BY KATIE B. DAVIS

kdavis@gainesvilletimes.com

She averaged 21 points in three wins during the Lanierland Basketball Tournament which not only led her team to it’s first title in years, but also garnered her Most Valuable Player honors for the tournament.

As a result of her play in the semifinals and finals of Lanierland, North Hall’s Letiecia Davenport has been named this week’s Athlete of the Week.

"(In Lanierland) I just really wanted to go in and show (the other teams) that we were a good team and we could play with anybody," the six-foot senior said.

Davenport not only starred on the offensive end, but was also given the daunting task of guarding both Gainesville’s Jaymee Carnes in the semifinals and East Hall’s Sada Wheeler in the finals.

The Lady Trojans center didn’t keep either from scoring, but she helped keep both from winning and frustrated each player she went up against with her quickness and energy, deflections and steals.

"I just want my defense to crank up the intensity and get our team going," Davenport said.

"I feel like she’s stepped up and taken leadership," North Hall coach Debbie Blake said. "She does a lot of talking on the floor and she’s worked on her defense real hard."

Blake mentioned that Davenport worked tirelessly throughout the summer on her offensive moves, outside shooting and defensive energy, and that if her standout has a bad night at the free-throw line she’s in the gym the next day making sure she doesn’t have two bad nights in a row,

"I worked this summer on my post moves and really learning how to post up," Davenport said. "I worked a lot on my outside shooting, too."

In seven games, including last night’s win over Flowery Branch, Davenport is averaging 21 points per contest.