Daily Herald Players of the Week
Lake County
Labrenthia Murdock, Round Lake
The Panthers' best player might have played her best game, as they bested Antioch. A three-year varsity player, the junior guard scored a career-high 21 points on 9-of-15 shooting from the floor. Murdock also grabbed 8 rebounds and collected 3 steals in a 66-37 win, helping Round Lake improve to 7-0.
Kevin Guirand, Lakes
Few Eagles soar higher than the 6-foot-1 senior. A three-year varsity starter, Guirand poured in a career-high 30 points in Lakes' 94-86 loss to North Chicago. Through five games, the athletic forward is averaging 21.8 points per game.
Fox Valley
Tem Esikiel, Streamwood
Streamwood's junior scoring machine was at it again. Esikiel posted a game-high 36 points, including three 3-pointers, to lead the Sabres to a 72-61 road win at Glenbard North. His point total included 15 free throws in 18 attempts.
Jessica Harris, Larkin
When the game was on the line, Harris came through for Larkin in its 52-42 overtime win at Elgin. She scored 13 points and had 10 rebounds and was 9-for-10 at the free-throw line to help the Royals beat Elgin for the 10th straight time.
Northwest suburbs
Monroe Brooks, Palatine
Brooks looks like he's made a smooth transition from an all-area senior football season. The 6-foot-6 Palatine senior's inspired inside play led the way 11 points and 10 rebounds in a 46-39 Mid-Suburban West victory over Fremd and 10 points in a 42-40 MSL crossover victory over Hersey.
Drewann Pancratz, Schaumburg
Pancratz exploded for a career-high 30 points in a 51-37 victory over Hoffman Estates. The 5-foot-9 senior guard converted 11 field goals, including a 3-pointer, and connected on 7-of-7 free throws as the Saxons kept their record perfect at 7-0. Going into tonight's game at Barrington, Pancratz has made 30-of-33 free throws for a 90.9 percentage.
Tri-Cities
Corbin Spearman, West Aurora
Spearman scored 10 points to help West Aurora win a battle of unbeatens Friday night against Naperville Central 46-38, and he was even more important on the defensive end where he and his teammates held Redhawks leading scorer Drew Crawford to 6 points on 3-of-12 shooting.
Natalie Tarter, Batavia
The junior guard tallied 16 points in a come-from-behind win against Yorkville and netted 26 points against Rochelle, giving Batavia a 5-0 record and its best start in recent years.
DuPage County
Samantha Arnold, Lake Park
The 6-foot-4 junior forward averaged 23 points and 9 rebounds in three victories for the Lancers. Arnold recorded her 1,000th career point in a 77-60 win at Downers Grove South, then poured in 29 points and collected 10 rebounds, 4 blocks, 4 assists and 2 steals in a 74-48 Upstate Eight Conference win at South Elgin.
Malcolm Herron, Downers South
The Mustangs notched two wins behind the big-time play of their 6-foot-4 junior guard. Herron scored 18 points, grabbed 8 rebounds and had 10 steals in a 63-56 overtime win over Willowbrook. He then tallied 33 points on 70 percent shooting, pulled down 12 boards and had 5 steals in a 68-41 win over Lake Park.