Alton Sweeps Major Awards at 79th Gallatin Banquet

EAST ALTON - More than 200 people gathered Sunday at Julia’s Banquet Center in East Alton for the 79th Gallatin Players of the Year Awards, where Alton’s Semaj Stampley won his third consecutive Boys Player of the Year honor and Kaylea Lacey of the Redbirds received the Girls Player of the Year award.

The awards, named for 1944 Roxana High graduate and Naismith Memorial Hall of Famer Harry Gallatin, marked a historic night for both winners. Stampley became the first male player to win a Player of the Year trophy three straight times in the history of the banquet, which dates to 1946. Lacey joined her father, Kavon Lacey, who won the award in 2006 and 2007 for the Redbirds, as the first father-daughter duo to receive the honors.

Lacey’s win continued a recent run for Alton High School. It was the fourth straight year AHS has been the recipient of the Girls Player of the Year award, after Civic Memorial won that award for 12 consecutive years prior to that.

Other major winners included Roxana’s Keelan Crawford and Civic Memorial’s Isabelle Edwards as the 110 percent recipients.

Stampley and Roxana’s Daisy Daugherty were named the Free Throw winners. The Boys and Girls Sportsmanship trophies went to the Marquette Catholic Explorers programs.

Finalists for the Boys and Girls Player of the Year trophies, along with nominees for the 110 percent awards, received plaques commemorating their seasons.

Boys Player of the Year finalists were Charlie Kilpatrick of Civic Memorial, Jasiah Brown of East Alton-Wood River, Chase Jones of Marquette and Sean Mayberry of Roxana. Girls Player of the Year nominees were Marlee Durbin of Civic Memorial, KayLynn Buttry of East Alton-Wood River, Allie Weiner of Marquette and Daugherty of Roxana.

For the boys 110 percent award, finalists were Ryan Howard of Alton, Lukus Zangori of Civic Memorial, Isaiah Smith of East Alton-Wood River and Jack Rea of Marquette. Girls 110 percent finalists were Justice Haynes of Alton, Averi Gilliam of East Alton-Wood River, Laila Davis of Marquette and Tatum Shaw of Roxana.

The keynote speaker was Brandon Hogg, CEO of Ball Hogg Academy and the Bridge Sportsplex in Edwardsville. Hogg, a 2008 Edwardsville High graduate, played college basketball at Southern Indiana and later played five years overseas, where he was a three-time league champion and two-time league MVP. Organizers said Hogg spoke about a commitment to servant leadership and translating lessons from basketball to life and business beyond the sport. His organization will mark its 10-year anniversary in 2026.

Longtime Alton and Bethalto School District administrator Debra Pitts was named the 2026 recipient of the John Simmons Service Award, an honor given to individuals recognized for commitment and passion for basketball in the Riverbend or the Gallatin Awards. Pitts was presented the award by 2025 winner Steve Porter, a longtime area sports journalist.

Former East Alton Mayor and Gallatin Awards committee member Joe Silkwood served as emcee. Alton Mayor David Goins, the 1978 Boys Player of the Year recipient, provided the invocation before dinner and the program.

The Gallatin Awards are scheduled to return for their 80th year in 2027, with organizers planning to honor past winners at that banquet. The date will be announced later.

Committee members listed by organizers include Silkwood, Bill Roseberry, Dan Cruz, Marcus Renken, Lawrence Godon, Jim Golenor, Chris Zupan and Barry Macias.

GALLATIN PLAYERS OF THE YEAR WINNERS:

2026 — Semaj Stampley of Alton and Kaylea Lacey of Alton

2025 — Semaj Stampley of Alton and Talia Norman of Alton

2024 — Semaj Stampley of Alton and Jarius Powers of Alton

2023 — Sam Buckley of CM and Kiyoko Proctor of Alton

2022 — Owen Williams of Marquette Catholic and Kelbie Zupan of CM

2021 — Ja’Markus Gary of Alton and Tori Standefer of CM

2020 — Gavin Huffman of Roxana and Anna Hall of CM

2019 — Donovan Clay of Alton and Anna Hall of CM

2018 — Sammy Green of Marquette Catholic and Kaylee Eaton of CM

2017 – Maurice Edwards of Alton and Allie Troeckler of CM

2016 – Shandon Boone of Marquette Catholic and Allie Troeckler of CM

2015 – Darrius Edwards of Alton and Allie Troeckler of CM

2014 – Deion Lavender of Marquette Catholic and Megan Trost of CM

2013 — Hunter Reine of Roxana and Megan Trost of CM

2012 — Hunter Reine of Roxana and Megkinize Carter of CM

2011 — Tony Bradley of Alton and Cassie Endicott of CM

2010 — Tony Bradley of Alton and Kelsey Harrison of EA-WR

2009 — Ryan Mathews of Alton and Michaela Herrod of Alton

2008 —Ruben Cotto of Alton and Katie Broadway of CM

2007 — Kavon Lacey of Alton and Katie Broadway of CM

2006 — Kavon Lacey of Alton and Katie Broadway of CM

2005 — Lorenzo Taylor of Alton and Emily Best of EA-WR

2004 — Nick Certa of Marquette Catholic and Emily Best of EA-WR

2003 — Nick Certa of Marquette Catholic and Jordan Davis of Roxana

2002 — Travis Williams of EA-WR and Casey Law of CM

2001 — Michael Stockard of Alton and Ashley Russell of EA-WR

2000 — Demarko “Book” Snipes of Alton and Michelle Beiermann of Marquette Catholic

1999 — Demarko "Book" Snipes of Alton and Kendra Snyder of Marquette Catholic

1998 — Tony Certa of Marquette Catholic and DoBee Oros-Moore of Alton

1997 — Marlon Crawford of Alton and Jenni Combes of CM

1996 — Nic Stotler of CM and Angela Payne of Roxana

1995 — Greg McDanel of Roxana and Erica Oge of Marquette Catholic

1994 — Eric Frankford of CM and Amie Gernigan of Marquette Catholic

1993 - Ty Laux of CM

1992 - Brad Bohannon of Marquette Catholic

1991 - Jonathan Denney of CM

1990 - Kevin Caldwell of Alton

1989 - Joe Vann of Alton

1988 - Steve Mason of Marquette Catholic

1987 - Jamie Humphries of CM

1986 - Larry Smith of Alton

1985 - Larry Smith of Alton

1984 - Dale Liley of EA-WR

1983 - Rick Taylor of Alton

1982 - Steve Wooley of EA-WR

1981 - Dan Coddington of EA-WR

1980 - Troy Washpun of Alton

1979 - Jim “Buzz” Logan of EA-WR

1978 - David Goins of Alton

1977 - Brad Scheiter of Alton

1976 - Leroy Stampley of Alton

1975 - Chris Schroeder of Roxana

1974 - Doug Nalley of Alton

1973 - Lafayette Collins of Alton

1972 - Dennis Olston of EA-WR

1971 - Ron Caldwell of Alton

1970 - Dave Taynor of CM

1969 - Mike Jeffries of Alton

1968 - Leon Huff of Alton

1967 - Ricci Stotler of CM

1966 - Jim Bailey of EA-WR

1965 - Terry Brown of EA-WR

1964 - Larry Jeffries of Alton

1963 - Bob Hilgendorf of CM

1962 - Larry Shoemaker of Alton

1961 - Gary Lane of EA-WR

1960 - Karl Doucleff of Western Military Academy

1959 - Jerry Messick of EA-WR

1958 - Mike Hunter of Alton

1957 - Jim Lemon of EA-WR

1956 - Cliff Talley of EA-WR

1955 - Essic Robinson of Alton

1954 -Richard Brown of Roxana

1953 - Dick Harbke of Roxana

1952 - Ron Fisher of EA-WR

1951 - Bob Kuhn of Alton

1950 - Lowell Pettit of EA-WR

1949 - Ron Bedwell of Roxana

1948 - Sam Vinyard of EA-WR

1947 - Bob Caffery of EA-WR

1946 - Dick Erzen of EA-WR

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