IBCA/Franciscan Health Player of the Week Program

IBCA/Franciscan Health Player of the Week Program Turns to Boys’ State Tournament in Week-18

 

With the girls’ basketball tournament in the books, boys’ teams around the state began their journey to Indianapolis and Gainbridge Fieldhouse last week for the 114^th IHSAA State Championships. The field dwindled quickly, as 64 Sectional crowns were handed out, but the remaining teams stand to provide us with an outstanding “Sweet-16” in each classification over the next few weekends. Three boys were selected as Week-18 IBCA/Franciscan Health Players of the Week due to their play last week.

Elkhart Christian Senior Aiden Hibbard, Lawrence North Junior Azavier Robinson, and Evansville Bosse Senior Taray Howell have been chosen for Feb. 26-Mar. 2 in the recognition program coordinated by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association. Hibbard is the winner for District-1, Robinson takes home honors in District-2, and Howell is the recipient in District-3.

Elkhart Christian began their Sectional #51 play with a rematch of a 4-point overtime loss to Bethany Christian back on February 1^st. This time, however, it would be the Eagles coming out on top, 59-52, again in overtime. Senior Aiden Hibbard did everything in his power to make sure this one went in the “win” column, scoring 41 points, pulling down 13 rebounds, and dishing out 5 assists in the triumph. The 5-11 guard added a perfect 14-14 performance from the charity stripe to his accomplishments. In the Sectional Semi-Final, the Eagles and Hibbard took care of Lakeland Christian, 59-36. The Senior guard was again strong, posting a tally of 22 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and 7 steals. The next night, in the championship game, Hibbard was again the hero, as he made a pull-up jumper at the buzzer to help Elkhart Christian to its first Sectional title since 2018, a 47-45 win against Lakewood Park Christian. For the game, the Senior guard scored 23 points and collected 9 rebounds, while handing out 5 assists and picking up 5 steals. Hibbard is committed to Cedarville University in Ohio.

In a loaded Sectional #10, Lawrence North and Junior Azavier Robinson found themselves at the top by week’s end. The Wildcats took down three traditional giants in Indianapolis North Central (65-51), Crispus Attucks (57-50), and Cathedral (75-61), and moved to an impressive 24-3 on the season. The 6-1 Junior guard has been strong all season, and last week he continued that level of play against one of the state’s toughest fields. For the week, Robinson averaged 21.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 2.3 steals per game, while shooting a respectable 22-42 from the field and 4-10 from downtown. The talented Junior and the Wildcats next take on the Avon Orioles this Saturday evening.

In Southwest Indiana, Evansville Bosse collected its 33^rd Sectional title, as they went 2-0 against Sectional #32 opponents. The Bulldogs and Senior Taray Howell began their play Friday night, as they took on Mt. Vernon (Posey). In a nice 62-50 win over the much-improved Wildcats, Howell scored 22 points, assisted on 5 more scores, and stole the ball 4 times. He also knocked down 3-6 from deep and
5-5 from the free throw line. The next night, in the championship game, the Bulldogs took on Evansville Memorial who had won 15 of 16 games coming into the matchup. Howell was dialed in as they knocked off the Tigers, 72-63. The 5-8 guard was 9-13 from the field, 4-7 from beyond the arc, and 9-10 at the stripe, scoring 33 points in total. He also chipped in 2 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals for good measure.

This is the 16^th season for the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association Player of the Week program, and the fourth 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 each week of their season, through the end of the IHSAA Girls State Finals. Boys’ winners will be chosen three more times, through the Monday following the IHSAA Boys State Finals.

 

 

 

 

 

2023-24 Weekly Winners

 

Oct. 30-Nov. 4: District-1 girls: Tenley Davis, Chesterton. District-2 girls: Avery Gordon, Brownsburg. District–3 girls: Hadley Crosier, Lanesville.

 

Nov. 6-Nov. 11: District-1 girls: Ava Ziolkowski, Crown Point. District-2 girls: Kayla Lacombe, Arsenal Technical. District–3 girls: Chloe Spreen, Bedford North Lawrence.

 

Nov. 13-Nov. 18: District-1 girls: Samantha Redinger, Argos, and Gracyn Gilliard, Munster. District-2 girls: Kaycie Warfel, Pendleton Heights. District-3 girls: Audrey Annee, Center Grove.

 

Nov. 20-Nov. 25: District-1 boys: Bryce Wilcox, Southwood. District-1 girls: Brooke Zartman, Warsaw. District-2 boys: Brady Koehler, Cathedral. District-2 girls: Lillie Graves, McCutcheon. District-3 boys: Kasym Nash, Borden. District-3 girls: Madalynn Shirley, Evansville Central.

 

Nov. 27-Dec. 2: District-1 boys: Tyler Parrish, Chesterton. District-1 girls: Sadie Marks, South Central (Union Mills). District-2 boys: Damien King, Anderson. District-2 girls: Maya Layton, Faith Christian. District-3 boys: Trent Sisley, Heritage Hills. District-3 girls: Gabby Spink, Gibson Southern.

 

Dec. 4-Dec. 9: District-1 boys: Sam Essegian, Whitko. District-1 girls: Kenedi Bradley, Chesterton. District-2 boys: Braylon Mullins, Greenfield-Central. District-2 girls: Jaylah Lampley, Lawrence Central. District-3 boys: Aydan Head, Henryville. District-3 girls: Julia Meyer, Jac-Cen-Del.

 

Dec. 11-Dec. 16: District-1 boys: Jack Smiley, Valparaiso. District-1 girls: Kahlen Robinson, Bowman Academy. District-2 boys: Josiah Cox, Tri. District-2 girls: Maya Makalusky, Hamilton Southeastern. District-3 boys: Joshua Renfro, Christian Academy. District-3 girls: Brynn Owens, Austin.

 

Dec. 18-Dec. 23: District-1 boys: John Malchow, Winamac Community. District-1 girls: Gracyn Gilliard, Munster. District-2 boys: Philip Randolph, Indianapolis International. District-2 girls: Jacklynn Hosier, Alexandria-Monroe. District-3 boys: Josiah Dunham, Evansville Christian. District-3 girls: Brooklynn Renn, Silver Creek.

 

Dec. 25-Dec. 30: District-1 boys: Josiah Ball, Maconaquah. District-1 girls: Addison Baxter, Columbia City. District-2 boys: Julius Gizzi, New Palestine. District-2 girls: Reagan Wilson, Noblesville, and Olivia Nickerson, Twin Lakes. District-3 boys: Blake Neill, Bloomfield. District-3 girls: Juliann Woodard, Jennings County.

 

Jan. 1-Jan. 6: District-1 boys: Ashton Federspiel, Norwell. District-1 girls: Lillian Barnes, Valparaiso. District-2 boys: Nolan Swan, Tipton. District-2 girls: Laniah Wills, Lapel. District-3 boys: Malachi McNair, Evansville Harrison. District-3 girls: Chloey Graham, Gibson Southern.

 

Jan. 8-Jan. 13: District-1 boys: Jack Rodgers, Culver Community. District-1 girls: Samantha Redinger, Argos. District-2 boys: Braylon Mullins, Greenfield-Central. District-2 girls: Lillie Graves, McCutcheon. District-3 boys: Deion Edwards, Springs Valley. District-3 girls: Ella Bobe, South Knox.

 

Jan. 15-Jan. 20: District-1 boys: Chase Konieczny, South Bend St. Joseph. District-1 girls: Abby Ordonez, Wheeler. District-2 boys: Chris Huerta, Carroll (Flora). District-2 girls: Avery Gordon, Brownsburg. District-3 boys: Josiah Dunham, Evansville Christian. District-3 girls: Molly Schulte, South Spencer.

 

Jan. 22-Jan. 27: District-1 boys: Jack Smiley, Valparaiso. District-1 girls: Myah Epps, Homestead. District-2 boys: Braylon Mullins, Greenfield-Central. District-2 girls: Adrianne Tolen, West Lafayette. District-3 boys: Jack Benter, Brownstown Central. District-3 girls: Kaidin James, New Washington, and Faith Wiseman, Indian Creek.

 

Jan. 29-Feb. 3: District-1 boys: Josiah Ball, Maconaquah. District-1 girls: Laniah Davis, Marquette Catholic. District-2 boys: Isaac Andrews, Wapahani, and Flory Bidunga, Kokomo. District-2 girls: Sophia Morrison, Eastbrook. District-3 boys: Noah Lovan, Our Lady of Providence. District-3 girls: Madisyn Bailey, Bedford North Lawrence.

 

Feb. 5-Feb. 10: District-1 boys: Tyrese Jones, South Bend Clay. District-1 girls: Miley Wareing, Bishop Luers. District-2 boys: Karson Rogers, Kokomo. District-2 girls: Emma Ancelet, Danville Community. District-3 boys: Cam Craig, Switzerland County. District-3 girls: Ellie Richardson, Scottsburg.

 

Feb. 12-Feb. 17: District-1 boys: Camden Webster, Kankakee Valley. District-1 girls: Vanessa Wimberly, Lake Central. District-2 boys: Jamison Ousley, Twin Lakes. District-2 girls: Laila Abdurraqib, Lawrence Central. District-3 boys: Braden Goff, Northview. District-3 girls: Hadley Crosier, Lanesville.

 

Feb. 19-Feb. 24: Class A girls: Shelby Allen, Lanesville. Class AA girls: Miley Wareing, Bishop Luers. Class AAA girls: Chloey Graham, Gibson Southern. Class AAAA girls: Jaylah Lampley, Lawrence Central. District-1 boys: Marcus Browder, Hammond Central. District-2 boys: Melakih Cunningham, Decatur Central. District-3 boys: Tucker Tornatta, Evansville Memorial.

 

Feb. 26-Mar. 2: District-1 boys: Aiden Hibbard, Elkhart Christian. District-2 boys: Azavier Robinson, Lawrence North. District-3 boys: Taray Howell, Evansville Bosse.