The winter sports season is rolling along as teams begin to settle into their conference competitions. 

This past week saw many exciting performances and games as the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday provided extra opportunities for teams to play basketball. While courts were packed all week, only two players in the area can be named the Athletes of the Week.

This week’s winners found multiple ways to contribute and continued their path to a career year by putting up big numbers in their teams’ wins. 

Voting for Athlete of the Week runs from 10 a.m. Saturday to 10 a.m. Monday each week at lexingtonchronicle.com/athleteoftheweek. To submit a nominee for consideration, email a photo and short bio to sports@lexingtonchronicle.com.

Justus Bell

Dutch Fork’s Justus Bell continues to stuff the stat sheet for the Silver Foxes.

The senior forward is averaging 22 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals this season. He has helped the team get off to a (16-2) and a perfect (3-0) in region play.

Last week, the Silver Foxes earned wins over White Knoll and Lexington. Bell was excellent in both outings, leading Dutch Fork in scoring. 

Against the Timberwolves, he had 31 points on 14-of-19 shooting. He only missed two shots inside the three-point line and contributed beyond his scoring, adding six rebounds, four assists and two steals.

In the final game of the week, Bell helped the Silver Foxes run away with an 82-24 win. Bell and the team came out swinging, slamming home dunks before the Wildcats defense could react. 

He finished with 22 points, five rebounds, five assists, four steals and two blocks. 

Blythe Price

Gilbert sophomore Blythe Price is having another good season during her fourth year of varsity basketball. 

Price helped the Indians secure their first two region wins of the season after beating Airport and Brookland-Cayce. She poured in buckets and crashed the boards at a high-level to guide Gilbert to the finish. 

Against the Bearcats, she had a season-high 32 points on 55% shooting. She also added 10 rebounds, two assists and five steals for her second double-double this season.

In the win over Airport, Price scored 18 points, nine rebounds and four steals. 

Price is averaging a career-high 16 points per game while shooting 43% from the floor. These numbers are up from 15 points on 32% last season. 

While her numbers have been impressive, Price still has a lot of room for growth. With a junior and senior season on the horizon, she could develop into one of the most exciting players in Lexington County.