Court Kings: Meet the QHW/HCP All-Area boys basketball team

Published 4:24 pm Friday, June 5, 2026

There was a lot of exciting hoops action on both sides of the river for boys basketball.

Quincy Notre Dame had a season for the ages, finishing second in Class 2A in the deepest postseason run in program history.

West Hancock, Brown County and Illini West had big years on the Illinois side as well, while Monroe City and Palmyra were the class of the Missouri side.

This past winter, there was a lot of excitement at the various tournaments, shootouts and postseason play. Here’s a look at the combined Quincy Herald-Whig and Hannibal Courier-Post’s 2025-26 All-Area boys basketball team and awards.

Player of the Year — Jace Allensworth, Quincy Notre Dame

On a veteran team loaded with talent, Allensworth stood out and was QND’s most prolific scorer. He had the ability to take over games and was able to come through in the clutch.

Allensworth led his team in scoring with 15 points per game.

The QND senior will stay close moving forward, with Allensworth committing to the Quincy University men’s basketball team.

Finalists: West Hancock’s Cooper Knowles and Illini West’s Wes Robertson

Freshman of the Year — Quincy’s Brennan Lepper

It was a vastly different Quincy Blue Devils boys basketball program this year without Bradley Longcor III, Keshaun Thomas and company.

The Blue Devils had their youngest roster in program history, with freshman center Brennan Lepper taking advantage of his opportunity.

Lepper wound up as the leading scorer for QHS and will be a key piece moving forward the next three years.

Finalists: Canton’s Bryson Brewer and Highland’s Cooper Hinton

Defensive Player of the Year — Cooper Knowles, West Hancock

Teams had to change their offensive approach due to the big man in the middle from West Hancock.

Knowles recorded over 400 blocks during his high school career, a program record for West Hancock. He averaged 5.5 blocks per game in his senior season, while also averaging 10.1 rebounds per game.

Knowles has committed to Belmont University.

Finalists: QND’s Gavin Doellman and Brown County’s Jackson McNeff

Coach of the Year — Greg Altmix, Quincy Notre Dame

In his second season with the Raiders, Altmix took Notre Dame to a new level.

QND only lost two games all year and set a new program record with 32 wins, with the Raiders.

For the second time in his coaching career, Altmix reached the state championship game, which he also did with Liberty in 2023.

Finalists: West Hancock’s Jeff Dahl and Illini West’s Blaize Kimmell

First Team

Cooper Knowles, West Hancock senior center

Knowles heads to Belmont University after a season where he was a First Team Class 2A All-Stater and won three tournament MVPs. He reached career milestones of 1,000 points, 700 rebounds and 400 blocks this season, with the blocks mark setting a new Titans program record. Knowles averaged 19.3 points, 10.1 assists and 5.5 blocks per game, while shooting 56% from the field.

Hunter Froman, West Hancock junior forward

Froman was a first team All-WCC selection and stepped up in his junior season, averaging nearly 17 points per game and shooting 53% from the field.

Wes Robertson, Illini West senior forward

Robertson was the Chargers’ leading scorer with 15.2 points per game, while averaging 7.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.9 steals per game.

Jace Allensworth, Quincy Notre Dame senior guard

Allensworth was named to the Class 2A All-State first team, as he shot 53% from the field and averaged a team-high 15 points per game.

Michael Kassing, Brown County sophomore guard

Kassing was the Hornets leading scorer, averaging 13.8 points per game. He also averaged 4.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.0 steals per game.

Wes Robertson, Illini West senior guard

Robertson averaged a team-high 15.2 points and shot 46% from the field. He also averaged 7.1 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 3.7 assists per game. Robertson has committed to John Wood baseball.

Second Team

Gavin Doellman, Quincy Notre Dame senior forward

Doellman was a force around the basket for QND, earning first team All-West Central Conference honors. He has committed to Western Illinois University football.

Reed Sparrow, Liberty junior forward

Sparrow was Liberty’s leading scorer with 15.5 points, while also averaging 6.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.9 steals per game. He was named a first team All-WCC selection.

Wyatt DeGrave, Monroe City junior guard

DeGrave was an unanimous First Team All-Clarence Cannon Conference selection and a dunking highlight reel this season. The Monroe City junior shot 50% from the field and averaged 17.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.1 steals per game.

Hudson Bock, Palmyra junior guard

Bock was an unanimous First Team All-CCC selection and was once again Palmyra’s leading scorer, averaging 16.1 points per game and shooting 57.4% from the field. He also averaged 2.8 assists, 1.7 steals and 2.9 rebounds per game.

Gannon Bowen, North Shelby junior guard

Bowen averaged 18.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.8 steals per game. He also shot 45.1% from the field, and made 30.8% of his 3-point attempts.

Ryan Hall, Bowling Green junior guard

Hall was an unanimous First Team All-EMO Conference selection after averaging 15.5 points per game and shooting 41% from the field. He also averaged 4.9 rebounds, 2.9 steals and 4.1 assists per game.

Third Team

Brennan Lepper, Quincy High freshman center

Lepper became the focal point for the Blue Devils offense, averaging 16 points per game.

Sawyer Allen, Unity senior forward

Allen was Unity’s leading scorer this season and was a first team All-WCC selection. He has committed to QU football.

Jackson McNeff, Brown County junior forward

McNeff shot 51% from the field, while averaging 9.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.1 steals and one block per game.

Beau Eftink, Quincy Notre Dame senior guard

Eftink was QND’s leading perimeter threat, draining 54 3-pointers. He averaged 10 points per game and had a 71% free throw percentage, earning first team All-WCC honors. Eftink has committed to Illinois State University men’s golf, and was a two-time Class 1A state runner-up at the IHSA golf meet.

Vince Cramsey, Liberty junior guard

Cramsey averaged 15.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 3.4 steals per game. He earned a first team All-WCC selection.

Kaden Oliver, Canton senior guard

Oliver was Canton’s leading scorer with 14.7 points per game, while also averaging 8.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.3 steals per game.

Honorable Mention

Brendan Scherder, Bowling Green junior forward

Scherder was a unanimous first team All-EMO selection after averaging 12.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game. He made 63.4% of his field goal attempts. He helped the Bobcats earn the EMO Conference championship.

Brent Holland, Monroe City senior forward

Holland was a second team All-CCC selection after averaging 7.3 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.

Adler Gray, Unity sophomore forward

Gray was a first team All-WCC selection for the Mustangs.

Henry Ingram, Brown County sophomore forward

Ingram had a breakout sophomore season, averaging 11.6 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 0.6 steals per game.

Cole Schmitz, South Shelby senior guard

Schmitz averaged 7.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.2 steals per game this season, earning first team All-CCC honors.

Pierce White, Palmyra junior guard

White was a first team All-CCC selection after averaging 7.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.9 steals per game.

Juelz Clausell, Quincy High sophomore guard

Clausell emerged as one of the Blue Devils’ best shooters this season, averaging 13 points per game, as well as three assists and three steals per game.

Ethan Carlisle, Illini West senior guard

Carlisle averaged 8.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.5 steals per game. He has committed to John Wood baseball.

Brennan Grotts, Illini West senior guard/forward

Grotts averaged 7.3 points, 2.0 rebounds, 0.7 assists and 0.8 steals per game.

Myles Wear, Illini West sophomore guard

Wear averaged 7.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 0.9 steals per game.

Luke Ippensen, Camp Point Central sophomore guard

Ippensen was named a First Team All-WCC All-Conference selection this year as Central’s leading scorer. He was also named the Panthers’ Defensive Player of the Year this season.

Mo Douglas, Hannibal junior forward

Douglas was a force in the paint for Hannibal and was a first team All-North Central Missouri Conference selection.

Jack McDannold, Bowling Green junior guard/forward

McDannold was a second team All-EMO selection after averaging 10.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.

Nolan Sparks, Payson Seymour senior guard

Sparks was the Indians’ leading scorer after averaging 10.3 points per game, while shooting 40.1% from the field. He also averaged 3.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game and was an honorable mention All-WCC selection.

Liam Maddox, Payson Seymour sophomore guard

Maddox shot 43.2% from the field and averaged 9.7 points per game this season. He also averaged 4.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists and one steal per game.

Bryson Brewer, Canton freshman forward

The younger brother of Preston Brewer made an immediate impact as a freshman. Bryson averaged 14.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.1 steals per game this season.

Cole Hays, Monroe City senior guard

Hays was a second team All-CCC selection and was the Panthers’ top 3-point shooter. He averaged 8.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, three assists and 1.8 steals per game.

Raeson Miller, Palmyra senior guard

Miller was an honorable mention All-CCC selection after averaging 6.7 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game.

Luke Sheppard, Palmyra senior forward

Sheppard was a second team All-CCC selection after averaging 6.6 points, 3 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.2 steals per game.

TJ Togarepi, Quincy Notre Dame sophomore forward

Togarepi was the only non-senior in QND’s starting lineup as the team’s point guard, earning All-WCC honorable mention honors.

Robbie Reed, Quincy Notre Dame senior guard

Reed was an honorable mention All-WCC selection and was QND’s most prolific dunker.

Jordan Crowley, West Hancock senior guard

Crowley was an honorable mention All-WCC selection.

Noah Fesler, Barry Western sophomore guard

Fesler was Western’s top scoring threat and was named an honorable mention All-WCC selection.