Girls’ Regional Performances Headline Week-15 of the IBCA/Subway Player of the Week Awards
The Sweet-16 is upon us in the girls’ IHSAA state tournament, as last Saturday saw 64 teams whittled down to those remaining 16, with the four teams still remaining in each classification ready to battle it out in their respective Semi-State games four days from now. Not to be overshadowed, there were some tremendously explosive boys’ performances as well, with one player eclipsing the 50-point mark.
Pioneer Freshman Ashlynn Brooke, Northwestern Senior Madison Layden, Brownstown Central Senior Ashley Schroer, Gary 21st Century Senior Johnell Davis, Crispus Attucks Senior Sincere McMahon, and Owen Valley Junior Stephen Atkinson were selected as recipients for the week of Feb. 10-Feb. 15 in the recognition program coordinated by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association.
Brooke is the girls’ winner in District-1, while Davis is the boys’ winner in District-1. Layden and McMahon are the girls’ and boys’ recipients, respectively, for District-2. Schoer is the girls’ honoree for District-3, while Atkinson is the boys’ honoree for District-3.
What Pioneer Freshman Ashlynn Brooke has done to finish this season has been magical. Brooke severely injured her knee in mid-July, but she returned to the court in early January and has given a boost to this Panther team. Saturday morning, in a 68-66 buzzer-beater against Oregon-Davis, the 5-6 guard was 4-8 from 3-point range and scored 19 points to help her team to the Regional Final. She also added a pair of rebounds and three assists in restricted time due to her rehabilitation plan.
The night game was even more spectacular for Brooke, as she played just 18 minutes but managed to amass 28 points in that timeframe, including knocking down five of nine 3-point attempts. She also grabbed a pair of rebounds, as her Pioneer team claimed the Regional title with a 62-46 win over Morgan Township.
Not to be outdone in District-1, Gary 21st Century Senior Johnell Davis had a night to remember Tuesday. In one of the highest scoring games of the year, 21st Century fell 104-99 in regulation to a very good Crispus Attucks team. Davis erupted for 21 made field goals, three made 3-pointers, and eight made free throws, on his way to a 53-point outing. Additionally, he posted a double-double with his 14 rebounds, and he handed out three assists and snagged three steals.
Saturday, the Cougars travelled to Cathedral, where they knocked off the Irish 83-74. In that game, Davis, a Florida Atlantic University signee, once again went big with 36 points against a very talented Cathedral squad. The 6-4 guard has been brilliant all season and is averaging right at 32 points per game.
While Davis had a huge game, Northwestern Senior Madison Layden had one of the most impressive quarters of the girls’ season. Saturday night, in a 72-35 victory over Homestead that helped the Tigers claim their first-ever Class 4A Regional title, Layden scored 19 points in the third quarter alone, helping the Tigers extend an 11-point halftime lead. For the game, Layden scored 29 points, including 4-9 shooting from 3-point range and 7-7 from the free throw line. She also grabbed seven rebounds, handed out four assists, and collected three steals in the victory.
Earlier in the day, Layden helped Northwestern to another impressive win, this time a 67-40 victory over Fishers. The Purdue University signee scored 21 points and was again a solid 7-8 from the free throw line. She also posted a double-double with her ten assists, plus she grabbed four rebounds and posted three thefts. With these two outings, the 6-1 wing has now moved into second all-time in state history in both assists and steals.
Crispus Attucks Senior Sincere McMahon had himself quite a week, as the Tigers were 2-1 over that stretch. McMahon got started on Tuesday night as they played host to Gary 21st Century, winning that offensive show 104-99. McMahon scored 35 points, grabbed six rebounds, and handed out five assists to teammates in the effort.
Thursday, McMahon and the Tigers traveled to Tindley, where they emerged victorious once again, this time by an 88-75 margin. The 6-2 guard was again brilliant, as he scored 36 points this time, while also posting three rebounds two assists, and two steals. Saturday, Attucks played host to a very good Culver Academy, falling in a nail-biter, 64-61. McMahon was corralled a little better, but the Eastern Illinois University signee still managed 19 points, six rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
Down South, in District-3, Brownstown Central Senior Ashley Schroer helped her Lady Braves to a pair of nearly identical wins, en route to claiming the Greencastle Regional title. In the morning tilt, Brownstown Central took care of business, defeating Cardinal Ritter 54-40. Schroer paced the Braves with 21 points.
In the evening matchup with Heritage Christian, Schroer and the Braves controlled tempo and knocked off the Eagles 54-42. The 5-10 forward was again strong inside, posting a double-double with her 17 points and 12 rebounds. The Braves now advance to take on Mid-Southern Conference rival Salem for a chance to appear in the State Finals.
Last, but certainly not least, was a week that Owen Valley Junior Stephen Atkinson won’t forget. Atkinson and the Patriots began the week on Tuesday, with a 57-42 win against Eastern Greene. In that meeting, Atkinson posted a double-double with his 19 points and 11 rebounds. He also managed to find teammates for scores on seven different occasions.
Friday night, Atkinson was again solid, nearly reaching a triple-double with his 17 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists, however Owen Valley fell at Monrovia in a narrow one, 52-48. The 6-5 Atkinson saved his best for last, though, as he exploded for 42 points Saturday against White River Valley. The 42 points tied a school record. Additionally, he tallied seven more rebounds and five more assists to his week’s impressive totals, and the Patriots won again, 74-51.
This is the 12th season for the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association Player of the Week program, and the eighth season it is presented by Subway Restaurants of Indiana, a banner sponsor of the IBCA. Subway, in its eighth season as an IBCA sponsor, encourages athletes to “train hard and eat fresh”.
Player of the Week winners are chosen each week from each of the IHSAA’s three districts. Girls winners will be chosen through the Monday following the IHSAA Girls State Finals. Boys winners will be chosen through the Monday following the IHSAA Boys State Finals.
Other Top Nominees for Week-15 (2019-20)
District-1 Boys: Nick Anderson, Lake Central; Caedmon Bontrager, Lakewood Park Christian; Michael Eley, Fort Wayne Snider; Trey Galloway, Culver Academy; Cooper Hochstedler, North Judson-San Pierre; Drew Hogan, Goshen; Christopher Mantis, Lowell; Jake Tarnow, Marquette Catholic; DeMarcus Vaughn, South Bend Washington; Blake Wesley, South Bend Riley.
District-1 Girls: Jessica Carrothers, Crown Point; Trinity Clinton, Penn; Erin Coffel, Bremen; Sydney Graber, Homestead; Holly Kaim, Munster; Morgan Ostrowski, Garrett; Ryin Ott, LaPorte; Kate Rulli, NorthWood; Maiah Shelton, Norwell; Amber Wolf, South Central (Union Mills).
District-2 Boys: Braxton Barnhizer, Lafayette Jefferson; Mason Brooks, North Putnam; Grant Brown, Madison-Grant; Luke Brown, Blackford; Joel Dowling, Wes-Del; Luke Dunn, Yorktown; Champ Ellis, Union (Modoc); Jakylen Thomas, Marion; Jordan Walters, West Lafayette Harrison; Brody Whitaker, Greencastle.
District-2 Girls: Ally Becki, Brownsburg; Kendall Bostic, Northwestern; Ella Collier, Danville Community; Maddi Fulks, Bethesda Christian; Khera Goss, Ben Davis; Rachel Loobie, Franklin Central; Jordan Reid, New Palestine; Tressa Senesac, Benton Central; Ariana Wiggins, Heritage Christian; Kristian Young, Lawrence North.
District-3 Boys: Brayton Bailey, Bedford North Lawrence; Murray Becher, Heritage Hills; Trevon Carlton, Morristown; Jackson Kabrick, Jasper; Trey Kaufman, Silver Creek; Foster Mefford, Southwestern (Hanover); Tyler Myers, Evansville Day; Justin Ohlmensiek, Jac-Cen-Del; Lane Sparks, Greensburg; Gavin Yoon, Lawrenceburg.
District-3 Girls: Aubrey Burgess, Linton-Stockton; Averi Davidson, North Central (Farmersburg); Kenna Hisle, Evansville North; Peyton Murphy, Evansville Memorial; Kaybree Oxley, Tecumseh; Josie Trabel, East Central; Makenzie VanHoy, Loogootee; Madison Webb, Bedford North Lawrence; Linzie Wernert, Lanesville; Annabelle Williams, Jac-Cen-Del.
2019-20 Weekly Winners
Nov. 4-Nov. 9: District-1 Girls: Lilliann Frasure, North Judson-San Pierre. District-2 Girls: Madison Layden, Northwestern, and Ashlynn Shade, Noblesville. District–3 Girls: Rebekah Gordon, Heritage Hills.
Nov. 11-Nov. 16: District-1 Girls: Erin Coffel, Bremen. District-2 Girls: Kendall Bostic, Northwestern. District-3 Girls: Natalie Boesing, Our Lady of Providence, and Koryn Greiwe, Columbus East.
Nov. 18-Nov. 23: District-1 Girls: Jessica Carrothers, Crown Point. District-2 Girls: Sydney Jacobsen, West Lafayette Harrison. District-3 Girls: Maya Chandler, Triton Central.
Nov. 25-Nov. 30: District-1 Boys: Nick Anderson, Lake Central. District-1 Girls: Brynn Shoup-Hill, Goshen. District-2 Boys: Gus Etchison, Hamilton Heights. District-2 Girls: Alana Vinson, Roncalli. District-3 Boys: Trey Kaufman, Silver Creek. District-3 Girls: Kylee Shelton, Bloomfield.
Dec. 2-Dec. 7: District-1 Boys: Jayden Broadnax, Garrett. District-1 Girls: Mercedes Rhodes, Oregon-Davis. District-2 Boys: Tayson Parker, Northwestern. District-2 Girls: Tyra Ford, Anderson. District-3 Boys: Tucker Biven, New Albany. District-3 Girls: Bailey Tabeling, Trinity Lutheran.
Dec. 9-Dec. 14: District-1 Boys: Keon Thompson, Merrillville. District-1 Girls: Christina Himelick, Mishawaka Marian. District-2 Boys: Dillon Ware, Danville Community. District-2 Girls: RaShaya Kyle, Marion, and Madeline Lawrence, Winchester Community. District-3 Boys: Jack Townsend, North Daviess. District-3 Girls: Darrian Carmean, Vincennes Lincoln.
Dec. 16-Dec. 21: District-1 Boys: Jake Wadding, Chesterton. District-1 Girls: TiAuna White, Fort Wayne Northrop. District-2 Boys: Luke Brown, Blackford. District-2 Girls: Kenna Kirby, Tri-West. District-3 Boys: Julian Norris, Evansville Bosse. District-3 Girls: Maycee Lange, Vincennes Lincoln.
Dec. 23-Dec. 28: District-1 Boys: Caleb Furst, Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian. District-1 Girls: Sydney Graber, Homestead, and Bailey Kelham, Garrett. District-2 Boys: Maximus Gizzi, New Palestine. District-2 Girls: Madison Layden, Northwestern, and Sydney Parrish, Hamilton Southeastern. District-3 Boys: Dominic Walters, South Decatur. District-3 Girls: Bailey Tabeling, Trinity Lutheran.
Dec. 30-Jan. 4: District-1 Boys: Johnell Davis, Gary 21st Century. District-1 Girls: Nyla Asad, LaPorte. District-2 Boys: Dravyn Gibbs-Lawhorn, McCutcheon. District-2 Girls: Anya Pothorski, Indiana School for the Deaf, and Ashlynn Shade, Noblesville. District-3 Boys: Andrew Welage, Greensburg. District-3 Girls: Isabella Reed, Greenwood Christian.
Jan. 6-Jan. 11: District-1 Boys: Charlie Yoder, Westview. District-1 Girls: Hanna Knoll, Angola. District-2 Boys: Gus Etchison, Hamilton Heights, and Payton Sparks, Winchester. District-2 Girls: Ella Collier, Danville. District-3 Boys: Lincoln Hale, Linton-Stockton. District-3 Girls: Kaybree Oxley, Tecumseh.
Jan. 13-Jan. 18: District-1 Boys: Cole Wireman, Kouts. District-1 Girls: Trinity Clinton, Penn. District-2 Boys: Luke Brown, Blackford, and Tayson Parker, Northwestern. District-2 Girls: RaShaya Kyle, Marion. District-3 Boys: Kooper Jacobi, Silver Creek. District-3 Girls: Chloe McKnight, Bedford North Lawrence.
Jan. 20-Jan. 25: District-1 Boys: Keon Thompson, Merrillville. District-1 Girls: Courtney Blakely, Hammond Noll. District-2 Boys: Brooks Barnhizer, Lafayette Jefferson. District-2 Girls: Sydney Jacobsen, West Lafayette Harrison. District-3 Boys: Langdon Hatton, North Harrison. District-3 Girls: Rylie Stephens, Triton Central.
Jan. 27-Feb. 1: District-1 Boys: Will Larkin, Winamac Community. District-1 Girls: Jazmen Watts, South Bend Riley. District-2 Boys: Brody Whitaker, Greencastle. District-2 Girls: Chloe McClain, Kokomo, and Taylor Westgate, Oak Hill. District-3 Boys: Kolten Sanford, Evansville Bosse. District-3 Girls: Natalie Boesing, Our Lady of Providence.
Feb. 3-Feb. 8: District-1 Boys: Connor Essegian, Central Noble. District-1 Girls: Mila Reynolds, South Bend Washington. District-2 Boys: Cortez Stoudemire, Western Boone. District-2 Girls: Rachel Loobie, Franklin Central. District-3 Boys: Nicholas Sebastiao, Scottsburg. District-3 Girls: Isabella Reed, Greenwood Christian.
Feb. 10-Feb. 15: District-1 Boys: Johnell Davis, Gary 21st Century. District-1 Girls: Ashlynn Brooke, Pioneer. District-2 Boys: Sincere McMahon, Crispus Attucks. District-2 Girls: Madison Layden, Northwestern. District-3 Boys: Stephen Atkinson, Owen Valley. District-3 Girls: Ashley Schroer, Brownstown Central.
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