Southeast Missourian Player of the Week: Justin Stotts

Zalma senior basketball player Justin Stotts is the Southeast Missourian Player of the Week.

Stotts, who was the second leading scorer in boys basketball from the Missourian's coverage area a year ago, picked up right where he left off with back-to-back-to-back high-scoring performances to start the Bulldogs' season.

Stotts, a 5-foot-11 guard and forward, averaged more than 23 points a game as a junior, but he exceeded that total in each of his team's first three games.

In a season-opening rout of Bunker on Friday, Stotts scored 21 points and made two 3-pointers to lead the Bulldogs.

Then, on Saturday, Stotts poured in 32 points and two more 3-pointers in an 81-61 win over Alton to once again pace his team.

On Monday, Zalma and Stotts faced Meadow Heights in a thrilling first-round game at the Woodland Tournament. Though the Bulldogs eventually fell 78-77, Stotts put up big numbers yet again, scoring 30 points in the contest before fouling out with 15 seconds to play.