Muddy Night Hoops’ Starry Star of the Week

QUINCY — Each week during Muddy Night Hoops powered by Farm & Home Supply — a 90-minute talk show centered on prep basketball — the Starry Star of the Week will be presented to one area student-athlete. Sponsored by Refreshment Services Pepsi, the Starry Star of the Week looks to highlight someone who did something extraordinary for their team.

Below is a look at the award’s recipients:

Week 1 — Central-Southeastern senior forward Lauren Miller

Miller led the Panthers to a historic title run at the State Farm Holiday Classic, scoring 20 or more points in each of the four games as CSE won the small school girls bracket championship for the third consecutive year. CSE became just the second team in Classic history to win three consecutive championships. Miller was named to the all-tournament team after scoring 99 points in four games, including 29 in the title game against Bloomington Central Catholic.

Week 2 — Mendon Unity junior forward Sawyer Allen

Allen hit the game-winning shot with 2.3 seconds remaining in regulation of a 62-61 victory Griggsville-Perry. He finished with a game-high 32 points. This bookended a week that began by scoring a game-high 27 points in an overtime loss to Payson Seymour in the championship game of the MVIT. Allen was named to the all-tournament team.

Week 3 — Canton senior forward Preston Brewer

The 6-foot-8 Brewer powered the fourth-seeded Tigers to a runner-up finish in the 53rd Highland Tournament, going head-to-head with Keokuk’s Jaxson Clark, the 6-foot-10 junior center who is receiving NCAA Division I recruiting interest. Brewer finished with 25 points, 13 rebounds and two blocked shots in the title game against the Chiefs. In the 66-52 semifinal victory over top-seeded Palmyra, Brewer finished with 25 points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots.

Week 4 — West Hancock junior center Cooper Knowles

The 6-foot-9 Knowles was named the MVP of the Hancock County Tournament after guiding the Titans to four victories last week, highlighted by last Saturday’s 47-39 victory over Illini West in what turned out to be the championship game of the round-robin event. Knowles averaged 12.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and five blocked shots per game. He had 20 points in a victory over Mendon Unity, 10 rebounds against Illini West and nine blocked shots against Southeastern. Overall this season, Knowles is averaging 12.7 points, 8.1 rebounds and 5.2 blocked shots.

Week 5 — Highland junior guard Addy Abell

The Highland girls basketball team denied Hannibal a chance at history — and its first-ever Tony Lenzini Tournament championship — as Abell scored 16 points in the second quarter during a 26-10 run last Saturday that gave the Cougars control and the title. Highland won 55-38 at Palmyra High School. Abell finished the championship game with a career-high 26 points, nine rebounds and four 3-pointers made. This came after she scored 25 points and made four 3-pointers in the semifinal victory over Clarence Cannon Conference foe Monroe City.

Week 6 — Quincy High School senior guard Bradley Longcor III

The Blue Devils bounced back from only their second loss of the season by winning three straight games, saving the best for last. The week began with a Tuesday road trip to Galesburg and a 90-35 Western Big 6 Conference victory in which Longcor scored 20 points. Back at Blue Devil Gym on Friday night, Longcor scored 12 points in an 84-45 WB6 victory over Sterling. On Saturday, in the Midwest Crossroads Shootout at Normal West High School in Normal, Ill., Longcor powered the Blue Devils to a 49-44 victory over St. Louis Chaminade as he scored a game-high 20 points and passed Jack Kramer for second on the QHS career scoring list. Longcor has 1,773 career points going into this week.