Basketball: Week 7 MVPs
Elgin senior center Briana Hamilton and Downers Grove South senior guard Jerron Wilbut have earned the Daily Herald’s high school basketball MVP honors in the seventh installment of the award this season.
Hamilton had 30 points and 15 rebounds to help the Maroons snap a 44-game skid with a victory over Larkin, and Wilbut produced three big scoring efforts against quality opponents that helped produce three victories.
Girls MVPBriana Hamilton, Elgin: The Maroons#146; senior center had a career-high 30 points as well as 15 rebounds to lead her team to a 51-49 win over crosstown rival Larkin, snapping Elgin#146;s 44-game losing streak. She then came back with another career-high, this time 31 points, as well as 13 rebounds, in a 51-50 loss to Westminster Christian.
Girls runners-upAshlee Cunningham, Lakes: Her will overshadowed the fact that she was ill. The Eagles weren#146;t sure that the senior guard would play against crosstown-rival Antioch. She wound up turning in an inspired performance, scoring 11 points and grabbing 12 rebounds as the Eagles avenged a loss last month with a 42-38 win. She also scored 17 points in a 54-33 win over Round Lake.
Liza Fruendt, Batavia: This rising sophomore led Batavia to a pair of wins over teams that had defeated them earlier this year. Fruendt blistered St. Charles North for 21 points in a 51-42 win, then followed with another game-high 18 points plus 6 assists and 5 rebounds as Batavia topped St. Charles East 57-45.
Alexis Glasgow, Rolling Meadows: With first place on the line, Glasgow went behind the 3-point line. The 5-foot-10 sophomore guard tossed home six 3-pointers #8212; in the first half #8212; of a 69-49 win over Prospect. She finished with 21 points for the game (all in a remarkable first-half performance). Glasgow then tossed in 21 points in a 62-23 win over Chicago Academy at the Season#146;s End tourney.
Brianna Harn, Glenbard North: The senior guard poured in 24 points in a 62-56 DVC win over Naperville North. Harn made 6 of 12 field goals, went 11 of 12 from the free-throw line and also had 5 rebounds, 4 assists, a steal and a block.
Boys MVPJerron Wilbut, Downers Grove South: Wilbut exploded for 73 points in a trio of wins for the Mustangs. The 6-foot-3 senior guard began with a 17-point performance against Fremd, continued with 23 points against Leyden and finished with a 33-point offensive outburst against Glenbard North. Wilbut also contributed a combined 18 rebounds, 9 steals and 4 assists.
Boys runners-upNathan Boothe, Warren: The long kid played long ball. His second 3-pointer of the season was part of a career-high 24-point effort that led the Blue Devils to a 72-53 win over Libertyville. The Toledo-bound 6-foot-9 senior center shot 11 of 17 from the floor, while grabbing 11 rebounds and blocking 3 shots. He followed up the next night with 13 points on 6-of-7 shooting in a 77-47 victory over Lakes.
Matt Czerak, Aurora Central: The 6-foot senior guard came off the bench to impact a 59-57 victory over Marian Central. Czerak made 4 of 6 three-point shots, and scored 14 points. In the waning moments he lobbed an alley-oop pass to Joey McEachern for the game-winning basket with five seconds left. Also, Czerak#146;s 9 points led the Chargers in a loss to Marshall.
Jeremy Stephani, Wheeling: Stephani rarely missed as he scored a career-high 36 points and Wheeling hit the win column for the first time this season 74-65 over Elk Grove. The sophomore shot 12-for-15 from the field, 5-for-7 on 3-pointers and 7-for-7 on free throws and had 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals.
Arie Williams, Elgin: The 5-foot-8 guard was at his best late in a 59-52 overtime victory over rival Larkin. Williams tied the game in the final minute of regulation with an off-balance bank shot. In overtime, he scored 9 of his team#146;s 11 points and assisted on another basket en route to a team-best 21 points. He also scored 15 points to go with 5 assists and 2 steals in a 64-37 victory over Streamwood.