IBCA/Franciscan Health POW Week 19

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

March 12, 2024                                                             Coordinator, Player of the Week

Clancy, Lawrence, & Pickett Step Up During Week-19 to Earn IBCA/Franciscan Health Player of the Week Honors

            Saturday afternoon and evening, 16 high school gyms around the state played host to two of the one-game Regionals. Historic meccas in Seymour, New Castle, and Washington, were among those sites privy to seeing 64 teams trimmed down to 32 heading into this weekend’s two-game Semi-State round. With seasons on the line, there were several nice performances, but three young men stood out as the top Player of the Week candidates for Week-19 in the IBCA/Franciscan Health Program.

            Blackhawk Christian Junior Kellen Pickett, Danville Senior Evan Lawrence, and Scottsburg Senior Kody Clancy have been chosen for Mar. 4-Mar. 9 in the recognition program coordinated by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association. Pickett is the representative for District-1, Lawrence is the winner for District-2, and Clancy is the honoree for District-3.

            The Braves of Blackhawk Christian are no stranger to postseason success, as they claimed state titles in 2019 (Class A), 2021 (Class AA), and 2023 (Class AA). This season, they are again one of the best teams in Class AA, and Junior Kellen Pickett has been a big part of their success. Saturday, the 6-9 forward nearly posted a triple-double, as he scored 20 points, pulled down 11 rebounds, and handed out 8 assists in their 64-48 win over Lafayette Central Catholic. The star Junior even blocked 5 shots for good measure. Blackhawk will now head to Lafayette Jefferson to take on Wabash March 16^th.

            The Danville Warriors sit at 22-3 and won their fourth Regional title in program history Saturday. They now turn their attention to claiming their first-ever Semi-State crown. However, during this past weekend’s success, a 61-39 triumph over Northview, Senior Evan Lawrence made his presence known for the Warriors. The 6-6 post recorded a double-double with 16 points on an efficient 8-11 from the field, and he grabbed 12 caroms, half of which came at the offensive end of the floor. The Indiana University football commit added 3 assists and a blocked shot as well. Danville will travel South to Seymour, where they will begin Semi-State play against Guerin Catholic Saturday morning.

            Scottsburg made it to the Class AAA “Final Four” a season ago, and this year they look to make it one step farther. Last Saturday, the Warriors sailed to a comfortable 84-46 victory over Batesville in their Regional game. Senior Kody Clancy has put together an outstanding career for the purple & gold, and his skill was on display a couple of days ago. The 6-3 point guard scored 30 points on 12-16 shooting, and he was an impressive 4-6 from deep. In a well-rounded effort, Clancy added 3 rebounds, 6 assists, and 8 steals, plus he moved into second place on the Scottsburg career scoring list. This coming weekend, he will help the Warriors when they face a talented Evansville Bosse program.

            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 two 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.

            Mar. 4-Mar. 9: District-1 boys: Kellen Pickett, Blackhawk Christian. District-2 boys: Evan Lawrence, Danville. District-3 boys: Kody Clancy, Scottsburg.