IBCA/Franciscan Health Player of the Week Awards

Class 2A Senior Standouts Headline Week-19 of the IBCA/Franciscan Health Player of the Week Awards

This past weekend, each of the Regionals around the state crowned winners, slimming the overall field from 64 teams down to the 16 remaining. While there were several nice individual games put together throughout Saturday, the Week-19 IBCA Players of the Week were selected because of the complete days they put together in helping their schools advance to the Semi-State. Ironically, all three of them are Seniors hailing from Class 2A.

Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian Senior Caleb Furst, Blackford Senior Luke Brown, and Southridge Senior Colson Montgomery are the honorees for Mar. 8-Mar. 13 in the recognition program coordinated by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association. Furst is the recipient in District-1. Brown wins for a third time this season in District-2. Montgomery takes home honors in District-3.

Blackhawk Christian Senior Caleb Furst has been dominant throughout his entire career, and Saturday he only added to his legacy with a pair of strong performances at the North Judson-San Pierre Regional. In the Semifinal, the 6-10 forward helped Blackhawk to a 68-55 win over a tough Churubusco team. Furst was outstanding in the pivot, scoring 32 points and ripping down 21 rebounds in victory. He also blocked six shots at the defensive end of the floor.

Later that evening, Blackhawk Christian would take on Gary Thea Bowman, again winning by double-figures, 68-52. Furst proved to be a major asset once again, as he scored 23 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, and blocked five shots, helping Blackhawk to their third Semi-State appearance in four years. The talented front-liner has committed to play at Purdue University next season.

Blackford Senior Luke Brown is no stranger to shining brightly in the spotlight, but in the Bruins’ first game Saturday, he did a nice job of taking what the defense gave him, while also looking to get his teammates involved. In a 52-45 win over a nice Wapahani team, the 6-1 guard scored a modest 17 points on 5-10 shooting, but he was 4-8 from deep, and he made 3-4 from the free throw line. He snagged six rebounds, handed out six assists, and collected a steal in the win, plus he did so without turning it over.

That evening, though, he lit up the scoreboard one more time, helping Blackford take out the Rossville Hornets, 68-59. In the Championship game, Brown knocked down 12-22 shots, he was 6-10 from long range, and he made all three of his tosses from the charity stripe, on his way to a game-high 33 points. The Stetson University signee added four rebounds, five assists, and two steals to the effort, plus he managed to block a shot.

With a pair of strong performances Saturday, Southridge Senior Colson Montgomery helped the Raiders advance to just their third Semi-State in the program’s history, but the first since 1986. At the beginning of their day, Southridge would have a battle with the Paoli Rams, escaping with a 43-35 victory. Montgomery, a 6-5 wing, was nearly their entire offense, scoring 27 points in the win. He also posted a double-double with his 10 rebounds.

Later that night, the Raiders faced off with Southwestern, defeating the Hanover-based squad by a 61-48 margin. Montgomery was again a big part of the offense, contributing to more than half of their output, as he scored 30 points and dished out five assists in success. The Senior wing, who has signed to play baseball at Indiana University, posted another double-double with his 13 rebounds, helping to end the program’s 35-year Semi-State drought.

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. The girls’ winners were chosen through the conclusion of their season. Boys’ winners will be chosen through the Monday following the IHSAA Boys State Finals.

Other Top Nominees for Week-19 (2020-21)

District-1 Boys: Jalen Jackson, Carroll (Fort Wayne); J.R. Konieczny, South Bend St. Joseph; Grady Lapczynski, New Prairie; Fletcher Loyer, Homestead; Jackson Paul, Churubusco; Carson Rich, Southwood; Sam Smith, Caston; Trey Steinhilber, Boone Grove; Quin Stesiak, Rochester; Cole Wireman, Kouts.

District-2 Boys: Brooks Barnhizer, Lafayette Jefferson; Clark Barrett, Lafayette Central Catholic; Joseph Bobilya, Guerin Catholic; William Grieser, New Castle; Noah Johnston, Twin Lakes; Kaden McCollough, Shenandoah; Ian Scott, Plainfield; Sheridan Sharpe, Ben Davis; Damon Shaw, Rossville; Brody Whitaker, Greencastle.

District-3 Boys: Curt Hopf, Barr-Reeve; Jake Johnson, Heritage Hills; Trey Kaufman, Silver Creek; Randy Kelley, Sullivan; Foster Mefford, Southwestern (Hanover); Jake Moynihan, Seton Catholic; Caleb Swearingen, Northview.

 

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.

Jan. 25-Jan. 30: District-1 boys: Jalen Jackson, Carroll (Fort Wayne). District-1 girls: Ayanna Patterson, Homestead. District-2 boys: Luke Brown, Blackford. District-2 girls: Madelyn Bischoff, Roncalli. District-3 boys: Lane Lauderbaugh, South Decatur. District-3 girls: Gracie Adams, Lanesville.

Feb. 1-Feb. 6: District-1 boys: Joshua Fleming, Rensselaer Central. District-1 girls: Bailey Hartsough, Lakeland. District-2 boys: Leyton McGovern, McCutcheon. District-2 girls: Ashlynn Shade, Noblesville. District-3 boys: Lane Lauderbaugh, South Decatur. District-3 girls: Katherine Benter, Brownstown Central.

Feb. 8-Feb. 13: District-1 boys: J.R. Konieczny, South Bend St. Joseph. District-1 girls: Lilliann Frasure, North Judson-San Pierre. District-2 boys: Jesse Hall, Crawfordsville. District-2 girls: Kenna Kirby, Tri-West. District-3 boys: Chandler Moore, Evansville North. District-3 girls: Isabella Reed, Greenwood Christian.

Feb. 15-Feb. 20: District-1 boys: Caleb Furst, Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian. District-1 girls: Olivia Brooke, Pioneer. District-2 boys: Braden Smith, Westfield. District-2 girls: Ally Becki, Brownsburg. District-3 boys: Trey Kaufman, Silver Creek. District-3 girls: Kynidi Striverson, Silver Creek.

Feb. 22-Feb. 27: District-1 boys: Christopher Mantis, Lowell. District-1 girls: Jessica Carrothers, Crown Point. District-2 boys: Jalen Blackmon, Marion. District-2 girls: Ally Becki, Brownsburg. District-3 boys: Miles McGowen, Mooresville. District-3 girls: Haley Rose, Linton-Stockton.

Mar. 1-Mar. 6: District-1 boys: Koron Davis, Gary Thea Bowman. District-2 boys: Brooks Barnhizer, Lafayette Jefferson. District-3 boys: Blake Sisley, Heritage Hills.

Mar. 8-Mar. 13: District-1 boys: Caleb Furst, Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian. District-2 boys: Luke Brown, Blackford. District-3 boys: Colson Montgomery, Southridge.

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