ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Cei’J Gagnon, Neah Bay girls basketball

Cei’J Gagnon

Cei’J Gagnon

Cei’J Gagnon is glad to be back on the court for the Neah Bay girls basketball team.

Gagnon was a big part of the team as a freshman two years ago, but wasn’t able to play at all as a sophomore because of a serious foot injury.

She’s back this year as a junior, in fact the only junior on this very young team. Gagnon was a huge part in 1B Neah Bay’s unprecedented upset of a 4A team, Auburn, at the Crush in the Slush tournament in Port Townsend on Friday. No one could remember the last time the Neah Bay girls beat a 4A school, the biggest classification in the state.

She scored 12 points in the second half to help Neah Bay hold off not one, but two, big comeback attempts by Auburn as Neah Bay won 54-51. Gagnon ended up with 14 points overall.

Neah Bay is off to a 6-1 start this year and is ranked No. 6 in RPI among 1B schools.