Prep notebook: Hannibal’s McPike earns opportunity to officiate at state tournament

HANNIBAL, Mo. — Wayne McPike’s diligence, hard work and ability to relate to high school basketball players has earned him the opportunity to officiate on the state’s highest stage.

The Hannibal native has been selected to work the Show-Me Showdown state finals taking place in March at JQH Arena and the Hammons Student Center on the Missouri State University campus in Springfield, Mo.

McPike is part of the Mark Twain Officials Association and has been officiating games in Northeast Missouri for close to a decade. He has gained a reputation for helping teach the game as well as calling games with consistency and accuracy.

A 2003 graduate of Hannibal High School and a 2008 graduate of Hannibal-LaGrange University, McPike was a standout basketball player for the Pirates and a member of the 2000 Hannibal squad that took fourth place at the state tournament.  He played three seasons at HLGU, averaging 14.2 points during the 2006-07 season and 10.9 points throughout his career.

McPike now works as a community support specialist at Mark Twain Behavioral Health where he mentors and supports troubled adolescent boys.

White breaks Helias scoring, free throw records

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Desmond White had quite a night, and the Jefferson City Helias record book will reflect it.

The son of former Monroe City standout and Mizzou starting safety Andre White, the Helias junior point guard broke the school’s single-game scoring record with 50 points in an 88-53 victory over Columbia Hickman on Monday night.

In the process, White also set the Crusaders’ single-game record with 20 made free throws and recorded his 1,000th career point.

“Once I made my first few shots, I knew I had it rolling,” White told the Jefferson City News-Tribune. “Everything just clicks, and I just get into a mode where I feel like I can do it all.”

At halftime, after White scored 31 points and outscored the Kewpies by himself, he and Helias coach Joe Rothweiler, a Hannibal native, realized the record was within reach. Jamaal Tatum set the mark with 46 points during a 2002 game.

“At halftime, my teammates said, ‘We’re going to get you your shots, so just hit them,’” White told the News-Tribune. “Great teammates.”

White was fouled on a 3-point attempt at the third-quarter buzzer and made all three free throws, giving him 47 points and breaking the record. He added three free throws in the fourth quarter and finished 20 of 21 at the line.

WIU taps Hannibal market for commitments

MACOMB, Ill. — The Western Illinois University football program is trying to expand its regional pull, and it tapped into the Hannibal market — past and present — to create a draw.

The Leathernecks landed commitments from two products who are expected to sign national letters of intent Wednesday. Wentric Williams III, the son of the late Wentric Williams II who is one of Hannibal’s all-time great running backs, gave the Leathernecks his commitment after being courted by other NCAA Division I programs.

And Caden Selle, the all-state left tackle who helped guide the Pirates to the Class 4A state championship game and an undefeated season up until that point, also committed to WIU after being courted by the NAIA national champion, several NCAA Division II programs and several FCS schools.

New WIU coach Myers Hendrickson is a Macomb native who played at WIU and understands the value of recruiting in his own backyard to drum up support for his program.