Week-17 of the IBCA/Franciscan Health Player of the Week Program Sees One Postseason End, Another Begin
As one door closes, another one opens. The IHSAA crowned Noblesville, South Bend Washington, Forest Park, and Tecumseh girls’ State Champions on Saturday, putting the final touches on the 2021-2022 girls’ basketball season. Meanwhile, the boys finished their regular season, and now they turn to Sectional play this evening at 64 different locations. Due to their play last week, we have chosen four young women and three young men as Week-17 IBCA/Franciscan Health Players of the Week.
South Bend Washington Freshman Kira Reynolds, Noblesville Junior Ashlynn Shade, Forest Park Junior Amber Tretter, Tecumseh Sophomore Jenna Donohoo, LaCrosse Senior Ben Garwood, Tri-Central Senior Jake Chapman, and South Decatur Senior Hunter Johnson have been selected as recipients for Feb. 21-Feb. 26 in the recognition program coordinated by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association. Reynolds is the girls’ winner, while Garwood is the boys’ winner in District-1. Shade and Chapman are the girls’ and boys’ recipients, respectively, for District-2. Tretter and Donohoo share girls’ honors, while Johnson picks up boys’ honors for District-3.
In a rematch of the 2021 Class 3A State Finals, South Bend Washington once again faced off against Silver Creek, however the outcome was much different, as the Lady Panthers were dominant from beginning to end, winning 93-35. While the Lady Panthers had a number of strong performances, Freshman Kira Reynolds really stood out, posting a massive double-double with her 17 points and 24 rebounds (11 offensive). The 6-3 front-liner was 7-12 from the field, plus she knocked down a trio of free throws in the championship win. She also blocked four shots on the evening. This marked the second girls’ basketball State Championship for South Bend Washington (2007).
While most boys’ teams were tuning up for the Sectional with a game or two, LaCrosse managed to squeeze in four contests last week, winning all four to post a 12-9 regular season record…their first winning season since 2003-2004. Senior Ben Garwood was steady all week, helping them to the four victories. Monday against Attica was his lowest scoring output, yet he managed 16 points, knocked down 2-3 from deep, and buried all six free throw attempts. He added eight rebounds and a pair of steals in limited minutes, during the comfortable win.
The next night, Garwood and LaCrosse took on South Bend Career Academy, earning a 70-56 victory this time out. The Senior wing scored 25 points, her made three shots from long range, and he was a nice 8-10 from the charity stripe. He posted a double-double with his 11 rebounds, plus he added four assists, a pair of steals, and four blocked shots.
Wednesday marked the third consecutive day the Tigers took to the hardwood, this time heading to the Hammond Academy for Science & Technology. They summoned enough energy to leave with a solid 82-62 win. The 6-4 Garwood scored 20 points and was again a perfect 6-6 on free tosses. He posted a double-double once more, collecting 11 caroms, and he dished out five assists.
LaCrosse finished its week Friday evening with a big Porter County Conference clash against nearby Kouts, winning their toughest game of the week, 59-56. Garwood was as efficient as he was all week, knocking down 8-12 shots from the field, making 5-6 from 3-point range, and hitting 3-4 from the free throw line. He grabbed eight more rebounds and picked off three more steals to cap their 4-0 week.
The Noblesville Millers participated in their first State Finals appearance since 1990 on Saturday, winning just their second title ever (1987). They had to take on a tough Franklin Community team but held them at bay most of the evening, pulling away in the fourth quarter to win convincingly, 76-52. Junior guard Ashlynn Shade tied a Class 4A record, scoring 31 points in the contest. She was a solid 13-22 from the floor and 5-5 from the free throw line. The 5-10 guard added seven rebounds, five assists, and three steals in the championship win. Shade has already verbally committed to attend the University of Connecticut.
Tri-Central concluded its regular season with a pair of wins last week. Senior Jake Chapman was instrumental in each win, and he continued his strong Senior season with two dynamic performances. First, in a Wednesday matchup with the Indiana School for the Deaf, Chapman poured in a career high of 46 points, helping the Trojans to a 79-53 triumph. He was an efficient 20-30 from the field, 3-7 from deep, and he made 3-4 from the free throw line. Chapman also contributed seven rebounds and three steals.
Two nights later, the Trojans traveled to Northfield, pulling out a 64-49 victory. The 6-4 Chapman was once again dialed in, as he was responsible for more than half of Tri-Central’s scoring, tallying 32 points himself and handing out a pair of assists. The Senior wing used the charity stripe to his advantage, as he made 15-17 shots from 15-feet. Chapman also posted a double-double, adding ten rebounds in success. Additionally, he collected six steals in the regular season finale.
In District-3, we chose two winners on the girls’ side, as each young lady put together a huge performance on the biggest stage of the season. In the Class 2A game, Forest Park went back and forth with Frankton, eventually pulling out the 52-44 title win. Junior forward Amber Tretter was a big part of what the Lady Rangers did all season, but she was especially good in this game, as she scored 22 points and grabbed 17 rebounds (8 offensive). Of her 17 rebounds, she pulled down 12 of them in the second half. The 6-1 front-liner also managed three assists, two steals, and six blocked shots, as Forest Park picked up their first ever girls’ basketball State Championship.
Our other District-3 female recipient is Tecumseh Sophomore Jenna Donohoo. Tecumseh managed to handle Lafayette Central Catholic’s speed and pressure all morning, and when the dust settled, the Lady Braves were 60-53 victors in the Class 1A title game. Donohoo, a 5-9 forward, scored 29 points in the victory, with 19 coming in the second half, 11 falling in the decisive fourth quarter. The Sophomore also picked up 13 caroms in the contest, posting a double-double for her efforts. Add to that a pair of assists, a pair of steals, and a pair of blocked shots, and she played a well-rounded game in Tecumseh’s first State Finals appearance and first ever State Championship.
South Decatur’s Hunter Johnson has been explosive all Winter, and last week he capped off the regular season with a bang in two games. On Tuesday evening, the Cougars traveled to Oldenburg Academy, escaping with a hard-fought, 64-55 win. Johnson, a Senior, scored 29 points, as he was a perfect 9-9 from the free throw line. His ten rebounds helped him post a double-double, plus he handed out two assists and collected three steals in victory.
Friday evening, South Decatur hosted Knightstown, extending their win streak to three games with a 77-55 outcome. The 6-2 Johnson was a real problem for the Panthers, scoring 39 points, burying four shots from long range, and knocking down 7-8 from the free throw stripe. He again posted a double-double, his 11th of the season, grabbing 19 rebounds on the evening (11 offensive). To top things off, the Senior also picked off four passes in the success.
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. This is the last week girls’ winners will be chosen, with the IHSAA Girls State Finals having concluded. Boys’ winners will be chosen through the Monday following the IHSAA Boys State Finals.
Other Top Nominees for Week-17 (2021-22)
District-1 Boys: Chase Bachelor, Prairie Heights; Gavin Betten, Manchester; Brayden Betzner, Maconaquah; Markus Burton, Penn; Karson Jenkins, Fort Wayne Snider; Fletcher Loyer, Homestead; Eric Martin, Calumet New Tech; Willie Miller, Lake Station Edison; Thomas Snyder, South Bend John Adams; Brandon Trilli, Munster.
District-1 Girls: RaShunda Jones, South Bend Washington; Mila Reynolds, South Bend Washington.
District-2 Boys: Javan Buchanan, Lafayette Jefferson; Ryan Conwell, Pike; A.J. Dancler, Southport; Derron Hazzard, Riverton Parke; Nate Matelic, Speedway; Chrishon McCray, Avon; A.J. Roseman, Bishop Chatard; Kyle Thomas, Cloverdale; Jordan Turner, Cardinal Ritter; Bobby Wonnell, Taylor.
District-2 Girls: Carley Barrett, Lafayette Central Catholic; Lauryn Bates, Frankton; Amaya Collins, Frankton; Dani Mendez, Noblesville; Kendal Rider, Lafayette Central Catholic; Reagan Wilson, Noblesville.
District-3 Boys: Wes Aigner, Castle; Jameer Ajibade, Evansville Bosse; Jacob Cherry, Eastern (Pekin); Wyatt Day, Jac-Cen-Del; Caleb Dewey, Edinburgh; Josiah Dunham, Evansville Christian; Brady Dunn, Christian Academy; Eli Hoffman, South Dearborn; Randy Kelley, Sullivan; Branden Northern, Silver Creek.
District-3 Girls: Carly Begle, Forest Park; Karsyn Flowers, Tecumseh; Gabey Gray, Forest Park; Scarlett Kimbrell, Franklin Community; Kynidi Mason-Striverson, Silver Creek; Kaybree Oxley, Tecumseh; Lacey Tingle, Silver Creek; Ashlyn Traylor, Franklin Community.
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.
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