Basketball: Week 6 MVPs
Daily Herald report
Hersey senior guard Jen Hall and Hampshire senior forward Tyler Watzlawick have earned MVP honors from the Daily Herald for their performances in recent games. It’s the sixth time this season MVP honors have been chosen for the area’s top basketball players.
Girls MVPJen Hall, Hersey: Hall answered the call in a big way as Hersey topped St. Viator 58-35 in the second round of the Season#146;s End Tournament. The speedy 5-foot-5 senior guard rang up a career-high 31 points (four 3-pointers and 7-of-7 free throws). She scored 15 of her team#146;s 17 points in the third quarter, including back-to-back 4-point plays followed by a rebound and coast-to-coast layup.
Girls runners-upClaire Brennan, Grayslake Central: Brennan brought it in the Rams#146; first-place showdown with their crosstown rival. On a night both teams struggled offensively, the senior point guard was efficient with her chances. She scored a game-high 15 points, shooting 4 of 9 from the floor and 7 of 7 from the line, leading the Rams to a 41-26 win over Grayslake North.
Marissa Pezzopane, Addison Trail: The Blazers senior forward missed her team#146;s first six games with a stress fracture in her foot, but she had a big hand in recent wins. Pezzopane followed up career-high 29-point effort in a win over Plainfield North by pouring in 27 points to beat Downers Grove North 57-41. Later in the week she had 8 points in 52-31 win over Morton.
Jessica Laird, Burlington Central: The Rockets#146; senior guard, one of the leading scorers in the area, had 29 point, 2 assists and 2 steals in a 69-34 win over Genoa-Kingston, then came back with 19 points and 2 steals in a 49-47 overtime win against Kaneland.
Karly Tate, Rosary: The 5-foot-9 junior forward helped the Royals complete a 2-0 week by scoring a game-high 20 points to go with 10 rebounds and 3 steals in the Royals#146; 61-47 victory over St. Francis on Friday. And she did all that in just her second game back from an emergency appendectomy.
Boys MVPTyler Watzlawick, Hampshire: Watzlawick played a key role in Hampshire#146;s sweep of Crystal Lake. The 6-foot-6 senior led the Whip-Purs with 23 points on 7-of-11 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds in a 58-42 victory at Crystal Lake South. Against twice-beaten Crystal Lake Central, he tied for team honors with 16 points as Hampshire won its sixth straight, a 52-47 victory over the defending FVC Fox Division champions.
Boys runners-upAJ Fish, Grayslake North: AJ found his #147;j.#148; The Knights#146; season-best four-game winning streak has coincided with the junior guard scoring in double figures in each contest. He had a career-high 26 points and 7 rebounds in a 75-69 win over Jacobs. He followed up with scoring efforts of 15 and 18 points in wins over Woodstock North and Johnsburg, respectively.
Josh Fleming, Glenbard North: The Panthers notched a pair of DuPage Valley Conference victories behind the play of their 6-foot-6 senior forward. Fleming scored 27 points in a 68-51 win over Naperville Central and then tallied 18 points in a 56-42 decision over Wheaton Warrenville South. Fleming added 13 rebounds and 7 assists.
Zach Solorio, Elk Grove: A pair of 16-point efforts by the senior forward made for a sweet weekend for Elk Grove. Solorio hit a pair of 3-pointers in a 69-61 win over Hersey and was 5-for-5 behind the arc in a 62-57 win over Conant. He also had 5 rebounds and 5 assists as the Grenadiers improved to 7-8.
Jontrel Walker, West Aurora; The sophomore guard displayed a total floor game as West went 1-1 in the DuPage Valley. The 6-foot Walker scored 19 points with 8 rebounds and 6 assists in a 68-54 win over Wheaton North. He followed with 16 points in a 53-51 loss to Naperville North. On the weekend Walker went 5-of-10 from the 3-point arc and 12-of-16 from the foul line.