Each week, our HomeTeam staffers nominate male and female Hot Shot athletes from each of the counties we cover, then we turn the voting over to readers. These nominations span Saturday, Feb. 1 through Friday, Feb. 7. The winners get a T-shirt and bragging rights over every other school in the area. Read up on all of our nominees online, then vote until noon Monday.
Female nominees
Aliyah Gregory, Strawberry Crest basketball: The senior guard scored 22 points in the Chargers’ 56-51 7A region quarterfinal win against Wiregrass Ranch. Gregory, who scored her 2000th career point in the first half of the game, sunk two free throws following a Bulls’ technical foul to seal the win with 15 seconds to go.
Megan Ingram, PHU basketball: The junior was nearly unstoppable against Plant on Thursday in a Class 8A region quarterfinal. She scored 16 points, all in the first half, and added six blocks and seven rebounds before sitting out the fourth quarter of a 46-35 win.
Ashley McWilliams, Holy Names basketball: The senior guard had a triple double (18 points, 14 rebounds, 10 assists) in the Jaguars’ 59-51 win against Lakeland McKeel in overtime of a 4A region semifinal. McWilliams, who missed much of last season with an injury, averages a team-high 13 points per game.
Carley Plentovich, Calvary Christian basketball: The sophomore was in the zone Thursday against Sarasota Out-of-Door. She scored 29 points, including five 3-pointers, to lead the Warriors to a Tuesday rematch with district rival Admiral Farragut.
Brianca Roberts, Pasco basketball: The senior point guard had more points (19) than the rest of her team combined in a 39-34 region quarterfinal loss to Land O’Lakes. Gators coach Phyllis Crain noted her tough play after the game.
Imani Thomas, Academy at the Lakes basketball: The freshman scored 20 points in a business-like 72-18 region quarterfinal win over Hernando Christian.
Male nominees
Willie Barrett, Anclote basketball: The senior wasn’t content with just signing his letter of intent to Marist on Wednesday morning. He came back that night to lead his Sharks with a game-high 19 points in a district semifinal loss to eventual champion Tarpon Springs.
Pierre Goris, East Lake soccer: Goris played a pivotal role in getting East Lake to the Class 5A state semifinals. He scored a goal in a 4-3 overtime win over Steinbrenner, then scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over Newsome in the region final.
Trai Halton, Tarpon Springs basketball: The junior’s game-high 26 points — and go-ahead 3-pointer in overtime against Gulf — helped the Spongers to their first district title since 1978.
Ethan Haslam, Academy at the Lakes basketball: The junior scored a game highs of 21 and 16 points, respectively, in the 2A-7 tournament to lead the Wildcats to their first district title.
Gary Hector, Lennard basketball: The senior followed up a 12-point, five-rebound game against Blake with a game-high 19 points in the 6A-9 district semifinal. His two free throws in the closing seconds of overtime clinched a 74-71 win over Chamberlain and put the Longhorns in the playoffs.
Christian Whidden, Jesuit basketball: The junior forward scored 30 points, including eight 3-pointers, in a district semifinal win vs. Spoto, then added 16 in the championship win over Robinson. This comes a week after he set the school record for 3s in a game with nine against Tampa Catholic.