Talliaverro, Valenzuela Recognized

One of this week's iBerkshires.com/Bedard Bros. Athletes of the week already has his team in the postseason. The other is dominating the early stages of her sport's season.

 

Mackenzie Valenzuela this week led the Lenox girls Alpine ski team to a narrow victory over Pittsfield in the team competition at Bousquet.

 

But there has been nothing narrow about Valenzuela's margin of victory in the first two high school giant slalom races of the season.

 

She opened her campaign with a 2.22 second win in the season opener. One week later, she crossed the finish line 2.34 seconds ahead of the field -- valuable hundredths of second that secured a .66 second margin in the team standings for the Millionaires.

 

Valenzuela and the rest of the county's downhill racers will be back at Bousquet this Thursday for the season's first slalom race.

 

The Mount Everett and Wahconah boys basketball teams Friday became the first in the county to reach 10 wins and ensure a .500 record and spot in their respective state tournaments this winter.

 

The 10-1 Eagles have been led in the scoring column this season by junior Darius Taliaferro, who is scoring 14.78 points per game.

 

He went well over that average in win No. 10, scoring 21 points in a home blowout of Bi-County West rival Veritas Prep.

 

"Darius paced the offense and the boys shared the ball well making the right basketball decisions," Mount Everett coach Jowe Warren said after the win.

 

The Eagles went into Friday night ranked fifth in the commonwealth in the latest MIAA in-season power rankings. They will look to keep moving up that list on Wednesday, when they visit No. 12 Hoosac Valley.

 

The iBerkshires.com Athlete of the Week is sponsored by Bedard Bros.