IBCA/Franciscan Health Player of the Week Awards

Hale and Shade Headline the Winners for Week-12 of the IBCA/Franciscan Health Player of the Week Awards

As the girls’ regular season winds down this week, the boys’ season is in full-swing, and there have been a number of huge performances already in 2021. Week-12 of the IBCA/Franciscan Health Player of the Week award highlights six more players from around the Hoosier state.

Kouts Senior Cole Wireman, Greencastle Senior Brody Whitaker, North Judson-San Pierre Senior Lilliann Frasure, and Noblesville Sophomore Ashlynn Shade are all repeat winners this season, while Linton-Stockton Senior Lincoln Hale and North Harrison Junior Diana Burgher have been selected for the first time this year. They are all recipients for Jan. 18-Jan. 23 in the recognition program coordinated by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association. Wireman is the boys’ winner, while Frasure is the girls’ winner in District-1. Whitaker is the boys’ recipient, and Shade is the girls’ recipient in District-2. Hale and Burgher have earned boys’ and girls’ honors, respectively, in District-3.

Kouts Senior Cole Wireman spent last week leading the Mustangs to three double-digit wins and the Porter County Conference tournament crown. The 5-11 guard began his week on Tuesday, as the Mustangs took care of Westville, 84-60. Wireman was 11-18 from the field and scored 23 points in the win. He also contributed three rebounds, five assists, and six steals in victory.

Thursday, the Mustangs returned to action against South Central (Union Mills), again succeeding, this time by a 69-44 score. The Senior guard was again solid from the field, making 13-20 shots and scoring 28 points in the triumph. He added six rebounds, three assists, and a blocked shot in the win. Two nights later, Kouts claimed the title, defeating Boone Grove 79-50. Wireman finished his highly productive week by knocking down 11-18 shots, including a pair of treys, as he finished with 27 points in the championship game. He posted a double-double as well, snagging 13 caroms, plus he added four assists.

North Judson-San Pierre won three big Hoosier North Conference games last week, and a lot can be attributed to the play of Senior Lilliann Frasure. Tuesday night, the Bluejays traveled to Pioneer, where they left with a 61-40 win. Frasure was an efficient 8-12 from the field, 2-4 from 3-point range, plus she made six free throws, on her way to 24 points. She added 11 rebounds to post a double-double, plus she handed out four assists and collected six steals.

Thursday, the Bluejays hosted Winamac, winning by an easy 76-43 margin. In this contest, Frasure was an outstanding 16-23 from the field, including a magnificent 12-14 from 3-point range, plus she made all six of her free throw attempts, as she scored a personal best of 50 points. If that wasn’t enough, she also grabbed nine rebounds, handed out four assists, and collected five thefts. The Indiana Wesleyan University signee wasn’t finished, as she returned Saturday and helped North Judson-San Pierre to a 50-46 victory against Knox. The 5-9 wing posted yet another double-double, scoring 14 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. She added four assists, a pair of steals, and a pair of blocked shots. Frasure also eclipsed the 2000-point mark last week.

Greencastle Senior Brody Whitaker finds himself amongst the winners for a second time this season, after he helped the Tiger Cubs to a pair of triumphs over the weekend. Friday night, Greencastle traveled to South Vermillion, where they won by an easy 69-43 spread. Whitaker knocked down 5-11 from 3-point range, on his way to 28 points. The 6-2 guard also contributed five rebounds, three assists, six steals, and three blocked shots to the effort.

Saturday, the Tiger Cubs hosted a good Danville team, and they managed to celebrate a 65-56 win that evening. Whitaker was even better this day, making 9-15 shots, 4-7 from 3-point range, and 11-14 from the free throw line, as he scored a team high 33 points. The Marian University commit also collected 13 rebounds for the double-double, plus he was able to dish out a pair of assists and snag four steals.

Noblesville Sophomore Ashlynn Shade is another repeat winner, following a pair of outstanding performances last week. Tuesday, the Millers traveled to West Lafayette Harrison, where they won decidedly by a 90-53 margin. Shade was a sizzling 16-19 from the field, 3-3 from 3-point range, and 8-9 from the charity stripe in success. She scored 43 points in total, grabbed 10 rebounds to post a double-double, plus she handed out four assists and collected a pair of steals.

Saturday, the Millers hosted Franklin Central, again winning rather easily by a score of 72-49. The 5-10 guard knocked down three more triples in the victory, plus she grabbed eight rebounds and dished out seven assists. Shade has helped Noblesville surpass last season’s win total by seven already.

Linton-Stockton Senior Lincoln Hale played just one game last week, but did he ever make it worth it. The 6-5 wing helped the Miners to a 97-68 win over a solid South Decatur club. Hale was a blistering 20-29 from the field, he made 4-7 from deep, and he added four made free throws, as he posted a new single-game Linton-Stockton record of 48 points. The Indiana State University commit also snagged 10 rebounds for a double-double, plus he handed out five assists as well. He is closing in on 2000 points.

North Harrison Junior Diana Burgher is making her first appearance in the weekly awards, as she helped the Lady Cats to a couple of nice Mid-Southern Conference wins last week. Tuesday, the Lady Cats hosted Corydon Central, prevailing by a narrow 57-53 margin. Burgher posted her first double-double of the week with 21 points and 10 rebounds in the win. She added two assists, four steals, and two blocked shots in the victory.

Saturday, North Harrison hosted Charlestown, and once again they escaped with a slim 65-60 triumph. The 6-0 forward was an impressive 13-18 from the field, a hot 6-8 from 3-point range, and she added three made free throws. Burgher actually entered the game with only seven made 3-pointers in her career. She again claimed a double-double with 12 rebounds, plus she added a pair of assists.

This is the 13^th season for the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association Player of the Week program, but the first season it is 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-12 (2020-21)

District-1 Boys: Brayden Bontrager, Lakeland; Joshua Fleming, Rensselaer Central; Quintin Floyd, Gary 21^st Century; Brycen Hannah, John Glenn; Jalen Jackson, Carroll (Fort Wayne); Landen Jordan, Churubusco; Fletcher Loyer, Homestead; Joe Reidy, Woodlan; Carson Rich, Southwood; Carter Stoltzfus, Northridge.

District-1 Girls: Jessica Carrothers, Crown Point; Hailey Cripe, Pioneer; Ellia Foster, Bremen; Bailey Hartsough, Lakeland; Lilly Maple, Maconaquah; Aleena Mongerie, Munster; Brynn Shoup-Hill, Goshen; Samiyah Stout, Elkhart; Trinity Thompson, Michigan City; Sidney Wagner, Tippecanoe Valley.

District-2 Boys: Brooks Barnhizer, Lafayette Jefferson; Mason Brooks, North Putnam; Luke Brown, Blackford; Jake Chapman, Tri-Central; Champ Ellis, Union (Modoc); Dazhon Lane, Indianapolis Metropolitan; Billy Smith, Brebeuf Jesuit; Payton Sparks, Winchester; Jayden Taylor, Perry Meridian; Kyle Thomas, Cloverdale.

District-2 Girls: Ally Becki, Brownsburg; Madelyn Bischoff, Roncalli; Tyra Ford, Anderson; Isabella Gizzi, New Palestine; Laila Hull, Zionsville; McKenna Layden, Northwestern; Teresa Maggio, McCutcheon; Renna Schwieterman, Jay County; Reece VanBlair, Alexandria-Monroe; Ariana Wiggins, Heritage Christian.

District-3 Boys: Brett Bosley, Paoli; Tyler Fessel, Corydon Central; Miles McGowen, Mooresville; Jaylen Mullen, North Daviess; Cody Samples, South Ripley; Coleman Sater, Edgewood; Blake Sisley, Heritage Hills; Lane Sparks, Greensburg; Isaiah Swope, Castle; Kolden Vanlandingham, Northeastern.

District-3 Girls: Lana Bell, South Decatur; Kylee Edwards, Shelbyville; Taylor Farris, Northeastern; Lauren Foster, Indian Creek; Koryn Greiwe, Columbus East; Zayda Hatfield, Terre Haute South Vigo; Sydney Jaynes, Trinity Lutheran; Annelise Lollar, Edinburgh; Kaybree Oxley, Tecumseh; Josie Trabel, East Central.

2020-21 Weekly Winners

Nov. 2-Nov. 7: District-1 girls: Courtney Blakely, Hammond Bishop Noll. District-2 girls: Olivia Nickerson, Twin Lakes. District–3 girls: Hope Fox, East Central.

Nov. 9-Nov. 14: District-1 girls: Mariah Wyatt, Wabash. District-2 girls: Tyra Ford, Anderson, and McKenna Layden, Northwestern. District-3 girls: Rebekah Gordon, Heritage Hills.

Nov. 16-Nov. 21: District-1 girls: De’Mour Watson, Elkhart. District-2 girls: Erikka Hill, Shenandoah. District-3 girls: Gracie Adams, Lanesville.

Nov. 23-Nov. 28: District-1 boys: Cole Wireman, Kouts. District-1 girls: Jessica Carrothers, Crown Point. District-2 boys: Brooks Barnhizer, Lafayette Jefferson, and Gus Etchison, Hamilton Heights. District-2 girls: Jayla Smith, Lawrence North. District-3 boys: Kooper Jacobi, Silver Creek. District-3 girls: Sydney Jaynes, Trinity Lutheran.

Nov. 30-Dec. 5: District-1 boys: J.R. Konieczny, South Bend St. Joseph. District-1 girls: Olivia Smith, Fort Wayne South Side. District-2 boys: Ian Scott, Plainfield. District-2 girls: Skylie Lutz, Union City. District-3 boys: Julian Norris, Evansville Bosse. District-3 girls: Kylee Edwards, Shelbyville.

Dec. 7-Dec. 12: District-1 boys: Caleb Furst, Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian. District-1 girls: Ellia Foster, Bremen. District-2 boys: Brody Whitaker, Greencastle. District-2 girls: Ariana Wiggins, Heritage Christian. District-3 boys: Logan Rohrbacher, East Central. District-3 girls: Abby Fleetwood, Brown County.

Dec. 14-Dec. 19: District-1 boys: Christopher Mantis, Lowell. District-1 girls: Courtney Blakely, Hammond Bishop Noll. District-2 boys: Luke Brown, Blackford. District-2 girls: Alli Harness, Carroll (Flora). District-3 boys: Lane Sparks, Greensburg. District-3 girls: Isabella Reed, Greenwood Christian.

Dec. 21-Dec. 26: District-1 boys: Luke Goode, Homestead. District-1 girls: Jessica Carrothers, Crown Point. District-2 boys: Brooks Barnhizer, Lafayette Jefferson. District-2 girls: Katie Burton, Fishers. District-3 boys: Curt Hopf, Barr-Reeve. District-3 girls: Juliann Woodard, Jennings County.

Dec. 28-Jan. 2: District-1 boys: Fletcher Loyer, Homestead. District-1 girls: Courtney Blakely, Hammond Bishop Noll. District-2 boys: Trey Flatt, Covenant Christian (Indianapolis). District-2 girls: Ashlynn Shade, Noblesville. District-3 boys: Stephen Atkinson, Owen Valley. District-3 girls: Ali Saunders, North Harrison.

Jan. 4-Jan. 9: District-1 boys: Jackson Paul, Churubusco. District-1 girls: Lilliann Frasure, North Judson-San Pierre. District-2 boys: Gus Etchison, Hamilton Heights. District-2 girls: McKenna Layden, Northwestern. District-3 boys: Trey Kaufman, Silver Creek. District-3 girls: Vanessa Shafford, Linton-Stockton.

Jan. 11-Jan. 16: District-1 boys: Connor Essegian, Central Noble. District-1 girls: Jessica Carrothers, Crown Point. District-2 boys: Kobe Ward, Danville. District-2 girls: Zakia Rasheed, Bishop Chatard. District-3 boys: Owen Dease, Evansville Reitz. District-3 girls: Koryn Greiwe, Columbus East.

Jan. 18-Jan. 23: District-1 boys: Cole Wireman, Kouts. District-1 girls: Lilliann Frasure, North Judson-San Pierre. District-2 boys: Brody Whitaker, Greencastle. District-2 girls: Ashlynn Shade, Noblesville. District-3 boys: Lincoln Hale, Linton-Stockton. District-3 girls: Diana Burgher, North Harrison.