G Emily Merkel, Sr., Northeast

The senior is a model point guard, measuring defenders and calculating angles, all while considering her options at warp speed until determining the right instant to present a teammate with the ball and, more often than not, the best chance for a bucket.

Emily Merkel can put up points, too. 

Two weeks ago, she did a little bit of everything. In three games, all wins, Merkel set a school record for 3-pointers in a quarter (four) and averaged 10.3 points, five assists, 4.3 steals, and three rebounds per game 

“Emily is exactly what every successful team needs and that is a leader who makes great decisions, plays tremendous defense, studies the game, and is as tough as nails,” Northeast coach Will White said. “I’ve coached a lot of talented point guards and Emily is the epitome of what makes for a highly successful one.”

Fans also were impressed. Merkel had 44 percent of the votes (1,652) in last week’s girls basketball player of the week poll to beat out Plant’s Silvia Farfante, who had 42 percent (1,580).