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Jan. 25, 2022 Coordinator, Player of the Week

Week-12 of the IBCA/Franciscan Health Player of the Week Awards Have a Junior Theme

Week-12 saw a number of nice performances statewide out of the Junior class in both boys’ and girls’ hoops. Of the six players selected as the Week-12 IBCA/Franciscan Health Players of the Week, four of them come from the Class of 2023 (two boys and two girls). Those four players were responsible for a triple-double, multiple double-doubles, and a trio of 30-point outings.

Gary 21^st Century Junior Ashton Williamson, Anderson Junior Ahmere Carson, New Albany Senior Tucker Biven, Fort Wayne Snider Senior Jyah LoVett, Tri Junior Bailey Parham, and Corydon Central Junior Ava Weber were selected as honorees for Jan. 17-Jan. 22 in the recognition program coordinated by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association. Williamson and LoVett are the boys’ and girls’ recipients, respectively, in District-1. Carson takes home boys’ honors, and Parham takes home girls’ honors in District-2. Biven is the boys’ winner, while Weber is the girls’ winner in District-3.

Junior Ashton Williamson has been one of the state’s top playmakers in 2021-2022, averaging 11.3 assists per game to date. Last week, the Gary 21^st Century guard helped his Cougars to a pair of victories. Monday, at the Martin Luther King Jr. Shootout at East Chicago Central High School, 21^st Century took on Gary West Side, winning 74-57. Williamson was 6-12 from the field, 4-6 from deep, and scored 16 points in the contest. But he also handed out 11 assists and grabbed eight rebounds, posting his seventh double-double of the season in his first game of the week.

Friday evening, the 21^st Century Cougars hosted East Chicago Central, and the Cougars knocked off the Cardinals 74-61. Williamson, a 6-3 guard, was even more spectacular, scoring 25 points, handing out 15 assists, and grabbing 11 rebounds, to post the rare triple-double. It was actually his fourth triple-double already this season. The Junior guard also managed to collect six steals and blocked three shots in the effort.

After moving in from California this year, Fort Wayne Snider Senior Jyah LoVett seems to have found her groove, helping the Panthers to a 16-3 record. Over the weekend, she was electric, as Snider began with a 74-36 win against Concordia Lutheran on Friday evening. LoVett was an efficient 15-26 from the field, and she knocked down one 3-pointer, scoring 31 points in total. She was also effective in other facets, grabbing four rebounds, handing out four assists, and collecting four steals in the easy win.

Saturday, LoVett and the Panthers returned to action with a tough matchup against Northridge, though they prevailed, 73-56. The 5-7 Senior guard was again a focal point of their offense, scoring 28 points on 11 made field goals, two made 3-pointers, and four made free throws. Again, four seemed to be her lucky number, as she added four more rebounds, four assists, and four steals.

Anderson Junior Ahmere Carson has put together a fine season, and he’s helped the Indians to a 12-3 start to the year. They began their three-game week with a North Central Conference matchup Tuesday evening at Marion, leaving with a 79-50 win. Carson was red hot, knocking down 9-13 from the field, 5-6 from deep, and 6-7 from the charity stripe, posting a 29-point outing. He added four rebounds, six assists, and four steals to his stat-line.

Friday, they headed to West Lafayette to take on Harrison. Carson and Anderson prevailed once again, defeating the Raiders 70-53 in another NCC contest. The 6-2 Junior guard was a strong 8-11 from the floor, he was 3-4 from long range, and he knocked down 6-7 from the line, scoring 25 points in this win. With his 10 assists, Carson posted a double-double, his second of the season. He also contributed six rebounds and three steals.

Saturday was a little different story for the Indians, as Anderson fell at home to Pike, 90-79. However, Carson was again outstanding. The Junior guard poured in 31 points on 10-15 shooting. He was a blistering 5-7 from outside, and he went 6-7 from the free throw line for the third consecutive game. Carson also managed to grab another five caroms, he handed out four more assists, and he collected three steals in defeat.

Tri High found themselves in a pair of games that took extra time to win last week, and Junior Bailey Parham was a huge factor in each. Tuesday, the Lady Titans hosted Oldenburg Academy, needing an extra period to win the overtime game, 60-54. The Junior made 10 field goals and added a 10-12 performance from the free throw line, scoring 30 points in total for Tri. Her 10 rebounds (five offensive) contributed to her double-double, plus she added six blocked shots in the narrow win.

Thursday evening, Tri added a game at Madison-Grant, replacing a lost game on their schedule. It took the Lady Titans two overtimes this night, but they prevailed 61-59 over the Argylls. A 6-0 post, Parham scored 24 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in her second double-double of the week, and her sixth double-double this season. She also managed to find teammates four more times for scores, as Tri is now 15-4 on the year.

Due to a postponement, the New Albany Bulldogs played just one game last week, but it was a real doozy. Saturday, the Bulldogs hosted a good Evansville Reitz squad, but they were able to squeeze out an 80-79 double-overtime win at the hands of the Panthers. Senior Tucker Biven led the way for New Albany, scoring 32 points, including six made 3-pointers. He also snagged three rebounds and handed out five assists. The 6-2 guard is committed to the University of Louisville for baseball.

Corydon Central is 18-2 this year, and Junior wing Ava Weber is a big part of that success. Tuesday, in an easy, 53-23 Mid-Southern Conference win against North Harrison, Weber scored a team-high 19 points. She also grabbed five rebounds and picked up four steals, as the Panthers moved to 7-1 in the conference to finish second overall.

Saturday, the Panthers were back in action against Floyd Central, and while it took an extra frame to win this one, Corydon Central triumphed by a score of 68-65. Weber, a 5-10 wing, was a near-perfect 7-8 from the floor, but it was her 15-20 performance at the free throw line that was key down the stretch. Weber’s 29 points were a season high, and her 10 rebounds helped her to the fourth double-double of her season. Toss in her three assists and four steals, and she contributed in multiple ways.

This is the 14^th 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. 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 (2021-22)

District-1 Boys: Jawan Agnew, South Bend Washington; Chase Bachelor, Prairie Heights; Tyvon Henry, South Bend Career Academy; Karson Jenkins, Fort Wayne Snider; Fletcher Loyer, Homestead; Joe Reidy, Woodlan; Luke Saylor, Heritage; Deaglan Sullivan, Mishawaka Marian; Ajani Washington, Fort Wayne Concordia; Beck Willems, Bethany Christian.

District-1 Girls: Alayna Boots, Prairie Heights; Ashlynn Brooke, Pioneer; Jessica Carrothers, Crown Point; Asia Donald, Hobart; Taylor Double, Huntington North; Eva Fisher, Northridge; Nevaeh Foster, Mishawaka Marian; Lilly Maple, Maconaquah; Kylie Wells, Merrillville; Zoe Willems, Bethany Christian.

District-2 Boys: Isaac Andrews, Wapahani; Flory Bidunga, Kokomo; Landon Biegel, Oak Hill; Trevion Johnson, Daleville; Chrishon McCray, Avon; Dylan Moles, Greenfield-Central; A.J. Roseman, Bishop Chatard; Billy Smith, Brebeuf Jesuit; Hayden Ulerick, Mississinewa; Devon Woods, Pike.

District-2 Girls: Mariah Claywell, Union City; Kendall Davison, Clinton Central; Kenzie Fulks, Bethesda Christian; Isabella Gizzi, New Palestine; Kenna Kirby, Tri-West; Teresa Maggio, McCutcheon; Olivia Nickerson, Twin Lakes; Ashlynn Shade, Noblesville; Halle Shelt, Park Tudor; Kyla Willis, North Putnam.

District-3 Boys: Weston Aigner, Castle; Matthew Arthur, New Washington; Drew Cook, Northview; Wyatt Day, Jac-Cen-Del; Caleb Dewey, Edinburgh; Hunter Johnson, South Decatur; Randy Kelley, Sullivan; Hagen Knepp, Barr-Reeve; Trent Sisley, Heritage Hills; Carter Waskom, Brownstown Central.

District-3 Girls: Cortney Dove, Princeton; Kendall Hale, Cannelton; Katie Jones, North Central (Farmersburg); Hadley Lytton, Heritage Hills; Kaybree Oxley, Tecumseh; Gracie Shorter, Sullivan; Zoe Stewart, Terre Haute North Vigo; Bailey Tabeling, Trinity Lutheran; Alaina Thorne, Washington; Josie Trabel, East Central.

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 21^st 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.