2026

Written by Indiana Basketball Coaches Association | Mar 31, 2026 4:34:30 PM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Pat McKee, 317-403-1665

March 31, 2026 IBCA Director of Special Projects

Ertel, Smith, Schelsky and Shaw named IBCA Players of the Week; Barr-Reeve cited as IBCA Team of the Week

Luke Ertel totaled 26 points, 10 rebounds and helped his team overcome a 10-point halftime deficit as Mt. Vernon (Fortville) rallied for a 52-50 victory over Crown Point for the Class 4A state championship. Consequently, Ertel again headlines the honorees in the IBCA Player of the Week program.

Indianapolis Cathedral senior Julien Smith, Parke Heritage senior Treigh Schelsky and Crown Point senior Dikembe Shaw join Ertel as Week 21 winners in the IBCA Player of the Week program for 2025-26. Also, Barr-Reeve was cited as an IBCA/Ballogy Team of the Week for respective performances during the week of March 23-28 in the recognition program coordinated by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association.

Players of the Week generally are selected by IHSAA district – Shaw for District 1 with Ertel, Smith and Schelsky sharing honors for District 2. There is no District 3 player this week. Teams of the Week are cited at the discretion of the program coordinator, former Martinsville coach Kip Staggs for boys. Players and teams are recognized based on all performances in a Monday through Saturday week.

Ertel added six assists and one steal in helping Mt. Vernon (Fortville) complete its season with a 28-3 record. The 6-2 guard went 7-of-17 on field goals, 2-of-8 on 3-pointers and 10-of-11 on free throws as the Marauders’ capture their first boys’ basketball state title. This is the fifth time this season that the Purdue recruit has been cited as an IBCA Player of the Week. He previously was recognized for the weeks of Dec. 8-13, Dec. 22-27, Jan. 19-24 and March 16-21.

Smith scored 21 points with nine rebounds, one assist, one steal and one blocked shot to key Cathedral to a 71-61 decision over New Haven for the Class 3A state championship. The 6-0 guard, bound for Mount St. Mary’s University in Maryland, went 5-of-14 from the field, including 3-of-6 from distance, and 8-of-10 from the line as the Fighting Irish finished 25-5. Cathedral captured its third state crown, joining a 3A trophy in 1998 and a 4A trophy in 2022.

Schelsky tallied 17 points, one rebound and five assists to help Parke Heritage edge Westview 57-56 for the Class 2A state championship. The 6-0 guard, headed to Huntington University, connected on 8-of-15 shots and his only free throw to cap the Wolves' season at 27-4. This is the first state title for Parke Heritage, a consolidation of Rockville and Turkey Run high schools that opened in 2018-19.

Shaw provided 24 points, nine rebounds, two assist and two blocks as Crown Point fell just short in its bid for the Class 4A championship. The 6-7 guard forward sank 9-of-17 fielders, 4-of-7 3-pointers and 2-of-2 free throws as the Bulldogs finished their season at 25-2. This is Shaw’s second time this season as an IBCA Player of the Week. The Illinois-Chicago signee previously was honored Dec. 22-27.

Barr-Reeve State Champions

Team of the Week honors went to Barr-Reeve, which showed excellent balance in its 50-37 victory over Triton for the Class A state title. Sophomore Josh Miller nearly had a double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds, while sophomore Jaylon Graber and senior Korben Boyd each added 11 points as the Vikings completed a 28-1 season for coach Heath Howington. Barr-Reeve captured its third state title, joining previous crowns in 2015 and 2021. This is the Vikings’ second time this season as an IBCA Team of the Week. It previously was recognized March 16-21.

This is the 18th season for the IBCA Player of the Week program. This is the second season for the IBCA Team of the Week program and the second season the Team of the Week program is presented by Ballogy, an IBCA corporate partner. The program now is concluded for the 2025-26 season.

2025-26 IBCA weekly honorees

Nov. 3-8 – District 1 girls: Laniah Davis, Marquette Catholic. District 2 girls: Kenzie Koch, Eastern Hancock. District 3 girls: Gracyn Gilliard, Center Grove. Teams of the Week (girls): North Knox, South Central (Elizabeth), Warsaw.

Nov. 10-15 – District 1 girls: Leah Shappell, Leo. District 2 girls: Adah Hupfer, Pendleton Heights. District 3 girls: Emily Parker, Boonville. Team of the Week (girls): Homestead.

Nov. 17-22 – District 1 girls: Sarah Thompson, Oregon-Davis. District 2 girls: Kennedy Holman, Hamilton Southeastern. District 3 girls: Mollie Ernstes, Jennings County. Teams of the Week (girls): Crown Point, LaPorte.

Nov. 24-29 – District 1 boys: Josh McBride and Nick McBride, Norwell. District 1 girls: Kendall VanderWal, Angola. District 2 boys: Brayden Thiele-Hahn, Rossville. District 2 girls: Carly Davison, Clinton Central. District 3 boys: Anthony Fresh, Charlestown. District 3 girls: Natalie Stenger, East Central. Teams of the Week (boys): Corydon Central, Plainfield. Team of the Week (girls): Maconaquah.

Dec. 1-6 – District 1 boys: Mack Welker, Homestead. District 1 girls: Hillary Labis, Westville. District 2 boys: Drew Matelic, Speedway. District 2 girls: Riley Suarez, Hamilton Heights. District 3 boys: Wyatt Jones, Borden. District 3 girls: Hannah Higgs, Evansville Christian. Team of the Week (boys): Indianapolis Cathedral. Team of the Week (girls): Borden.

Dec. 8-13 – District 1 boys: Charles Hardiman, Merrillville. District 1 girls: Allison Ambers, Northridge. District 2 boys: Devin Bolden, Indianapolis Cardinal Ritter, and Luke Ertel, Mt. Vernon (Fortville). District 2 girls: Elliot Leffler, Roncalli. District 3 boys: Jake Prior, Heritage Hills. District 3 girls: Maddy Shirley, Evansville Central. Teams of the Week (boys): Lawrence North, Northridge. Team of the Week (girls): Floyd Central.

Dec. 15-20 – District 1 boys: Daniel Selking, Bellmont. District 1 girls: Konley Ault, Bluffton. District 2 boys: DeZhon Hall, Indianapolis Crispus Attucks. District 2 girls: Shania Curry, Ben Davis. District 3 boys: Noah Vance, Christian Academy of Indiana. District 3 girls: Haley Wagoner, Center Grove. Teams of the Week (boys): South Bend Riley, Taylor. Team of the Week (girls): Hamilton Southeastern.

Dec. 22-27 – District 1 boys: Dikembe Shaw, Crown Point. District 1 girls: Brooke Zartman, Warsaw. District 2 boys: Luke Ertel, Mt. Vernon (Fortville). District 2 girls: Carly Davison, Clinton Central. District 3 boys: Dane Caldwell, Silver Creek. District 3 girls: Emery Stroud, Crawford County. Teams of the Week (boys): Crown Point, Gibson Southern, Mt. Vernon (Fortville). Team of the Week (girls): Valparaiso.

Dec. 29-Jan. 3 – District 1 boys: Brady Scholl, Northridge. District 1 girls: Joslyn Bricker, Warsaw. District 2 boys: Noah Smith, Plainfield. District 2 girls: Zoey Wood, Mt. Vernon (Fortville). District 3 boys: Braxton Bowman, Crawford County. District 3 girls: Claire Larrison, Greensburg. Teams of the Week (boys): LaPorte, Indianapolis Riverside, Silver Creek. Team of the Week (girls): Homestead.

Jan. 5-10 – District 1 boys: Bryce Wilcox, Southwood. District 1 girls: Kamri Rowland, Rensselaer Central. District 2 boys: Jaxson Johnson, Muncie Central. District 2 girls: Alyx Kendall, Indianapolis Bishop Chatard. District 3 boys: Dorion Bowen, Evansville Bosse. District 3 girls: Paige Schnaus, Gibson Southern. Teams of the Week (boys): Oak Hill, South Dearborn. Teams of the Week (girls): Plainfield, Princeton.

Jan. 12-17 – District 1 boys: Tim Knoll, LaPorte. District 1 girls: Myah Epps, Homestead. District 2 boys: Harper Baker-Lands, Plainfield. District 2 girls: Maya Layton, Lafayette Jefferson. District 3 boys: Kamdon Partenheimer, Forest Park. District 3 girls: Juliana Davis, Madison. Teams of the Week (boys): Lawrence North, Westview, Whiteland. Team of the Week (girls): Bluffton.

Jan. 19-24 – District 1 boys: Stephen Akase, Wawasee, and Wyatt Schroll, Manchester. District 1 girls: Kendall VanderWal, Angola. District 2 boys: Luke Ertel, Mt. Vernon (Fortville). District 2 girls: Lillie Graves, McCutcheon. District 3 boys: Blake Neill, Bloomfield. District 3 girls: Gracyn Gilliard, Center Grove. Teams of the Week (boys): Frankton, Kouts. Teams of the Week (girls): Kankakee Valley, Whitko.

Jan. 26-31 – District 1 boys: Bryce LaCross, Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian. District 1 girls: Vanessa Rosswurm, Norwell. District 2 boys: Colton Lindsay, Eastern (Greentown). District 2 girls: C.C. Quigley, Noblesville. District 3 boys: Eli Sego, Triton Central. District 3 girls: Maddy Shirley, Evansville Central. Teams of the Week (boys): Hauser, Penn. Team of the Week (girls): Brownsburg.

Feb. 2-7 – District 1 boys: Caleb Coolman, Penn. District 1 girls: Lily Scholl, Northridge. District 2 boys: DeZhon Hall, Indianapolis Crispus Attucks. District 2 girls: Adah Hupfer, Pendleton Heights. District 3 boys: James Hughes, Batesville. District 3 girls: Brynn Owens, Austin. Team of the Week (boys): Terre Haute North. Teams of the Week (girls): Jennings County, Northridge.

Feb. 9-14 – District 1 boys: Nick Shrewsberry, South Bend Saint Joseph. District 1 girls: Vanessa Rosswurm, Norwell. District 2 boys: Carter Biggs, Western, and Ishmael Kiteka, Cloverdale. District 2 girls: Ke’Adriah “Keke” Butler, Lawrence Central. District 3 boys: Gavin Keller, Hauser. District 3 girls: Mollie Ernstes, Jennings County. Team of the Week (boys): Michigan City. Team of the Week (girls): Fremont.

Feb. 16-21 – District 1 boys: Ayle Taylor, Fort Wayne Bishop Luers. District 1 girls: Grace Scharlach, Fremont. District 2 boys: Camden Bell, Wapahani. District 2 girls: Brianna Dailey, Oak Hill. District 3 boys: Micah Mohler, Austin. District 3 girls: Riley Rarick, Borden. Teams of the Week (boys): Shakamak, Sheridan, Washington Township. Team of the Week (girls): Eastern (Pekin).

Feb. 23-28 – District 1 boys: George Poiry, Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger. District 1 girls: Ashley Bleke, Bellmont. District 2 boys: Ari Sahm, Indianapolis Bishop Chatard. District 2 girls: Elliot Leffler, Roncalli. District 3 boys: Noah Washington, New Albany. District 3 girls: Sidney Burton, Eastern (Pekin), and Emma Hart, Borden. Team of the Week (boys): Fishers. Teams of the Week (girls): Center Grove, Bellmont, Eastern (Pekin), Borden.

March 2-7 – District 1 boys: Bryce LaCross, Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian. District 2 boys: TaShaun Beatty, Monroe Central. District 3 boys: Dorion Bowen, Evansville Bosse, and Kamdon Partenheimer, Forest Park. Teams of the Week (boys): Carmel, Marquette Catholic.

March 9-14 – District 1 boys: Austin Schlabach, Westview. District 2 boys: Keaton Aldridge Jr., Indianapolis Cathedral. District 3 boys: Brandon Hunter, Silver Creek. Teams of the Week (boys): Decatur Central, New Haven, North Vermillion, Northridge, Tri-County.

March 16-21 – District 1 boys: Tarvar Baskerville II, New Haven. District 2 boys: Luke Ertel, Mt. Vernon (Fortville). District 3 boys: Kierson Lengacher, Barr-Reeve. Teams of the Week (boys): Barr-Reeve, Crown Point, Parke Heritage.

March 23-28 – District 1 boys: Dikembe Shaw, Crown Point. District 2 boys: Luke Ertel, Mt. Vernon (Fortville); Julien Smith, Indianapolis Cathedral; and Treigh Schelsky, Parke Heritage. District 3 boys: none. Teams of the Week (boys): Barr-Reeve.

# END #

Gene Milner

IBCA Website Coordinator

View full post