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The votes are in. Powered by Copper Creek Contractors, Morgan Casteel of Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond girls’ basketball and Rhys Showalter of Armstrong-Potomac boys’ basketball are this week’s winners. Here they are, in their own words, with their biggest supporters:

Morgan Casteel | Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond girls’ basketball

➜ Why she’s Athlete of the Week: Casteel scored a game-high and career-high 27 points in the Knights’ 66-42 win over Central A&M to cap off a week in which she led the way to two more wins with 11 and 15 points.

➜ From Casteel: “I was super excited and honored to be nominated. I’m someone who pushes myself so hard in everything I do, especially basketball, so it was nice to feel as though my hard work was paying off and get some recognition for it. … Last week was really fun for me. Our season started off with poor communication, and we weren’t really playing well as a team. As our season progressed, we started to turn into not only a team, but a family. The Central A&M game really highlighted that. We were cheering for each other’s successes, celebrating each other and just playing basketball. Everyone contributed in that game, which made it so fun. Without the trust from my coaches and teammates, I wouldn’t have been able to have the game I did. And without our defensive intensity, it wouldn’t have been the same outcome.”

➜ My favorite TV show is … “Grey’s Anatomy.”

➜ My favorite music genre is … country.

➜ My favorite sports team is … the Chicago Bulls.

➜ If I wasn’t playing basketball, my sport would be … volleyball.

➜ If I could have any superpower, it would be … super strength.

➜ My pre-game routine is … before every game, I always write a different Bible verse on my left wrist. As soon as I get in the gym, I do some stretching and the same ball-handling routine right into my form shooting.

➜ My favorite basketball memory … getting a new career high against Central A&M.

➜ At the top of my bucket list is … scoring 1,000 points.

➜ Athlete of the Week finalists: Maegan Frye, Heritage/Academy High basketball; Addison Lucht, Cissna Park basketball; Noelle Schroeder, Watseka/Milford basketball

Rhys Showalter| Armstrong-Potomac boys’ basketball

➜ Why he’s Athlete of the Week: Showalter helped the Trojans to three wins on the week with performances of 20 points and 10 rebounds against Beecher, 21 points and 14 rebounds against Tri-Point and 11 points and seven rebounds against Iroquois West.

➜ From Showalter: “I’m just proud of my community for voting for me. They see me work my hardest at every game. Coming off the bench last year, I didn’t get much time to play. This year, I’ve had every opportunity, and every time, I try to do what’s best for my team. … Scoring-wise, I try to get second chances off of rebounds. That’s where I thrive. When I get rebounds, I get second chances and free throws, and that’s what I’ve been doing the last couple weeks.”

➜ My favorite TV show is … “One Tree Hill.”

➜ My favorite music genre is … rock, and I like Stone Temple Pilots.

➜ My favorite sports team is … the Chicago Cubs.

➜ If I wasn’t playing basketball, my sport would be … baseball.

➜ If I could have any superpower, it would be … flying.

➜ My pre-game routine is … I make sure I get my dribbles, my form shots and some quick pull-ups in. Then, I just do a bunch of stretching, and I’m good.

➜ My favorite basketball memory is … going to Beecher for a tournament freshman year. We won the game that night, and we stayed overnight and had fun bonding together.

➜ At the top of my bucket list is … winning a regional championship. I’ve wanted that since freshman year. Last year, we didn’t perform our best and could have done better. If we perform our best this year, I think we can win a regional championship.

➜ Athlete of the Week finalists: Tyler Cappa, Champaign Central swimming and diving; Logan Kurtz, Tuscola basketball; Justus Vrona, Mahomet-Seymour wrestling