Quartet of juniors leads IBCA/Subway Players of the Week
Four state champion girls joined by five outstanding boys as honorees for week of Feb. 19-24
And a junior will lead them.
Warren Central’s Shaila Beeler, Northwestern’s Stephanie Burns, Central Noble’s Sydney Freeman and Marquette Catholic’s Sophia Nolan – juniors all – helped her respective team to an IHSAA girls basketball state championship, and that quartet leads the honorees in this week’s IBCA/Subway Player of the Week program.
Southwood senior Carson Blair, Cloverdale senior Jalen Moore, Zionsville junior Isaiah Thompson, Center Grove junior Trayce Jackson-Davis and New Albany senior Romeo Langford share boys’ honors for Feb. 19-24 in the recognition program coordinated by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association.
Blair, Freeman and Nolan are honorees for District 1. Moore, Thompson, Beeler and Burns are winners for District 2. Jackson-Davis and Langford are recipients in District 3.
The 5-8 Beeler scored 21 points with two rebounds, two assists and two steals in keying the Warren Central girls (20-7) to a 50-46 victory over Zionsville for the Class 4A championship. Beeler was 4-of-11 from the field, 1-of-4 on 3-pointers and 12-of-16 on free throws as the Warriors claimed the program’s first state crown.
Burns totaled 17 points, eight rebounds, one steal and one block as the Northwestern girls (29-1) knocked off Greensburg 53-42 for the Class 3A title. The 6-1 center was a perfect 6-of-6 on field goals plus 5-of-7 on free throws in helping the Tigers claim their school’s first girls basketball championship.
The 5-7 Freeman tallied 14 points with seven rebounds and six steals in propelling the Central Noble girls (23-5) past Winchester 46-42 for the Class 2A trophy. Freeman, a Ball State recruit, converted 5-of-11 from the floor, 1-of-3 3-pointers and 3-of-4 from the line as the Cougars claimed their first state title.
Nolan overcame foul trouble to net 12 points with seven rebounds and one assist as the Marquette Catholic girls defeated Vincennes Rivet 38-31 for the Class A championship. The 6-1 Nolan, a Saint Louis University recruit, hit 6-of-11 shots en route to helping the Blazers capture the first crown.
Blair averaged 32.0 points and 5.5 rebounds in keying the Southwood boys (19-3) to a pair of victories. The 6-0 guard tallied 39 points with five rebounds and one steal in a 101-64 victory over Eastbrook. He followed with 25 points, six rebounds and six steals as the Knights beat Bluffton 69-61. For both games, Blair made 19-of-37 field goals, 14-of-26 3-pointers and 12-of-13 free throws.
The 5-9 Moore poured in 47 points with two rebounds, the assists and six steals as the Cloverdale boys (17-6) defeated Rockville 83-73 in their only game of the week. Moore was 14-of-17 from the field and 19-of-19 from the line en route to yet another big game. He has moved his career point total to 2,281, 16th on Indiana’s all-time boys’ basketball scoring list.
Thompson averaged 29.0 points while leading the Zionsville boys (19-3) to a pair of triumphs. First, he scored a gym-record 40 points – which included a school-record 12-of-14 3-pointers – with three rebounds, two assists and two steals in a 73-37 home decision over Noblesville. The 6-0 guard followed with 18 points, two rebounds and one assist as the Eagles edged Traders Point Christian 62-56. Over both games, the Purdue commit hit 19-of-30 shot, 14-of-20 3-pointers and 6-of-6 free throws.
The 6-9 Jackson-Davis averaged 31.5 points and 10 rebounds in a 1-1 week for the Center Grove boys (16-6). The standout front-liner opened with 33 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and two blocks in a 72-69 overtime setback to Brownsburg. Jackson-Davis produced 30 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks as the Trojans clipped Columbus North 58-41. Over both games, Jackson-Davis went 28-of-35 from the field and 7-of-14 on free throws.
Langford closed his regular season by erupting for 46 points with 16 rebounds, three assists, eight steals and two blocks as the New Albany boys (21-1) beat Bloomington North 88-47 in their only game of the week. The 6-5 wing made 15-of-28 shots, 3-of-9 3-pointers and 13-of-17 free throws while moving his career point total to 2,851 – fourth on Indiana’s all-time boys’ basketball list.
This is the 10th season for the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association Player of the Week program and the sixth season it is presented by Subway Restaurants of Indiana, a banner sponsor of the IBCA. Subway, in its seventh season as an IBCA sponsor, encourages athletes to “train hard and eat fresh.”
Player of the Week winners generally are chosen each week from each of the IHSAA’s three districts. The girls’ season is now complete. Boys’ winners will be chosen through the week following March 24.
Other nominees for Week 17 (2017-18)
District 1 boys – Cade Albers, Westville; Noah Applegate, Penn; Johnny Bernard, Merrillville; Sam Buck, Homestead; Jeremy Davison, Leo; Mitchell Geller, Huntington North; DeAndre Gholston, Gary 21st Century; Jay Hammel, South Newton; Colin Kenney, Marquette Catholic; Zac Mago, John Glenn; Greg Milledge, Portage; Brandon Newman, Valparaiso; Jackson Paul, Churubusco; Bryant Robinson, Goshen; Luke Stephens, Fairfield; Trey Waddups, Pioneer.
District 1 girls – None.
District 2 boys – Cameron Alford, Brownsburg; David Bell, Warren Central; Derrick Briscoe, Indianapolis Attucks; Josh Bryan, Delta; Connor Davis, Turkey Run; Kevin Easley, Lawrence North; Mason Gillis, New Castle; Eric Hunter, Tindley; Noah Jordan, Indianapolis Metropolitan; Kayden Key, Frankton; Cameron Knott, Hamilton Heights; Avery Paddock, Alexandria; Spencer Pettit, Covington; Robert Phinisee, McCutcheon; Nate Soltis, Cardinal Ritter; Addison True, Eastern Hancock; Colin York, Greencastle.
District 2 girls – Madeline Lawrence, Winchester; Maddie Nolan, Zionsville.
District 3 boys – Nick Albin, Princeton; Murray Becher, Heritage Hills; Brigham Booe, Northview; Terrence Browning-Sloan, Rock Creek; Jaden Coleman, Jeffersonville; Riley Cook, Lanesville; Ty Drake, Sullivan; Luke Gohmann, Floyd Central; Tyler Kramer, Southwestern (Hanover); Hayden Langkabel, Morristown; Keegan O’Neill, Barr-Reeve; Craig Porter, Terre Haute South; Jacob Rowe, Trinity Lutheran; Tate Schuckman, Vincennes Lincoln; Nick Walker, Henryville; Travis Wilson, Jennings County.
District 3 girls – Micha Morrison, Greensburg; Grace Waggoner, Vincennes Rivet.
2017-18 winners
Oct. 31-Nov. 4 – District 1 girls: Leigha Brown, DeKalb. District 2 girls: Cassidy Crawford, Tipton; and Madison Layden, Northwestern. District 3 girls: Hya Haywood, Evansville Central.
Nov. 6-11 – District 1 girls: Karlee Feldman, Bremen. District 2 girls: Tomi Taiwo, Carmel. District 3 girls: Abby Wahl, Heritage Hills.
Nov. 13-18 – District 1 girls: Emma Nolan, Marquette Catholic. District 2 girls: Trinity Brady, Lawrence North; and Madeline Lawrence, Winchester. District 3 girls: Alison Hein, Vincennes Lincoln.
Nov. 20-25 – District 1 boys: Damezi Anderson, South Bend Riley. District 1 girls: Keegan Sullivan, South Bend St. Joseph. District 2 boys: Robert Phinisee, McCutcheon; and Garrett Pumphrey, Cambridge City Lincoln. District 2 girls: Mallory Hawkins, South Vermillion. District 3 boys: Romeo Langford, New Albany. District 3 girls: Juliana Kemper, Lawrenceburg.
Nov. 27-Dec. 2 – District 1 boys: Charlie Yoder, Westview. District 1 girls: Courtney Krol, Chesterton. District 2 boys: Luke Richardson, Lapel. District 2 girls: Sydney Tucker, Frankton. District 3 boys: Romeo Langford, New Albany. District 3 girls: Addisyn Blackwell, Bloomington South.
Dec. 4-9 – District 1 boys: Dominique Smith, Lake Station. District 1 girls: Timberlynn Thomas, South Bend Washington. District 2 boys: Edreece Redmond II, Bishop Chatard. District 2 girls: Maddie Nolan, Zionsville, and Audrey Reed, Sheridan. District 3 boys: Braeden Beard, Tell City. District 3 girls: Mackenzie Blazek, Whiteland.
Dec. 11-16 – District 1 boys: Keion Brooks Jr., Fort Wayne North. District 1 girls: Daijah Smith, Gary Lighthouse. District 2 boys: Jalen Moore, Cloverdale, and Robert Phinisee, McCutcheon. District 2 girls: Ella Collier, Danville. District 3 boys: Alex Hemenway, Castle, and Mekhi Lairy, Evansville Bosse. District 3 girls: Hannah Wolford, Providence.
Dec. 18-23 – District 1 boys: Brandon Newman, Valparaiso. District 1 girls: Shamari Tyson, Fort Wayne South. District 2 boys: Aaron Henry, Ben Davis. District 2 girls: Trinity Brady, Lawrence North. District 3 boys: Chance Coyle, Bloomington South. District 3 girls: Mackenzie Blazek, Whiteland.
Dec. 25-30 – District 1 boys: Michael Hemingway, Mishawaka Marian. District 1 girls: Morgan Litwiller, Northridge. District 2 boys: Luke Brown, Blackford, and Armaan Franklin, Cathedral. District 2 girls: Tomi Taiwo, Carmel. District 3 boys: Chayton Howard, Edgewood. District 3 girls: Lilly Hatton, North Harrison.
Jan. 1-6 – District boys: Brandon Newman, Valparaiso. District 1 girls: Michaela Schmidt, Highland. District 2 boys: Tayson Parker, Northwestern. District 2 girls: Sydney Jacobsen, Harrison (West Lafayette). District 3 boys: Nick Walker, Henryville. District 3 girls: Ally Davis, South Central (Elizabeth).
Jan. 8-13 – District 1 boys: Elijah Hales, Westview. District 1 girls: Leigha Brown, DeKalb. District 2 boys: Garrett Pumphrey, Cambridge City Lincoln. District 2 girls: Payton Moore, Tri. District 3 boys: Wyatt Felling, Triton Central, and Mekhi Lairy, Evansville Bosse. District 3 girls: Gracie Adams, Lanesville.
Jan. 15-20 – District 1 boys: Trevor Franklin, West Noble. District 1 girls: Dash Shaw, Gary West. District 2 boys: Gavin Bizeau, Plainfield, and Jalen Moore, Cloverdale. District 2 girls: Emily Kiser, Noblesville. District 3 boys: Tyler Koelling, East Central. District 3 girls: Lexi Wilkins, Southwestern (Shelby).
Jan. 22-27 – District 1 boys: Colin Kenney, Marquette Catholic. District 1 girls: Leigha Brown, DeKalb. District 2 boys: Eric Hunter, Tindley. District 2 girls: Cameron Tabor, New Castle. District 3 boys: Colson Montgomery, Southridge. District 3 girls: Grace Waggoner, Vincennes Rivet.
Jan. 29-Feb. 3 – District 1 boys: Danta’ Long, Lake Station, and River West, Whitko. District 1 girls: Emma Nolan, Marquette Catholic. District 2 boys: Tyler Watson, Tri-West. District 2 girls: Sydney Tucker, Frankton. District 3 boys: Romeo Langford, New Albany. District 3 girls: Jorie Allen, Bedford North Lawrence.
Feb. 5-10 – District 1 boys: Camron Bontrager, Lakeland. District 1 girls: Lilliann Frasure, North Judson. District 2 boys: Zach Munson, Guerin Catholic, and Bennie Patterson, Tri-County. District 2 girls: Shaila Beeler, Warren Central. District 3 boys: Romeo Langford, New Albany. District 3 girls: Jacqlyn Rice, Paoli.
Feb. 12-17 – District 1 boys: Justin Booker, Fort Wayne Smith Academy, and Sam Skaggs, Logansport. District 1 girls: Meleah Leatherman, Central Noble. District 2 boys: Will Geiger, Norwell, and Tyler Watson, Tri-West. District 2 girls: Madeline Lawrence, Winchester. District 3 boys: Brigham Booe, Northview, and Glen Rouch, Boonville. District 3 girls: Tia Tolbert, Vincennes Rivet.
Feb. 19-24 – District 1 boys: Carson Blair, Southwood. District 1 girls: Sydney Freeman, Central Noble, and Sophia Nolan, Marquette Catholic. District 2 boys: Jalen Moore, Cloverdale, and Isaiah Thompson, Zionsville. District 2 girls: Shaila Beeler, Warren Central, and Stephanie Burns, Northwestern. District 3 boys: Trayce Jackson-Davis, Center Grove, and Romeo Langford, New Albany. District 3 girls: None.
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