IBCA/Franciscan Health Player of the Week 1

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

Nov. 7, 2023                                                                 Coordinator, Player of the Week

Initial IBCA/Franciscan Health Players of the Week Selected, as the 2023-2024 Season Kicks Off

            Monday, October 30, began the 2023-2024 season for girls’ basketball in Indiana, as there were three games on the slate. Between then and Saturday, November 4, most teams around the state officially tipped off for the first time. There were several strong performances last week, but we selected the three ladies below as our first recipients this season for the IBCA/Franciscan Health Player of the Week award, one from each of the IBCA’s three districts.

            Chesterton Sophomore Tenley Davis, Brownsburg Junior Avery Gordon, and Lanesville Junior Hadley Crosier were selected as the winners for Oct. 30-Nov. 4 in the recognition program coordinated by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association. Davis is the representative for District-1, Gordon takes home honors in District-2, while Crosier is the recipient in District-3.

            Last Thursday was a big night for the Chesterton Trojans as they began their season, plus they saw Sophomore Tenley Davis top her career high from last season by 20, as she poured in 36 points in a 68-53 victory at Highland High School. The 6-1 forward also collected five rebounds and handed out five assists in the opening night win. Two days later, the second-year player posted her first double-double of the season, as she came away with 18 points and 11 rebounds in hard-fought 65-52 defeat at the hands of the Northridge Lady Raiders. Davis added four more assists in the loss.

            The Brownsburg Bulldogs picked up a pair of key victories last week, topping Warren Central on Halloween, 61-58, then taking care of North Central on Saturday, 78-70. To say Junior Avery Gordon is a big part of what Brownsburg does is just the half of it. Standing 6-6, the center posted a double-double in each win. Tuesday, at Warren Central, she was credited with 25 points and 12 rebounds. Saturday, she returned to the court and increased her totals against the Panthers to 29 points and 16 rebounds on the evening. The dominant post has already announced her verbal commitment to Purdue University.

            Coming off a 2023 Class 1A State Championship, the Lanesville Eagles have not missed a beat, and Junior Hadley Crosier is a big reason for the continuity. In a 61-50 season-opening win Tuesday at Rock Creek, the 5-9 guard scored a career high 29 points on 11-16 shooting, including a strong 7-9 performance from the charity stripe. She added eight rebounds, eight steals, and three assists in the success. Saturday, in a blowout victory against Mitchell, Crosier scored 14 points on 6-10 shooting, she handed out four assists, plus she collected five caroms and four steals in limited minutes of an easy win.

            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 from now through the Monday following the IHSAA Girls State Finals. Boys winners will be chosen starting in three weeks and 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

Gene Milner, IBCA Website Coordinator