Game Balls: Top performances from the week in high school sports

Chase Bittle

The Class 1A state runner-up at 113 pounds last season, Bittle improved to 38-0 for his sophomore season by winning the 120-pound title at the Althoff Regional. Bittle is now 86-1 during his high school career.

Danny Braunagel, Jarrid Braunagel and Zac Braunagel

This brothers trio — all state-ranked in the top eight in their respective weight classes — moved on to the sectional competition this weekend by winning regional championships at the Althoff Class 1A Regional. Jarrid, a senior and ranked first in the 138-pound weight class, led the win while Danny won the 145-pound crown. Zac took home the top medal in the 170-pound weight class.

Logan Braundmeier

Braundmeier sank a desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer Thursday and had a team-leading 24 points to lead Mater Dei to a 50-48 victory over Ursuline Academy from St. Louis. Braundmeier averages 10.7 points per game.

C.J. Coldon

Coldon netted a career-high 22 points Friday in Althoff’s 87-66 victory over Cahokia, then scored 15 the next night in a victory over Chicago Kenwood at the Bank of O’Fallon Shootout.

Tyler Dancy

The 6-7 junior had 15 points, nine rebounds and three assists Friday as the Maroons defeated host O’Fallon 59-45 in a Southwestern Conference game.

Rachael Donald

Donald, a senior headed to Southeast Missouri State on a softball scholarship, scored 25 points Thursday in a 48-37 win over Roxana. The Tigers are 15-8 headed into the regional this week.

A.J. Epenesa

Epenesa was sensational again for the Tigers on Friday as they pulled away for a 63-54 victory over East St. Louis in a Southwestern Conference game. Epenesa, the Iowa football recruit, had 30 points and 13 rebounds in the win.

Nick Foster, Garrett Bass and Logan Johnson

Top-ranked in the Class 3A 152-pound weight class, Foster breezed to the title at the Quincy Regional on Saturday. Bass, a sophomore, won the 126-pound crown, while Johnson, a freshman took the 113-pound championship.

Noah Frederking

One of the region’s top juniors, Frederking stayed hot with 27 points Tuesday in a 67-62 win over Freeburg. Frederking also hit 13 of 15 free throws in the game.

Jordan Goodwin

Goodwin had quite a week in leading Althoff to wins over Belleville East, Cahokia and 4A-ranked Chicago Kenwood. The highly recruited junior went off for 30 points, 11 rebounds and three assists Saturday in an 80-64 win over Kenwood at the Bank of O’Fallon Shootout a day after scoring 19 points in an 87-66 South Seven Conference win over Cahokia. Goodwin also had 19 points and 14 rebounds Tuesday in a 79-60 win over Belleville East.

Dewayne Hill

The lone Lancers’ wrestler to win, Hill improved to 43-0 Saturday by taking home first place in the 220-pound weight class at the Quincy Regional.

Jordan Holmes

Columbia sophomore guard Jordan Holmes piled up 24 points Tuesday in a 49-44 win over Civic Memorial, then had 18 points and six assists Thursday as the Eagles knocked off 2A-ranked Central. That win ended Central’s 11-game win streak and gave the Cougars their first Cahokia Conference defeat.

Marcus Latham and Paul Harris

This Redbirds’ duo combined for 42 points as Alton scored a key Southwestern Conference 72-69 win on the road on Friday at Belleville East. Latham led the way for Alton with 24 points.

Madison Kasza

Perhaps the top high school bowler in southern Illinois, Kasza averaged more than 230 as she led the Panthers to the title Saturday at the Columbia Regional at West Park Bowl.

Kate Martin

Martin erupted for 29 points, hit five of her eight 3-point shots and sank 11 of 17 free throws Monday in a 72-52 win over St. Joseph’s Academy from St. Louis. The sophomore averages 12.3 points and is second on the Tigers with 24 3-pointers.

Rachel Pranger and Makenzie Silvey

The pair of Division I prospects scored 22 points each Thursday in Edwardsville’s 60-32 Southwestern Conference victory over East St. Louis. Ranked third in the state in Class 4A, Edwardsville (24-1) has won 20 in a row. Pranger, a sophomore, averages a team-leading 16.3 points, while Silvey, a junior, averages 15.6 points and has 52 3-pointers.

Kaylah Rainey and Myriah Haywood

Part of a dynamic three-guard offense, Rainey and Haywood combined for 30 points as the Lancers shocked Class 2A top-ranked but short-handed Central on Thursday in a nonconference showdown. Rainey led Belleville East (16-9) with 17 points.

Trent Rakers

The latest of a long line of outstanding Highland wrestlers including Tanner Farmer and Nick Czar, Rakers improved to 36-0 Saturday by winning the 160-pound title at the Class 2A Triad Regional.

Mark Smith

The junior point guard took a nasty spill in the first quarter of the Tigers’ 63-54 win over East St. Louis on Friday, suffering a cut above his eye. But he returned to the game and contributed 17 points as Edwardsville improved to 17-4 overall and 9-0 in the Southwestern Conference.

Kyle Smith

It was a tough week with three losses for the Marissa Meteors, but Smith did all he could do to help. Smith had 30 points and five 3-pointers Tuesday in a loss to Steeleville, 25 points Friday in a loss to Valmeyer and 17 Saturday in a loss to Christ Our Rock Lutheran.

Kendra Wilken

The senior St. Louis University recruit poured in 31 points Monday in a 58-32 Cahokia Conference victory over Wesclin.

This story was originally published February 8, 2016 at 12:03 PM with the headline "Game Balls: Top performances from the week in high school sports."