WTOC Players of the Week - WTOC-TV: Savannah, Beaufort, SC, News, Weather & Sports

Makhala Jackson of McIntosh County Academy and Paris Baker of Jenkins helped their teams reach new heights last week. Their teams are getting hot in the region races and making them contenders in the regular season races.

Jackson scored 56 points and pulled down 43 rebounds in three games, including an amazing 31 points and 25 rebounds Saturday in a win over Calvary Day. The week included region wins over Bryan County and Vidalia to stay unbeaten in region 2-AA. Against the Lady Indians on Friday, Jackson had an off night which prompted her to put in some practice time before Saturday's game by showing up early in the afternoon to see if she can find the problem, "I don't know, I started down low and started working my way out there and felt the vibe and had the vibe the whole time.  I know I had to come in the gym early and get ready, get my shot ready, tough game coming.  I felt confident in the game Saturday."

Coach Jessica Ross was more than happy to show up early to open the gym, "She was like, coach, I'm coming in early Saturday and I'm just going to work on my shot.  At the beginning of the game, she was trying to force it a little bit.  I was like, don't worry, it's going to come.  So, it came to us at the end of the first quarter and she scored big for us."

The Lady Buccaneers will play just once this week when they host Long County Tuesday night.

Our WTOC Boys Player of the Week is Jenkins High School's Paris Baker.  Last week in wins over Effingham County, Richmond Hill and Liberty County, Baker averaged 13 points a game in the 3 wins.

Those are solid numbers, but his best contribution may have come on defense though, "Defense comes first and offense comes by itself, I just go by that motto. I'm the cleanup man so my offense just comes when it comes, but defense, I always gotta play defense." Coach Bakari Bryant added, "At times Paris can come out and dominate, and sometimes he can cruise, but once we get him on full speed, that's when your going to see his best game, we haven't seen his best game yet."

Tuesday, the Warriors will visit Hinesville to battle Bradwell Institute.