Southeast Missourian Player of the week: Scott County Central's LaMarcus Steward

Senior LaMarcus Steward wasn't ready for his season to end.

The Scott County Central guard scored 16 points in the first half alone in the Braves' Class 1 state quarterfinal game against Eminence. He went 8 of 13 (62 percent) from the floor in the half.

"Coach always tells me to take it to the hole," Steward said. "If they come up, pull up. Whatever they gave me, I took it."

Steward finished with 22 points in the Braves' 65-51 victory to reach their fifth consecutive final four.

Steward helped the Braves reach the quarterfinal round with an impressive outing in the sectional round. He scored 25 points in SCC's 100-76 victory over Risco.

Stewart is averaging 13.8 points and 5.9 assists per game this season. He's one of only two Braves who played significant minutes at last year's final four. Dominique Porter is the other player.

"Everything's going to run through LaMarcus and Dominique," SCC coach Kenyon Wright said. "Not scoring wise, but they're the seniors and they're the ones that have been in this situation before.

"None of these other kids have been in this situation before. They've never been in a chance to go to the final four. They've never had this opportunity, and they've got to learn how to do this. That's something they're in the process of doing, and I think those two really stepped up and done what they were supposed to do."

The Braves will try for their fourth consecutive state title later this week. They play Glasgow at noon Thursday in a state semifinal in Columbia, Mo.