Week 8 prep athlete of the week: Nathan Hawthorne, Columbia River

Nathan Hawthorne of the Columbia River boys basketball team was voted The Columbian’s high school winter sports athlete of the week, sponsored by Athletes Corner, for the week ending Feb. 1

Hawthorne collected 34 percent of the 1,441 votes cast by fans to beat out Jessica Flanagan of the Woodland girls basketball team, who had 21 percent.

Hawthorne averaged 20 points a game in two league wins for the Chieftains as River clinched a share of the 3A Greater St. Helens League title.

The other nominees were Jamie Nolta of Union gymnastics, Tamika Taylor of Fort Vancouver bowling, and John Utas of Camas swimming.

Nominees and the online ballot are posted at 360preps.com each Monday and voting continues until 8 p.m. Thursday.

Athletes may be elected player of the week once during the regular season, and no athlete can be nominated for the honor in consecutive weeks.