ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

BOYS

Steven Smith

SCHOOL: Poly

YEAR: Senior

SPORT: Football

SEASON AT A GLANCE: Smith leads the Valley Pac-8 Conference in rushing despite a seasonlong ankle injury. He has run for 970 yards and 10 touchdowns in 143 carries.

WEEK AT A GLANCE: Smith rushed for a career-best 348 yards in 32 carries to help Poly (3-4-1, 3-1-1 in conference play) defeat Monroe, 37-31. He scored on runs of 66 and 60 yards. The victory kept alive Poly’s hopes of reaching the playoffs for the first time since 1993.

GIRLS

Jasmin Dao

SCHOOL: Granada Hills

YEAR: Sophomore

SPORT: Tennis

SEASON AT A GLANCE: Dao, the Highlanders’ No. 1 singles player the last two years, has a 10-1 record this season. Her only loss was to Diana Friedland, the top player for Van Nuys, in September.

WEEK AT A GLANCE: Dao beat previously undefeated Modesta Salmeron, 8-3, to help Granada Hills hand Cleveland its first loss, 7-0, on Tuesday. On Thursday, Dao shut out San Fernando’s No. 1 player, Gladys Preciado, 8-0, and the Highlanders did likewise in a 7-0 victory to clinch their fifth consecutive Northwest Valley Conference title.