IBCA/Franciscan Health POW - Week 16

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                         Contact: Brandon Bradley, 260-580-4799

Feb. 20, 2024                                                                Coordinator, Player of the Week

Junior Floor Generals Lead Teams to State; Awarded Week-16 IBCA/Franciscan Health Players of the Week

            During the second year of the multi-game Semi-State format, girls’ teams around the state relied heavily on strong guard play and the ability to control tempo and take care of the basketball to pull out huge wins for their programs and advance to Gainbridge Fieldhouse for the State Finals. On the boys’ side, personal accomplishments and school records were set, as they also found out their Sectional alignment Sunday evening. All in all, six Hoosier preps have been chosen for Week-16 of the IBCA/Franciscan Health Player of the week awards.
            Lake Central Junior Vanessa Wimberly, Lawrence Central Junior Laila Abdurraqib, Lanesville Junior Hadley Crosier, Kankakee Valley Senior Camden Webster, Twin Lakes Senior Jamison Ousley, and Northview Sophomore Braden Goff have been selected for Feb. 12-Feb. 17 in the recognition program coordinated by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association. Wimberly and Webster represent the girls and boys, respectively, in District-1. Abdurraqib takes home girls’ honors, while Ousley takes home boys’ honors, in District-2. Crosier is the girls’ winner, and Goff is the boys’ winner in District-3.

            Lake Central Junior Vanessa Wimberly had an outstanding day on Saturday, helping the Indians to their first State Finals appearance since 1998. In double-digit wins over #10 Homestead (55-42) and #17 Noblesville (52-36), it was Wimberly’s creativity, ball control, and shot-making down the stretch that helped Lake Central pull away in the fourth quarters of those games. The 5-5 point guard came up with 4 key 3-pointers during the day, she buried 8-9 free throws against Noblesville, plus she, along with the other Lake Central guards, played keep-away with the ball, helping shave critical time off the clock. The Indians will take on Lawrence Central in the fourth and final game this coming Saturday.

            Speaking of Lawrence Central, Junior Laila Abdurraqib was equal to the task this past Saturday for the Bears. The 5-7 point guard stepped up big in clutch moments, whether it was taking care of the basketball, knocking down big shots and big free throws, or absorbing contact and coming up with loose balls and rebounds. Additionally, Abdurraqib has battled back from consecutive knee injuries to play a full season this year, and it certainly sparked the Bears Saturday, as they knocked off a good, young Plainfield team (48-34), then took down #3 Center Grove (53-40) in the nightcap. On the day, the Junior guard averaged 18.5 points and 4.0 assists per game. As mentioned above, Lawrence Central now looks to a rematch this Saturday with Lake Central. The Bears won the first one on December 22^nd, 51-38.

            Lanesville’s Hadley Crosier spent Saturday helping the Eagles back to the State Finals for the second consecutive year. Lanesville is the defending State Champion, and the 5-9 Junior guard has them clicking on all cylinders once again, as they took care of both Jac-Cen-Del (62-40) and North Central-Farmersburg (68-33) by more than 20 points each. In her two performances, Crosier averaged 23.5 points and 3.5 assists in less time than usual. She was also an efficient 17-32 from the field and 5-10 from 3-point range. The Eagles now face Marquette Catholic in the opening game Saturday morning.

            Kankakee Valley Senior Camden Webster has put together a nice career over his four years, but last week he reached a mark that hadn’t been touched in 47 years. Saturday, in a 69-63 victory over McCutcheon on Senior Night, the 6-4 guard scored 26 points, giving him a career total of 1330 points…now two more than former Kougar great Rick Sytsma’s former school record of 1328 that had stood since his graduation in 1977. Webster also finished that game with 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals. Earlier in the week, in a 58-54 Northwest Crossroads Conference win over Hanover Central, the Senior guard scored 25 points, grabbed 5 rebounds, handed out 7 assists, and collected 7 steals.

            Twin Lakes had to play the rugged 3-game schedule last week, dropping a tough one in overtime on Tuesday night to West Lafayette Harrison, 58-55. They then bounced back Friday and Saturday to knock off Hamilton Heights in the conference tournament, 49-48, and Delphi on Senior Night, 65-60. Throughout the week, Senior Jamison Ousley was dialed in. In Tuesday’s loss, the 6-3 guard scored 27 points, adding 3 rebounds and a pair of assists. In their narrow win against Hamilton Heights, Ousley managed 19 points, a perfect 3-3 from downtown, plus 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals. But it was Saturday’s game that stood out most. The 6-3 Senior poured in a career-high 41 points on 12-21 shooting, he was an impressive 7-11 from deep, and he was a solid 10-13 from the charity stripe. He added 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals to his big Senior Night performance.

            In Western Indiana, Northview Sophomore Braden Goff had a nice week of his own. In a pair of victories over Edgewood (64-56) and Clay City (70-56), both road games, Goff was very good from the field, but even better from the free throw line. Over the two games, the 6-0 guard scored 60 points, including 36 against Clay City. In the two games combined, he was 15-28 from the field, 4-8 from long range, and an impressive 26-28 from the 15-foot stripe. Goff also posted a double-double against Edgewood with his 10 rebounds, plus he dished out 6 assists and collected 5 steals on the week.

            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 will be chosen one more time, through the Monday following the IHSAA Girls State Finals next week. Boys’ winners will be chosen five 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.