BOYS BASKETBALL

PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Ace Evans, Martin Luther: The junior guard has stepped up his game since point guard Trequan Carrington went down with an ankle injury late in the Spartans’ victory over Racine St. Catherine’s on Dec. 16. Evans’ steal led to a three-point play that provided the deciding points in a 54-51 victory over St. Catherine’s. In three games without Carrington, Evans is averaging 19.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists in per contest. Last week he went for 13 points, seven assists and five steals in a 73-68 victory over Mineral Point, which is ranked seventh in the wissports.net Division 4 state coaches poll, and then scored a career-high 29 in a 69-50 victory over Division 3 Kettle Moraine Lutheran.

TEAMS OF THE WEEK

Three teams traveled outside the state and represented the area well.

Franklin: The Sabers improved to 9-1 after winning the Ocoee Great 8 in Orlando, Fla., beating Ocoee, 63-53, Thursday, Colonial (Fla), 71-50, on Friday and Medina (Ohio), 62-59, Saturday. Senior guard/forward Max Alba averaged 18.7 points per game and claimed tournament MVP honors. Junior point guard Jacob Vonderwell, who averaged nine points per contest, also made the all-tournament team.

Milwaukee Washington: The Purgolders played without leading scorer Deontay Long but still took third at the St. Hope Elite Classic in Sacramento, Calif. Freshman forward Michael Foster earned all-tournament honors after averaging 23 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks per game and was awarded the DeMarcus Cousins Award for being the best big man. Senior guard Jordan Dinsmore averaged 17.5 points, six assists and four rebounds per game and received a Division I offer from Montana State.

Pewaukee: The Pirates took home the title at the Sunshine Classic in Daytona, Fla., scoring double-digit victories in the first two rounds before defeating the Atlantic Sharks (Fla.), 60-52, Saturday. Senior forward Mike Basile was named the tournament’s most valuable player. Senior guards Jack Gohlke and Seth Bickett and Carlos Teran, a senior forward, also made the all-tournament team.

COMING UP

Kenosha Bradford at Racine Park, 7

p.m. Friday: Park, which has won four straight games since falling to Franklin last month, can put itself in great position in the Southeast Conference race with a victory over the league's last undefeated team. Messmer at Brookfield Academy, 7:15 p.m. Friday: Messmer has struggled outside of the Midwest Classic, but is one game back in the league standings. This is arguably the league's best rivalry. Destiny at Milwaukee Golda Meir, 3 p.m. Saturday: Destiny will be a measuring stick for Golda Meir, a young program that appears to be on the rise. Germantown vs. Menomonee Falls at Al McGuire Center, 6:30 p.m. Saturday: Falls coach Steve Showalter faces his former team for the first time.