A Winter Wonderland Can’t Stop Week-14 IBCA/Franciscan Health Players of the Week
It’s just like Mother Nature to throw us a curveball during Sectional week of the IHSAA girls’ basketball state tournament, as schools from around the state took to online education, they cancelled practices, and they adapted to schedule changes in their Sectional matchups. As several schools still look to finish the early rounds of the state tournament this week, six young men and women managed to be selected as Week-14 Players of the Week in the IBCA/Franciscan Health award program.
Central Noble Senior Connor Essegian, Cardinal Ritter Senior Jordan Turner, Silver Creek Senior Branden Northern, South Bend Washington Senior Mila Reynolds, Noblesville Junior Ashlynn Shade, and Corydon Central Junior Ava Weber were selected as honorees for Jan. 31-Feb. 5 in the recognition program coordinated by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association. Essegian and Reynolds are the boys’ and girls’ winners, respectively, in District-1. Turner takes home boys’ honors, while Shade takes home girls’ honors in District-2. Northern is the boys’ recipient, and Weber is the girls’ recipient in
District-3.
Central Noble continued their fine season last week with a pair of wins. In a Monday night matchup with Bethany Christian, Senior Connor Essegian was steady as usual in an easy victory for the Cougars. The 6-4 guard was 9-17 from the field, including knocking down a pair of 3-pointers, plus he made 7-9 shots from the free throw line, scoring 27 points in total. He also contributed six rebounds, a pair of assists, and five steals in the contest.
When the Cougars returned to action on Saturday, Essegian put together one of his more memorable performances, pouring in 48 points in an 85-59 win against Northeast Corner Conference opponent, Prairie Heights. The University of Wisconsin commit was an efficient 17-25 from the field, including an impressive 10-16 from long range. He also made all four of his free throw attempts. Toss in six rebounds, three assists, and five steals, and the Senior guard had a strong all-around outing.
Somehow South Bend Washington and Senior Mila Reynolds found a way to get in three games last week, and the Panthers were dominant, winning Sectional #19 convincingly. Tuesday, the Panthers took on host Jimtown, winning by a large margin. Reynolds was 7-13 from the floor, plus she made a 3-pointer and a free throw, tallying 16 points in the easy win. She also posted her first of three double-doubles, grabbing 11 caroms in the contest.
Friday night, in the Semi-Finals, Washington defeated South Bend St. Joseph, 80-32. This night, Reynolds was 13-20 from the field and 4-8 from behind the arc, totaling 30 points. The 6-2 inside-out forward also managed 11 rebounds and blocked four shots, as the Panthers advanced to the Sectional Championship.
Saturday, the Panthers matched up with a tough and talented Mishawaka Marian group, but they still managed to succeed with ease, winning 76-44 over the Lady Knights. Once again, Reynolds was strong throughout, scoring another 27 points, but this time knocking down nine free throws in the victory. The University of Maryland commit, added 10 rebounds to post her third double-double in as many tries.
Saturday, Cardinal Ritter managed to squeeze a game into an otherwise snowy week, as they hosted the Roncalli Royals, winning 67-57. Senior Jordan Turner came up big for the Raiders, posting a double-double. Turner, a 6-3 guard, was 10-16 from the field, 2-3 from behind the 3-point line, plus he knocked down a free throw, scoring 23 points. His 12 rebounds included 11 at the defensive end, plus he dished out five assists and picked off four steals.
The Noblesville Millers were able to get in all of their Sectional #8 games on time, and they in turn defended their 2021 crown. Tuesday night, they took on a good Zionsville squad, avenging a loss from a couple of weeks ago with a convincing 62-46 win this time. Junior Ashlynn Shade began her week with a 25-point performance, as she was 9-19 from the floor and a perfect 7-7 from the charity stripe. In the win, she handed out a pair of assists, collected six rebounds, and grabbed five steals.
Friday night, in the Sectional Semi-Final, the Millers managed to keep a tough Carmel team at arm’s length, winning 57-48 over the Greyhounds. Shade had to work for her 20 points, but she added four rebounds, five assists, and four steals to her nice, well-rounded effort, setting up a showdown with the Fishers Tigers on Saturday.
In the Sectional #8 Championship, Noblesville held off a feisty Fishers team, 54-48. It took 22 points from the Junior guard in this game, including 16 from Shade down the stretch in the fourth quarter. The University of Connecticut commit was again balanced with her contributions, grabbing six rebounds, handing out four assists, collecting two steals, and blocking two shots.
Silver Creek Senior Branden Northern makes another appearance as the District-3 winner this season, as he helped the Dragons to a pair of victories last week. Tuesday, they hosted Madison, winning by an 83-71 margin. Northern was 10-19 from the field, 2-5 from downtown, and 9-11 from the free throw line scoring 31 points on the evening. The Senior point guard added six rebounds, six assists, and a pair of steals to his stat-line.
Saturday, the Dragons hosted a good Lawrenceburg squad, unfortunately falling 67-55 at the hands of the Tigers. Northern was again strong, scoring 29 points in defeat. The 5-10 guard knocked down a 3-pointer and all 10 of his free throws, but it wasn’t enough. He also came up with a pair of rebounds, four assists, and two steals.
Corydon Central will attempt to win Sectional #30 this evening, due to postponements from last week, however they still played two games a week ago. They opened Sectional play Tuesday evening with a 52-39 win over a good Charlestown program. Junior wing Ava Weber was tough to stop, scoring 29 of their 52 points. She was 11-21 shooting and made seven free throws on the evening. She also collected six rebounds and stole the ball twice.
When the Panthers finally returned to action on Saturday, they took down a strong Salem Lions team, 59-52, in a hard-fought effort. Weber was again key, scoring 23 points and grabbing 12 caroms (six offensive), posting a double-double for Corydon Central. The 5-11 wing continues her impressive Junior year tonight, as she has helped the Panthers to a 21-2 record to date.
This is the 14th season for the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association Player of the Week program, but just the second season it is being presented by Franciscan Health, a corporate sponsor of the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association.
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-14 (2021-22)
District-1 Boys: Markus Burton, Penn; Brycen Hannah, John Glenn; Tyvon Henry, South Bend Career Academy; Ben Keil, Lakeland; Aidan Lambert, Fort Wayne Snider; Jacob Miller, Covenant Christian (DeMotte); Willie Miller, Lake Station Edison; Matthew Ross, Peru; Omarion Washington, Fort Wayne South Side; Beck Willems, Bethany Christian.
District-1 Girls: Tori Allen, Andrean; Ashlynn Brooke, Pioneer; Jessica Carrothers, Crown Point; Asia Donald, Hobart; Saniya Jackson, Fort Wayne Northrop; Jyah LoVett, Fort Wayne Snider; Julia Mantyla, Northridge; MaKaya Porter, Mishawaka Marian; Jada Rhonehouse, Fremont; Zoe Willems, Bethany Christian.
District-2 Boys: Landon Biegel, Oak Hill; Jamison Dunham, Pendleton Heights; Aidan Franks, Wapahani; Caden Harker, Twin Lakes; Luke Kegerreis, Roncalli; Jonah Lucas, West Lafayette Harrison; Dylan Moles, Greenfield-Central; Hunter Pogue, North White; Harrison Schwinn, Frankton; Javon Tracy, Decatur Central.
District-2 Girls: Asiah Baxter, Warren Central; Alex DeLisle, Speedway; Riley Flinn, West Lafayette Harrison; Teresa Maggio, McCutcheon; Maddy Meek, New Castle; Olivia Nickerson, Twin Lakes; Bailey Parham, Tri; Jordan Richmond, Avon; Madison Wagner, Carroll (Flora); Ella Wolfe, Tipton.
District-3 Boys: Colin Comer, Greensburg; Caleb Dewey, Edinburgh; Josiah Dunham, Evansville Christian; Brady Dunn, Christian Academy; Mitchell Hackman, Trinity Lutheran; Blake Herdes, Evansville Central; Randy Kelley, Sullivan; Hagen Knepp, Barr-Reeve; Caleb Simon, Jac-Cen-Del; Tyler Wyles, Cambridge City Lincoln.
District-3 Girls: Diana Burgher, North Harrison; Lauren Foster, Indian Creek; Hope Fox, East Central; Hadley Lytton, Heritage Hills; Emily Mattingly, Evansville Memorial; Karsyn Norman, Bedford North Lawrence; Samantha Secrest, North Central (Farmersburg); Saige Stahl, Columbus East; Zoe Stewart, Terre Haute North Vigo; Alaina Thorne, Washington.
2021-22 Weekly Winners
Nov. 1-Nov. 6: District-1 girls: Mila Reynolds, South Bend Washington. District-2 girls: Emily Livingston, Union City. District–3 girls: Kyia McKinley, Eastern (Pekin).
Nov. 8-Nov. 13: District-1 girls: Julia Mantyla, Northridge. District-2 girls: Isabella Gizzi, New Palestine. District–3 girls: Zoe Stewart, Terre Haute North Vigo.
Nov. 15-Nov. 20: District-1 girls: Asia Donald, Hobart. District-2 girls: Adrianne Tolen, West Lafayette. District–3 girls: Bailey Tabeling, Trinity Lutheran.
Nov. 22-Nov. 27: District-1 boys: Joe Reidy, Woodlan. District-1 girls: RaShunda Jones, South Bend Washington. District–2 boys: Ryan Conwell, Pike. District-2 girls: Camryn Wise, Wapahani. District-3 boys: Hunter Johnson, South Decatur. District–3 girls: Saige Stahl, Columbus East.
Nov. 29-Dec. 4: District-1 boys: Fletcher Loyer, Homestead. District-1 girls: Nevaeh Foster, Mishawaka Marian. District–2 boys: Brady Ruggles, Danville. District-2 girls: Ashlynn Shade, Noblesville. District-3 boys: Wes Aigner, Castle. District–3 girls: Macey Timberman, Northview.
Dec. 6-Dec. 11: District-1 boys: Markus Burton, Penn. District-1 girls: Ayanna Patterson, Homestead. District–2 boys: Jake Chapman, Tri-Central. District-2 girls: Caitlyn Campbell, Winchester, and McKenna Layden, Northwestern. District-3 boys: Caleb Dewey, Edinburgh. District–3 girls: Reagan Martin, Owen Valley.
Dec. 13-Dec. 18: District-1 boys: Brauntae Johnson, Fort Wayne North Side. District-1 girls: Ashlynn Brooke, Pioneer. District–2 boys: Isaac Andrews, Wapahani. District-2 girls: Alli Harness, Carroll (Flora). District-3 boys: Branden Northern, Silver Creek. District–3 girls: Faith Wiseman, Indian Creek.
Dec. 20-Dec. 25: District-1 boys: Ashton Johnson, Fort Wayne South Side. District-1 girls: Kacilyn Krebs, Warsaw. District–2 boys: Armon Jarrard, Mount Vernon (Fortville). District-2 girls: Laila Hull, Zionsville. District-3 boys: Hagen Knepp, Barr-Reeve. District–3 girls: Chloe Spreen, Bedford North Lawrence.
Dec. 27-Jan. 1: District-1 boys: Karson Jenkins, Fort Wayne Snider. District-1 girls: MaKaya Porter, Mishawaka Marian. District–2 boys: Reggie Bass, Arsenal Tech. District-2 girls: Ally Madden, Blue River Valley. District-3 boys: Jack Benter, Brownstown Central. District–3 girls: Juliann Woodard, Jennings County.
Jan. 3-Jan. 8: District-1 boys: Travis Grayson, Chesterton. District-1 girls: Lilly Maple, Maconaquah. District–2 boys: Braden Smith, Westfield. District-2 girls: Maddy Meek, New Castle. District-3 boys: Brysen Montgomery, Austin. District–3 girls: Kendall Hale, Cannelton.
Jan. 10-Jan. 15: District-1 boys: Connor Essegian, Central Noble. District-1 girls: Kelly Ratigan, South Bend St. Joseph. District–2 boys: Kyle Thomas, Cloverdale. District-2 girls: Teresa Maggio, McCutcheon. District-3 boys: Hunter Johnson, South Decatur. District–3 girls: Zoe Stewart, Terre Haute North Vigo.
Jan. 17-Jan. 22: District-1 boys: Ashton Williamson, Gary 21st Century. District-1 girls: Jyah LoVett, Fort Wayne Snider. District–2 boys: Ahmere Carson, Anderson. District-2 girls: Bailey Parham, Tri. District-3 boys: Tucker Biven, New Albany. District–3 girls: Ava Weber, Corydon Central.
Jan. 24-Jan. 29: District-1 boys: Markus Burton, Penn. District-1 girls: Hailey Cripe, Pioneer. District–2 boys: Chrishon McCray, Avon. District-2 girls: Kaycie Warfel, Pendleton Heights. District-3 boys: Josiah Dunham, Evansville Christian. District–3 girls: Saige Stahl, Columbus East.
Jan. 31-Feb. 5: District-1 boys: Connor Essegian, Central Noble. District-1 girls: Mila Reynolds, South Bend Washington. District–2 boys: Jordan Turner, Cardinal Ritter. District-2 girls: Ashlynn Shade, Noblesville. District-3 boys: Branden Northern, Silver Creek. District–3 girls: Ava Weber, Corydon Central.
# # #
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.