and 11.5 rebounds in a pair of wins at Bradford (Starke) and at P.K. Yonge.
Other winners include Newberry girls basketball player Brandy Whitfield, Hawthorne running back Keenon Johnson, Hawthorne linebacker Andrew Zock, Buchholz running back Quinton Cutler, Buchholz boys cross country state champion Riley Smith, Gainesville swimmer Ava Fuller, who won an individual state title, P.K. Yonge swimmer Lillie Nesty, who won two individual state titles, Santa Fe (Alachua) volleyball player Jordan Czaplewski, Williston running back Jace McDonald, Nash Lantinen of the St. Francis Catholic Academy football team, Oak Hall setter/right side hitter Cassidy McDonald, Oak Hall quarterback Dakota Brower, GHS quarterback Kane Smith, Buchholz football player Myles Graham, Hawthorne wide receiver Alvon Isaac, Chiefland running back Osten Jones, and Newberry volleyball player Hailey Tharp.
Coaches can email their nominations each week, along with stats, no later than Sunday night to mike.ridaught@mainstreetdailynews.com.