ATHLETES OF THE WEEK: MELISSA PALMER

Melissa Palmer

School: Jackson

Sport: Basketball

Coach: Ron Cook

Week Report: Palmer scored 18 against Farmington and 11 against Poplar Bluff as the Lady Indians won their fifth straight district championship. But more important than any point Palmer scored this past week was a charge that she took with 11 seconds left in the district championship against the Lady Mules. Jackson was up by two points at the time.

Season Report: Palmer, a 5-foot-10 forward, nets 14 points, five rebounds, two steals and two assists per game. She also makes 55 percent of her shots from the field. She has helped lead Jackson to a 23-1 record and a No. 1 state ranking in Class 4A.

Coach's comments: "She's been a strong player this whole year," Cook said. "She leads team in scoring and she challenges the tall girls. She can hold her own strength-wise. She's been a starter the last two years and she's been to three state tournaments. She works hard in practice. She gets involved in the game and is an emotional leader for us."