Athlete of the Week: Basketball Player Bindi Parikh

Senior forward Bindi Parikh scored a season-high 25 points in the championship game of the Lyndhurst Holiday Tournament and was named the Patch Athlete of the Week.

As the Fort Lee Lady Bridgemen won their unprecedented second consecutive championship, Parikh led the charge from beginning to end.

The forward outscored the Park Ridge Owls 11-5 in the first quarter and continued to pour it on throughout the game.

The soft-spoken Parikh said, "We have an awesome team so with the help of everyone we were able to have a great game."

What makes the senior's performance even more remarkable is what happened to her in the team's opening game of the tournament. Riddled with foul trouble throughout the contest, Parikh saw limited minutes and only scored four points in  Fort Lee's narrow win over Lyndhurst.

"Her presence alone in the game makes her a threat," Bindi's coach Stacie Zafiris said.

Parikh's presence certainly was evident on Friday when the Lady Bridgemen turned to her one possession after another.

"I knew I could just pass it to her and she would just make the shot," senior guard Brianna Mattesich said. "It was great."

Parikh was also named the Most Valuable Player of the Lyndhurst Holiday Tournament and received another trophy for her outstanding play.

"I think it is wonderful for her," said coach Zafiris of her award-winning forward. "She is a talented athlete [who] has put so much time into basketball, and I am just happy to see that things are starting to click for her senior year. "

But in typical fashion, Parikh deflects personal accolades, emphasizes team accomplishments and chooses not to talk much about her own play.

"Bindi is a very modest player," Zafiris said.  "She doesn't like to talk about herself, which you can tell. It's really wonderful for her because she is a really talented athlete."

Parikh and the Lady Bridgemen are off for the remainder of the New Year's holiday before returning to action Jan. 4 at Ridgefield Park.