Item Athlete of the Week – Yirsy Queliz

You know what I’ve been thinking? Great players rise up, and in the world of girls basketball, there aren’t many greater than Yirsy Queliz of the St. Mary’s Spartans. In case you didn’t know, the St. Mary’s girls are Division 3 champs after their 45-41 win against rival Bishop Fenwick Saturday. That said, it wasn’t easy. Fenwick dominated – and I mean, dominated – the third quarter, and St. Mary’s was on the ropes. But, then, in a game where St. Mary’s needed a star, Queliz shined bright. She scored a game-high 18 points, including four big ones in the final frame. Better yet – she became the first player in program history to win three state titles. That’s not something you see every day. Queliz averaged double-digit points this season, and even eclipsed the 250-point mark. After the game Saturday, head coach Jeff Newhall said championships are the only stats she cares about. Well, mission accomplished. Yirsy, good week, and more importantly, good career.