El Paso-Gridley’s Ehrhardt, Morton’s McKie win CSM Winter Athletes of the Week

Late in the season is the best time to be playing your best basketball and two Central Illinois hoops stars that fit the bill won CSM’s Winter Athletes of the Week. 

El Paso-Gridley’s Myli Ehrhardt kept up an outstanding senior season by gathering a heap of points and rebounds in a trio of games for the red-hot Titans while Morton’s Alex McKie showed off his sharpshooting skills in two key wins for the Potters, who have one of the longest current win streaks in the state.

Read more about our winners’ big performances and get to know them in Q and A’s below:

Ehrhardt won CSM Girls Athletes of the Week after receiving 58 percent of the votes in the boys poll. The El Paso-Gridley senior continued a trend of hers by putting up double-doubles in back-to-back games on Feb. 2 and Feb. 5. She racked up 33 points and 10 rebounds in a 59-46 victory over Olympia on Feb. 2 and brought in 21 rebounds to go with 18 points in a 61-53 loss to Eureka on Feb. 5. Ehrhardt also chipped in nine points and six rebounds in El Paso-Gridley’s 72-17 blowout win over Putnam County on Feb. 7. With her leading the charge, the Titans have won eight of their last nine heading into the postseason.

Get to know Ehrhardt in a Q and A here: 

What’s been your favorite memory of your high school career so far? 

“My favorite high school memory so far was reaching my 1,000th point on my home court with my whole family there.”

If you had to be stranded on an island with a teammate, who would it be and why?

“I would choose Sophie Hinthorne because she could catch us some dinner, start a fire, and we work as a power duo.”

Favorite music artist?

“My favorite music artist is Alex Warren.”

Favorite food?

“Spaghetti”

Do you have any pregame routines/rituals?

“I eat 3 gummy bears before each game.”

What’s one thing that’s on your bucket list?

“I want to go skydiving in Switzerland.”

Who’s your role model and why?

“My parents are my role models because they show me what hard work is, they’ve been my biggest supporters my whole life and they’ve led me to become the person I am today.”

McKie won CSM Boys Athlete of the Week after receiving 56 percent of the votes in the boys poll. The Morton senior guard was the biggest difference-maker in the Potters’ 67-54 win over East Peoria on Feb. 7, which gave them a one-game lead over the Raiders in the Mid-Illini Conference heading into the home stretch of the regular season. He additionally scored 16 in a 64-49 win over Limestone on Feb. 4. McKie has helped the Potters in earning 16 straight wins, a No. 1 seed in the Class 3A postseason and at least a share of the Mid-Illini title.

Get to know McKie in a Q and A here: 

What’s been your favorite memory of your high school career so far? 

“Beating East Peoria at our place in front of a sold out gym.”

If you had to be stranded on an island with a teammate, who would it be and why?

“I’d be stranded with Owen Adams because he seems like a blue collar guy and would know how to survive in a tough environment.”

Favorite music artist?

“Drake.”

Favorite food?

“Steak.”

Do you have any pregame routines/rituals?

“I like to drink a protein smoothie before every game.”

What’s one thing that’s on your bucket list?

“Something on my bucket list is I’d like to travel to Dubai one day.”

Who’s your role model and why?

“My role models are my dad and grandpa because they are the ones that push me everyday to become the best player I can be.”