HomeTeam Hot Shots
A spotlight on the Times’ bay area players of the week.
Female Hot Shot: Madison Schmidt, Northeast
Sport: Basketball
Skinny: The sophomore came up big in the final of the Northeast Holiday tournament, scoring 17 points in a 54-33 win over Bloomingdale. After being held scoreless in the first quarter, Schmidt took over in the paint in the second and scored 12 points. “She’s a very, very solid inside player who can use both hands and she gets to the line a lot,” coach Will White said. “She’s a leader type player who has a chance to be one of the best in school history.” Schmidt also scored 12 vs. Pinellas Park and 14 vs. Tampa Prep in wins after the break.
Male Hot Shot: Darius Banks, St. Petersburg
Sport: Basketball
Skinny: The freshman guard doesn’t have to be the go-to player because of the number of playmakers the Green Devils have at their disposal. But Banks showed he can pile up the points by scoring a season-best 33, including a school record nine 3-pointers, in a win over Palm Harbor University. Banks got hot early, scoring 25 in the first half. “Darius has all the physical tools. The main thing for him was adjusting to the speed of the game at the varsity level. What he was able to do against PHU is what you’ll see in the future,” coach Chris Blackwell said.