Senior-Dominant Semi-States Highlight Week-20 of the IBCA/Franciscan Health Player of the Week Awards

Senior-Dominant Semi-States Highlight Week-20 of the IBCA/Franciscan Health Player of the Week Awards

Saturday afternoon, 16 teams took to the court at four different Semi-State locations, each looking to punch their ticket to Bankers Life Fieldhouse on April 3, 2021. By the time the dust settled, eight teams earned their spot in the State Finals, and three young men have been awarded the Week-20 IBCA Player of the Week honor for their respective districts. All three are Seniors, plus nearly everyone earning “Top Nominee” status are Seniors as well.

Kouts Senior Cale Wireman, Lawrence North Senior Shamar Avance, and Barr-Reeve Senior Curt Hopf are the winners for Mar.15-Mar. 20 in the recognition program coordinated by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association. Wireman takes home honors in District-1. Avance was awarded for his play in Disrict-2. Hopf is the recipient for the second time in District-3.

The now 29-2 Kouts Mustangs took on a gritty opponent in Southwood Saturday, knocking off the Knights by an 86-70 final score. Senior Cale Wireman had an extremely efficient day, contributing to the cause in multiple ways. He was a solid 7-12 from the field, 2-5 from 3-point range, plus he knocked down 10 free throws on his way to 26 points. The 5-11 guard also collected four rebounds, he dished out four assists, and he picked the ball off four times, as Kouts makes their first ever trip to the State Finals.

In the Class 4A South Semi-State game, the Lawrence North Wildcats held off the Panthers of Bloomington South, 54-52. 6-0 guard Shamar Avance was the key to the Wildcats win, as he scored 16 points on 5-7 shooting, plus he made 5-6 shots from the free throw line. The Senior added three rebounds and four assists, and Head Coach Jack Keefer said his lead guard “had a tremendous floor game”, and that he “was our motor and made everyone better.” The Wildcats return to Bankers Life Fieldhouse for the first time since 2006, and they will make a run at their fifth title in five tries.

The Barr-Reeve Vikings are enjoying an outstanding season, posting a 28-2 record to date, with each of their losses coming in overtime to state finalists Carmel (Class 4A) and Blackhawk Christian (Class 2A). Senior front-liner Curt Hopf has been a big part of that success this season, and Saturday he was certainly up to the task. The 6-9 Bellarmine University signee scored 20 points, as the Vikings took care of Tindley in impressive fashion, 72-25. Additionally, Hopf snagged 16 rebounds and blocked four shots. Barr-Reeve makes its seventh trip to Indianapolis in 20 years, as they try for their second title.

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-20 (2020-21)

 

           District-1 Boys: Zane Burke, Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian; Blake Davison, Leo; Caleb Furst, Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian; J.R. Konieczny, South Bend St. Joseph; Quimari Peterson, Gary West Side; Carson Rich, Southwood; Zack Troyer, Leo; Cole Wireman, Kouts.

 

District-2 Boys: Billy Brown, Tindley; Luke Brown, Blackford; Connor Davis, Parke Heritage; Riley Ferguson, Parke Heritage; Matthew Gillis, Guerin Catholic; Connor Gioia, Carmel; Donaven McCulley, Lawrence North; Brian Waddell, Carmel.

 

District-3 Boys: Kooper Jacobi, Silver Creek; Trey Kaufman, Silver Creek; Hagen Knepp, Barr-Reeve; Colson Montgomery, Southridge; Trevor Taylor, Bloomington South.

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.

 

Mar. 15-Mar. 20: District-1 boys: Cale Wireman, Kouts. District-2 boys: Shamar Avance, Lawrence North. District-3 boys: Curt Hopf, Barr-Reeve.