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!
Isaiah Walton (Southeast Guard) – The Spartan trio of Walton, D’Angelo Hughes and Trevyon Williams will lead Lawrence Thomas’ team to contend for the Central State Eight crown this year. We’ll give the Prime Time Performer nod to Walton this week for what he was able to do Saturday evening to cap off the Showcase at the PCCC. Walton was as efficient as could be going 5-6 from the floor for 12 points, while collecting eight rebounds. Not to mention he had the best dunk of the day.
Keon Day (Springfield High Guard) – We don’t typically put a player on the Prime Time Peformer list from a losing team, but Day deserves it after his performance at the PCCC. While Springfield High lost, they pushed the conference champions from last year and forced Parker Allen to drop 26 points in order to win by just six. Day was must see on Saturday, scoring 30 points, which was the most in the Showcase. He was 5-of-8 from three point range. Springfield High is still trying to figure out who they’re going to be this year, but the Senators sure do have a scorer.
Parker Allen (Glenwood Guard) – An excellent showdown between two great guards in the game between Springfield and Glenwood showed the conference that Parker Allen is going to be a handful this year. Allen dropped 26 points on 10-of-15 shooting from the floor to lead the Titans to victory. The backcourt of Allen and Hunt will keep Glenwood in every game this year and give them a good shot at a repeat conference title.
Corrington Jones (Lanphier Forward) – Yeah, we know Xavier Bishop scored 29 points and is the go-to guy on the Lanphier squad, but there’s plenty of capable pieces around him. Corrington Jones is one of those guys who goes to work every night and may not get the spotlight all the time. With Eisenhower looking to make it a game in the second half, Jones punched in and went to work to make sure the Lions won in the Showcase. Jones had nine points and added 13 rebounds for an “undersized” Lions team that’s going to need him to work the glass all year.
Dalton Handlin (Rochester Guard) – The Rockets picked up win number one in the conference on Saturday against their football rivals, but it was the Rochester soccer stud who led the orange and blue to victory on the hardwood. Dalton Handlin finished with 22 points in Rochester’s seven point win over SHG. Handlin is a hustle guy who isn’t afraid to sacrifice his body and do whatever he has to for his team and Coach Steers needs guys like this to win in the CS8 this year.
Joe Brannan (Jacksonville Guard) – This list is called Prime Time Performer but it sometimes looks like a leading scorers list. Joe Brannan didn’t lead Jacksonville in scoring on Saturday, but he came through in the clutch when the Crimsons needed it and that resulted in the win. Brannan stepped up and knocked down two free throws after Lincoln cut it to a one possession game and that iced a very impressive win for Sean Taylor’s team on Saturday. Jacksonville has about six different guys that can lead the team in scoring this year, including Brannan, so he gets the nod based on his performance at the charity stripe when it mattered most.
Harrison Cresswell (Williamsville Forward) – The Bullet big man led the team with 21 points in their blowout win over Peoria Heights and got himself a “soft jam” as he called it. Cresswell distributed the ball well and was a defensive force in the paint. The 6’8” center also made sure the Bullets downed North Mac on Friday night with nine points.
Austin Galloway (Pawnee Forward) – When we put Pawnee in our Area Power Rankings last week without seeing them, it’s mainly because we knew Austin Galloway was suiting up for the Indians again this year. Galloway delivered the gun show to start the showcase on Saturday, scoring 28 points in an overtime win for Pawnee. He also had 5 steals, 6 rebounds and went 1-1 from three point range and 9-of-13 from the charity stripe. The MSM will have to deal with Galloway for the next two seasons.
Ali Pankey (Pleasant Plains Guard) – The Pleasant Plains Cardinals used their defense to get a big early season Sangamo win over Auburn last week. While defense delivered the win, the Cardinals still had to score and Pankey led the way with 10 points. Pankey did a little bit of everything for Plains on both ends of the floor and the birds got the win so she gets the Prime Time Performer nod.
Farah and Marah Abu-Tayeh (Williamsville Guards) The twins took their team on the road Thursday and came away with a huge Sangamo win over Athens to avenge a loss from last week. The Abu-Tayeh twins were hitting from downtown and were able to beat their defenders off the dribble as the Bullets beat the Warriors, led by 13 points from both Farah and Marah.
Noah Mayes (Auburn Wrestling) The Trojan wrestling team went 4-1 on Saturday, picking up wins over Porta, Litchfield, Pickneyville and Roxana. Auburn’s 113 pounder Noah Mayes not only picked up five wins but he also recorded his 100th career high school victory on the mat. Reaching the century mark is very impressive accomplishment for the Auburn grappler who will look to make a trip to Champaign at the end of the season. In Saturday’s matches, Mayes won four matches by fall and one by forfeit.
