Columbia girls basketball player Erika Varel is this week’s Republic-Times Athlete of the Week.

Varel was named MVP of the Gibault Candy Cane Classic tournament, where she helped lead her team to win the tourney’s championship trophy over Red Bud. (Read more on the tournament.)

During the three game tournament Varel put up 39 points and crashed the boards for 18 rebounds. In the championship game she had a team high 23 points and five rebounds.

So far this season, the 5’9″ senior forward/guard has had a total of 104 points (second most on the team) with a 44.12 shooting percentage. She has also had a season total 75 blocks so far this year and has the highest free throw percentage (73.3%) on the team of those that have played all 11 games.

Varel and her team are 9-3 on the season and are currently tied for second in the Cahokia Conference Mississippi Division with Carlyle.

Congratulations Erika, keep up the good work!

To read more about the final games of the Gibault Candy Cane Classic, pick up a copy of this week’s paper– out Wednesday. Or subscribe online today!