Here are this week's candidates for the Antonio's Pizza Prime Time Performer. You can vote once every 12 hours until the polls close on Friday at 5pm. The winner will receive a $20 gift card to Antonio's Pizza!
Xavier Bishop (Lanphier Guard) – This year’s first Prime Time Performer list has to include a Lion guard that will likely be here quite often throughout the next few months. Bishop led his team to a third place finish in the Adam Lopez Country Financial Hoops Tournament held at Lanphier, putting up 29 in the 3rd place game and finishing with 86 points in their three tourney games. He was named co-MVP after making 13 three’s and 19 free throws, both of which were tops for the tournament.
D’Angelo Hughes (Southeast Guard) – Another hooper who earned MVP honors in his respective turkey tournament was D’Angelo Hughes of the Southeast Spartans. Hughes had a game high 28 points in the championship game against MacArthur and despite the loss for the squad, still showed he was one of the best players on the floor throughout the tourney. Hughes had 11 in their opener and 17 against Eisenhower in the semifinals.
Brady Hays (Jacksonville Guard) – We didn’t get our cameras down to Alton last week, but Jacksonville returned home with a first place trophy and Hays added some hardware with a MVP award to go with it. Hays had 15 points in the Crimsons win over Alton to lock up first place. Hays added a 30 point performance in Jacksonville’s win over Northwest Academy earlier in the tournament and that just means we are really looking forward to seeing Sean Taylor’s boys take on Lincoln on Saturday at the PCCC.
K.J. Fry (Lincoln Guard) – Making seven of eight shots from three-point range in one game locks up a spot for you on our Prime Time Performer list. Lincoln’s K.J. Fy finished up with 21 points for the Railsplitters against Danville on Saturday morning and then scored nine more points in a win over Cahokia as Lincoln locked up their own tournament title. A lot of new faces for Coach Alexander made our highlights last week, but the results were the same, Lincoln hit threes and won and Fry led the way in week one.
Austin Finley (Pleasant Plains Forward) – A perfect contrast to the speed and quickness of Daulton Nibbe and Cole Greer, Austin Finley and Nik Clemens provide the brute that Plains will need throughout the tough Sangamo this season. The star for the champs of the Edinburg Turkey was Finley, who led the team in scoring and almost averaged a double-double throughout their three games. Fin finished up with 15 points and 12 boards against Athens in a blowout win that locked up the title for the Cardinals, an excellent encore after scoring 21 in their first game against Madison.
Matt Wendling (Athens Guard) – He certainly scored the most points in the Edinburg Turkey Tournament last week, totaling 75 which means he’s averaging 25 per game. Wendling lost his point guard in the opening minutes of the championship game and had to try and carry the team without a key piece by netting 22 points in their losing effort. Wendling will be a Prime Time Performer multiple times this season, as well as a Big Nasty staple and Sangamo opponents will have to know where he is at all times if they want a chance to beat the Warriors.
Max Muller (Porta Forward) – The Bluejays won the Bill Rucks Thanksgiving Tournament and are still undefeated this season. Max Muller led the way against the host Mt. Pulaski Hilltoppers in the championship game with 20 points. Muller also chipped in eight points earlier in the tourney in their opening round win over Tri-City.
Katryel Clark (Auburn Forward) – The Auburn Trojans finished in second place in the Taylorville Turkey Tournament and a big reason why was Clark’s 20 points and 12 rebounds against the Lady Tornadoes on Wednesday. Clark scored 17 points to lead the Trojans in their title game loss to Hillsboro and she made the all tournament team and has the Lady Trojans out to a 6-1 start to start the season.
Micah Tapscott (Athens Forward) – The Athens Warriors are certainly a team to watch in the Sangamo this season and Tapscott anchors down the middle of that pressing defense. In a very tough Pana Turkey Tournament, Athens finished third led by Tapscott’s 26 points against Williamsville and that including two three-pointers. Tapscott was named to the All-Tournament team to add to her list of accolades.
