Here are this week’s candidates for Prime Time Performer.
You can vote once every 12 hours until the polls close on Friday at 5 p.m.
Max Muller (PORTA Forward) – Coaches, get yourself a kid that can do both. Max Muller from PORTA is that guy. At Lutheran High last week, he didn’t score a lot but he came up with three huge blocks on the defensive end to seal up a Bluejay come from behind win. Then later in the week, Muller scored 20 points against Midwest Central and then poured in 33 against Payson-Seymour.
Benji Eaker (Auburn Guard) – He had his coming out party a couple weeks ago against Athens, but Benji is proving it wasn’t a fluke. The Auburn guard can straight up score. Looking for revenge on Friday against the Pretzels, Eaker put up 25 points, which was half of the Trojans’ total points and only 11 less than New Berlin scored themselves.
Anthony Frank (Riverton Guard) – Last season the go-to guy was Ryan Roscetti for the Hawks. This season it seems that Anthony Frank has taken over that role. The athletic wing put up 25 points in a loss to Auburn earlier in the week before knocking down 18 in Riverton’s win over North Mac on Friday. Frank will be fun to watch this week at County.
Aundrae Williams (Lanphier Guard) – If there was a most improved player award in the CS8, Aundrae Williams would be the leading candidate so far. Williams has emerged as the Lions’ point guard who can handle the rock, lock down defenders and even score with ease as the teams’ second leading scorer. Williams scored 17 against Lincoln last Tuesday and then put up 20 against Eisenhower.
Steven Albers (Jacksonville Guard) – When we wrote Santa a wishlist for all the CS8 teams, we said Jacksonville needed a guy to handle the rock and get the scorers the ball. Steven Albers started to become that guy last week. He was able to handle the Cyclones’ pressure and he even added in 11 points in the Crimsons’ win over SHG.
Colton Holliday (Lincoln Forward) – The Railsplitters have a certain brand of basketball that everyone has come to know, love and respect. They play tough defense and shoot three-pointers. But this week they got 12 points from sophomore forward Colton Holliday in a road win over Springfield High. If they can get a few more guys contributing and take the scoring pressure off of Isaiah Bowers and Bryson Kirby, the Railers will only continue to improve.
Will Putnam & Aiden Woodfall (Glenwood Wrestlers) We got to see both these guys on Thursday night against Taylorville and both picked up victories. Over the weekend, heavyweight Will Putnam and 195 pounder Aiden Woodfall went down to Carbondale for the 56th annual Murdale Wrestling Tournament and both returned home with individual titles. Putnam & Woodfall’s first place finished helped Glenwood to a second place team finish, just three points behind Belleville Althoff.
Mason Ross & Brice Casey (Rochester Wrestlers) One wrestling team that we haven’t seen yet this season but have heard some good things about is Rochester. The Rockets had two guys return home from the Mt. Olive Invite last weekend with individual titles. Mason Ross won the 120 pound title and Brice Casey took home the 145 crown. We’ll finally get to see Rochester wrestling this week against Glenwood and will be keeping an eye on these two guys.
Katie Elmore (Lutheran High Guard) – The Lutheran High Crusaders pulled off a huge win last Thursday against state ranked Auburn and a big reason why was a 20 point performance from Katie Elmore. Elmore has the Lady Crusaders cruising this season with an exceptional 15-4 record and the senior scorer will continue to tear through defenses as LuHi looks to make a run in 1A.
Trey Hild (PORTA Wrestler) There’s dominating performances…and then there’s Trey Hild. PORTA’s 132 pound junior wrestler has been on a mission since last season, when he finished in 2nd place in the state in consecutive seasons. Hild went down to Princeton this weekend and took first place at the PIT and it wasn’t even close. Hild is 31-0 this season and determined to return home from Champaign with a first place finish.
