INDIANAPOLIS – The fifth Great Midwest Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Athlete of the Week announcement for the 2018-19 season was released on Monday morning.
The second week of league play saw a logjam form at the top of the updated Great Midwest standings. No. 17 Findlay, Walsh, Hillsdale, Lake Erie and Cedarville, are each 3-1 in their first four conference games.
Walsh was as close as it gets in a tough environment with a one-point defeat in Croy Gymnasium against the nationally-ranked Oilers. The Cavaliers rebounded on Saturday with a gritty road victory over Hillsdale.
The Chargers split during the week after beating Malone. Lake Erie started out 3-0 in Great Midwest play following a win at Ohio Valley, but fell in Columbus against reigning tourney champ Ohio Dominican in a close battle.
Cedarville pushed its win streak to four straight with home victories over Trevecca and Kentucky Wesleyan. The Yellow Jackets also have handed Findlay the Oilers’ lone loss of the year, something to keep an eye on for postseason seeding as the year continues to unfold.
KWC and ODU are both at 2-1 with one less game played than the five ahead of them in the standings.
Eight of the league’s 13 teams are also .500 or above on the season overall.
Men’s Basketball Athlete of the Week
Alex White
Findlay
Forward
Senior
West Chester, OH (Lakota East HS)
White has been an absolute monster in the post while averaging a double-double through nine games into his senior campaign. He is the second Oiler to earn conference weekly accolades this year (Trey Smith) as UF has come out of the gates with an 8-1 record.
White had double-doubles in wins against Walsh and Malone as he averaged 20 points, 12.5 rebounds, 4.5 blocks and 3 assists per game.
White carved out 12 points and 10 rebounds in the one-point win against Walsh. He handed out three assists, swatted three shots and came up with a steal.
Against Malone, White poured in a season-high 28 points on 10-of-17 shooting and crashed the glass for 13 boards. Seven of those were of the offensive variety and he blocked six shots, the highest total around the league this year.
White hit a three pointer and also distributed three more assists while playing 33 minutes in a six-point margin of victory over the Pioneers.
White’s six double-doubles lead the league this season. The next highest total is four from Alderson Broaddus’ Brandon Simmons.
Among the league leaders, he is tied for fourth in scoring (18.1 ppg), second in rebounding (10.2 rpg), second in blocks (2.6 bpg) and top 15 in field goal percentage.