MVC/OVC Weekly Stars

Key Players Emerging

(St. Louis, MO) – Key players are emerging as Missouri Valley and Ohio Valley Conference announces their weekly stars. While several Valley teams were competing in MTE action, most of its teams and all the OVC teams were playing typical non-conference games.

It looks like some players are like the cream that is rising to the top.

Players of the Week

Little Rock’s Johnathan Lawson has stepped into a leading role for the K.K. Robinson-less Trojans. The Creighton transfer averaged 19 points, 9.5 rebounds and five assists for the preseason favorites. While Little Rock split with Tulsa and Arkansas he scored 23 points against Tulsa and contributed a double-double against the Razorbacks. This week’s OVC ‘Player of the Week’ scored 15 points and grabbed twelve rebounds against the Hogs.

Bennett Stirtz sparked Drake to a Charleston Classic championship and was named the tournament’s MVP and Tuesday he was named the MVC’s ‘Player of the Week’. The 6’4 junior averaged 18 points, 7.7 assists and five rebounds at the South Carolina-based MTE.

Newcomer Weekly Stars

Lawson is also the OVC’s ‘Newcomer of the Week’. The 6’7 junior played one year at Memphis and one at Creighton. This season he’s averaging 16.3 points while making over 82 percent from the free throw line and grabbing 7.2 rebounds per contest.

Stirtz’s Drake teammate Mitch Mascari averaged 18 points per game in South Carolina and made twelve three pointers during the three-game tournament. He joined Stirtz on the all-tournament team and is the Valley’s ‘Newcomer fo the Week’. Mascari is making .512 of his long distance shots (22 of 43) and is perfect on all 16 of his free throw attempts.

Freshman of the Week Awards

Lindenwood rookies have claimed all three of the OVC’s ‘Freshman of the Week’ awards. Jadis Jones was the recipient week one and again this week. Classmate Clayton Jackson claimed the title last week.

While Lindenwood lost its only game of the week, Jones scored 17 points, grabbed nine rebounds and contributed four steals at Valparaiso. The 6’5 rookie is averaging 12.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game and playing nearly 29 minutes per game for coach Kyle Gerdeman’s Lions.

Valparaiso won two games last week and rookie Justus McNair scored 16 points during the Beacons’ win over Eastern Illinois. The Valley’s ‘Freshman of the Week’ converted four three-point attempts against EIU.

 

Editor: Cover photo of Mitch Mascari courtesy of godrakebulldogs.com.