As the Season Concludes, Three Final Boys Tabbed
as IBCA/Franciscan Health Players of the Week
Saturday saw four State Champions crowned at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, with North Daviess (A), Our Lady of Providence (AA), Beech Grove (AAA), and Cathedral (AAAA) taking home titles in their respective classes. For North Daviess, Providence, and Beech Grove, it was their first championship in as many tries, while Cathedral won their second title in their third such game (1998, 2013). With that said, for the final time this year we will award three boys the distinction of IBCA/Franciscan Health Players of the Week for Week-21.
Central Noble Senior Connor Essegian, Beech Grove Junior Anthony Ball, and Our Lady of Providence Junior Casey Kaelin have been selected as winners for Mar. 21-Mar. 26 in the recognition program coordinated by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association. Essegian takes home honors for a final time in District-1, Ball is the recipient in District-2, and Kaelin earns the award for District-3.
The Cougars of Central Noble made their first-ever appearance in the AA final game, and after staring down a 25-9 deficit following a tough first quarter, they won the final three quarters, though it wasn’t enough, as they fell to Providence, 62-49. Even at that, Senior guard Connor Essegian was a standout in the game, leading the Cougars with 18 points, including an 8-10 performance from the charity stripe. The 6-4 guard, headed to the University of Wisconsin next year, added four rebounds and three assists to his line in the box score.
In the AAA game, the Beech Grove Hornets made the most of their first time at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, knocking off Mishawaka Marian, 53-43, in a game they trailed early on. Junior Anthony Ball was instrumental in their victory, pulling down an impressive 20 rebounds, 11 of them offensive, with seven of his overall total coming in the critical fourth quarter. In addition to his carom collection, the 6-6 forward scored 17 points, dished out an assist, and he blocked three shots.
Back to the AA game, and Our Lady of Providence’s own Casey Kaelin came up big in that 62-49 outcome, helping the Pioneers to their first piece of hardware at this level. The 6-3 Junior wing was an efficient 8-13 from the field, he made one 3-pointer, and he knocked down four free throws, scoring 21 points in total, including nine in that crucial opening quarter. Kaelin also managed five rebounds, a pair of assists, and he collected a steal, as the Pioneers celebrate in Clarksville, Indiana.
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 were chosen through the Monday following the IHSAA Girls State Finals. This is the last week boys’ winners will be chosen until the 2022-2023 season begins. The IBCA and Franciscan Health would like to thank you for your support of Indiana high school student-athletes.
Other Top Nominees for Week-21 (2021-22)
District-1 Boys: Richard Brooks, Mishawaka Marian; Travis Grayson, Chesterton; Chris Mullen, Chesterton; Deaglan Sullivan, Mishawaka Marian.
District-2 Boys: Clark Barrett, Lafayette Central Catholic; Xavier Booker, Cathedral; Cameron Brown, Beech Grove; Jaxon Edwards, Cathedral; Clark Obermiller, Lafayette Central Catholic; Jeremiah Tate, Beech Grove; Jaron Tibbs, Cathedral.
District-3 Boys: Devin Collins, North Daviess; Quentin Hesse, Our Lady of Providence; Jaylen Mullen, North Daviess; Grant Williams, Our Lady of Providence; Logan Wilson, North Daviess.
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.
Feb. 7-Feb. 12: District-1 boys: Trey Steinhilber, Boone Grove. District-1 girls: Jessica Carrothers, Crown Point. District–2 boys: Flory Bidunga, Kokomo. District-2 girls: McKenna Layden, Northwestern. District-3 boys: Jameer Ajibade, Evansville Bosse. District–3 girls: Josie Trabel, East Central.
Feb. 14-Feb. 19: District-1 boys: Travis Grayson, Chesterton. District-1 girls: RaShunda Jones, South Bend Washington. District–2 boys: Logan Imes, Zionsville. District-2 girls: Karsyn Cherry, Lafayette Central Catholic. District-3 boys: Jack Benter, Brownstown Central. District–3 girls: Kaybree Oxley, Tecumseh.
Feb. 21-Feb. 26: District-1 boys: Ben Garwood, LaCrosse. District-1 girls: Kira Reynolds, South Bend Washington. District–2 boys: Jake Chapman, Tri-Central. District-2 girls: Ashlynn Shade, Noblesville. District-3 boys: Hunter Johnson, South Decatur. District–3 girls: Amber Tretter, Forest Park, and Jenna Donohoo, Tecumseh.
Feb. 28-Mar. 5: District-1 boys: Karson Jenkins, Fort Wayne Snider. District–2 boys: Braden Smith, Westfield. District-3 boys: JaQualon Roberts, Bloomington North.
Mar. 7-Mar. 12: District-1 boys: Connor Essegian, Central Noble. District–2 boys: Clark Obermiller, Lafayette Central Catholic. District-3 boys: Randy Kelley, Sullivan.
Mar. 14-Mar. 19: District-1 boys: Richard Brooks, Mishawaka Marian. District–2 boys: Jaron Tibbs, Cathedral. District-3 boys: Jaylen Mullen, North Daviess.
Mar. 21-Mar. 26: District-1 boys: Connor Essegian, Central Noble. District–2 boys: Anthony Ball, Beech Grove. District-3 boys: Casey Kaelin, Our Lady of Providence.
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