Area roundup: Local players honored at Molloy/WJOL football banquet

Lincoln-Way East’s A.J. Henning and Coal City’s Daniel Jezik shared Player of the Year honors at the Molloy State Farm/WJOL Pigskin Preview awards banquet Sunday at Gatto’s.

Lincoln-Way East head coach Rob Zvonar also was selected as a Coach of the Year honoree.

Weekly award winners by the organization also were honored at the event. Jezik was the award winner in Week 1, followed by Lincoln-Way East running back Devon Williams in Week 2 and then Joliet Catholic running back Jordan Anderson in Week 3.

Week 4 saw Lemont wide receiver Anthony Sambucci take honors, while in Week 5 Lockport quarterback Riley Pfeiffer was the honoree, and Minooka quarterback Seth Lehr took the accolades for Week 6.

In Week 7, Plainfield South running back Keith Bronson took home the hardware, while in Week 8 Lincoln-Way West’s Billy Dozier was the award winner and Joliet West’s Trent Howland rounded out the regular season by winning the award in Week 9.

BOYS BASKETBALL

Bolingbrook 70, Andrew 57: The Raiders slowly pulled away from the T-Bolts, as Darius Burford led the way with 23 points.

Yorkville 48, Minooka 34: The Indians came up short in a Southwest Prairie Conference matchup.

Morris 52, Sandwich 47 (2 OT): The Redskins had to maneuver through a pair of extra periods to claim an Interstate Eight Conference win.

Plainfield North 54, West Aurora 40: The Tigers claimed a quality Southwest Prairie Conference victory over the Blackhawks.

Streator 66, Wilmington 56: The Wildcats dropped an Illinois Central Eight Conference matchup.

Reed-Custer 79, Peotone 56: Jacob Heisner had 20 points and Ethan Martis added 15 as the Comets claimed an Illinois Central Eight Conference matchup.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Coal City 35, Morris 31: Hayleigh Roach completed a double-double win for Coal City with 13 points and 10 rebounds, as the Coalers claimed a nonconference win.

Seneca 51, Somonauk 23: Mara Bruno had 15 points, while Maddie Bromberek added 13 for the Fighting Irish as they improved to 6-2.

COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL

Two Flyers named Division II All-Americans: The American Volleyball Coaches Association announced Tuesday that Lewis University women’s volleyball players Ava Venema and Colleen Wilhelm have been named to the AVCA Division II All-America Team. Venema and Wilhelm were Third Team All-America selections.

This marks the third time (2016 and 2017) that the Flyers have earned multiple AVCA All-Americans in a single class.

The duo become the 11th and 12th AVCA All-Americans in program history.

Venema finished the year averaging 2.49 kills and 1.22 blocks a set while hitting .343. She was a First Team All-GLVC and D- II Conference Commissioner’s Association All-Region selection.

Wilhelm, a First Team All-GLVC pick and All-Midwest Region Tournament selection, led Lewis with 3.17 kills a set while hitting .304 for the season. She reached double figures in kills 22 times this season.

The duo helped the Flyers finish the year with a 28-6 record and the top seed in the Midwest Regional.