FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Brandon Bradley, 260-580-4799
April 1, 2024 Coordinator, Player of the Week
Four State Champs Crowned During Final Week of the IBCA/Franciscan Health Player of the Week Program
Following a week-long delay due to the NCAA tournament’s Midwest Regional at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the IHSAA boys’ State Finals were played Saturday, with all four schools claiming their first state titles in program history. Congratulations to Fort Wayne Canterbury (Class A), Brownstown Central (AA), Scottsburg (AAA), and Fishers (AAAA) on this great accomplishment! Additionally, congratulations to the four Mental Attitude Award winners: Luke Douglas of Bethesda Christian (A), Isaac Andrews of Wapahani (AA), Jerry Barca of South Bend St. Joseph (AAA), and Parker Perdue of Fishers (AAAA)!
We would now like to take the time to honor four players of the week this week, one from each of the four champion programs. Fort Wayne Canterbury Senior John Parent, Brownstown Central Senior Jack Benter, Scottsburg Senior Jack Miller, and Fishers Junior JonAnthony Hall have all been selected as Players of the Week in their respective classes for Mar. 25-Mar. 30 in the recognition program sponsored by Franciscan Health and coordinated by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association.
Canterbury Senior John Parent came up big for the Cavaliers Saturday, scoring 22 points, including 7 in the fourth quarter of their 48-41 victory over Bethesda Christian in the Class A game. On the day, the 6-5 Senior was 8-15 from the field, 2-5 from deep, and 4-4 from the charity stripe, while also pulling down 10 rebounds to record a double-double. Parent added 2 assists and 2 blocked shots to his effort, as Canterbury finishes the season with an impressive 19-9 mark after starting out just 2-7.
The Class AA game saw the top two teams in the class face off, with Brownstown Central able to jump out to an early 9-point lead by the first media timeout, and the Braves were able to keep that at two possessions or more for the remainder of the 55-36 win. Senior Jack Benter capped off his stellar career with a 25-point, 6-rebound outing. The 6-6 Purdue University commit was 9-18 from the field, 2-4 from beyond the arc, and 5-5 from the free throw line. He added 4 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocked shots to his tally, as the Braves finished the year with an overall mark of 28-4.
Senior Jack Miller helped the Scottsburg Warriors to a 67-57 victory over the Indians of South Bend St. Joseph in the Class AAA game, scoring a game-high 32 points on a highly efficient 12-18 shooting. He was 3-6 from distance and 5-6 from the stripe as well. The 6-6 wing added 4 rebounds, an assist, and a steal to his effort, and he will attend Hanover College and play for his father next season. The Warriors finished the season with a 25-5 record.
In the Class AAAA game, two heavyweights went to battle, with the Fishers Tigers knocking off the defending state champion Ben Davis Giants, 65-56. Junior JonAnthony Hall is known best for his defensive prowess, but he was dialed in from the tip, leading all scorers with 23 points, including 14 in the opening quarter. The 6-2 guard added 10 rebounds for the double-double, plus he dished out 2 assists and collected 2 steals in the triumph. Hall was recently named to the Indiana Junior All-Star team. Fishers finishes the year with an outstanding 29-1 record, avenging their lone loss on the year in the opening round of the Sectional.
This was the 16th season for the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association Player of the Week program, and the fourth season it has been 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 were chosen each week of their season, through today, 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.
Mar. 11-Mar. 16: District-1 boys: Devon Lewis, Fort Wayne Canterbury. District-2 boys: Isaac Andrews, Wapahani. District-3 boys: Jack Benter, Brownstown Central.
Mar. 25-Mar. 30: Class A boys: John Parent, Fort Wayne Canterbury. Class AA boys: Jack Benter, Brownstown Central. Class AAA boys: Jack Miller, Scottsburg. Class AAAA boys: JonAnthony Hall, Fishers.