Player/Team of the Week(POW/TOW) Week 13

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

Feb. 4, 2025                                                                     IBCA Director of Special Projects

Foster, Hosier lead IBCA Player of the Week honorees; 

Avon boys, Greensburg girls claim team awards

            Bremen senior Kila Foster set school records for points in a game and points in a career, while Alexandria senior Jacklynn Hosier passed a former Indiana Miss Basketball to move to the top of her school’s all-time scoring list. Thus, the record-setting duo headlines this week’s honorees in the IBCA/Franciscan Health Player of the Week program for 2024-25.

            Foster and Hosier along with Lanesville senior Shelby Allen, Rochester senior Drew Bowers, New Palestine senior Julius Gizzi and Switzerland County senior Cam Craig each has been selected as a winner for the week of Jan. 27-Feb. 1 in the recognition program coordinated by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association.

            Also, the Avon boys’ team and the Greensburg girls’ team each has been cited as an IBCA/Ballogy Team of the Week in another part of this season’s IBCA recognition program.

            Players of the Week are chosen by IHSAA district – Bowers and Foster for District 1, Gizzi and Hosier for District 2, and Craig and Allen for District 3. A single team for each gender from the entire state is cited as a Team of the Week in that portion of the program. Players and teams are recognized based on all performances in a Monday through Saturday week.

            Foster averaged 29.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists in keying the Class 2A No. 12 Bremen girls (21-2) to two victories. First, the 5-7 guard scored a school-record 38 points (on 15-of-19 from the field, 4-of-7 on 3-pointers and 4-of-5 free throws) with four assists, two assists and four steals as the Lions defeated South Bend Adams 77-44. She followed with 20 points, three rebounds, one assist and one steal in a 57-34 win at Elkhart Christian. For the week, Foster was 23-of-33 on field goals, 7-of-13 from deep and 5-of-6 on freebies. Her 38 points topped her own single-game record of 37 points, earlier this season against Bethany Christian. She pushed her career total to 1,407 points, surpassing the previous school best of 1,366 points set by her sister Ellia Foster in 2022.

            Hosier scored 33 points in Alexandria’s only game of the week, a 68-16 runaway over Madison-Grant, to move past 2005 Miss Basketball Jodi Howell and become her school’s all-time leading scorer. Hosier added six rebounds, five assists and nine steals as the Class 2A No. 3 Tigers improved to 22-1. A Vermont signee, the 5-8 guard pushed her career scoring total to 2,030 points, eclipsing Howell’s previous school record of 2,026 points. Hosier previously was an IBCA Player of the Week for the week of Nov. 11-16.

            Allen posted a pair of double-doubles in leading the Class 2A No. 9 Lanesville girls to a pair of home triumphs. The 6-1 center opened with 21 points, 10 rebounds and a steal in a 59-34 decision over Perry Central. She followed with 15 points and 18 rebounds as the Eagles improved to 17-3 with a 43-27 victory over Scottsburg. In the two games, Allen was 14-of-25 on field goals and 8-of-13 on free throws.

            Bowers averaged 31.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 4.7 steals in propelling the Rochester boys (11-3) to a 3-0 week. The 5-11 guard poured in a career-best 48 points (on 20-28 from the field, 5-of-8 3-pointers and 3-of-5 free throws) with nine rebounds, six assists and four steals in a 76-56 victory at Caston. He followed with 23 points, seven rebounds, five assists and five steals in a 60-44 decision at Northfield. Bowers completed his week with 23 points, four rebounds, six assists and five steals as the Zebras topped North Miami 69-58. In the three games, he converted 34-of-58 from the floor, 5-of-11 from distance and 19-of-24 from the line.

            Gizzi had norms of 30.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.3 steals in leading the 3A No. 7 New Palestine boys to a trio of triumphs. The 6-3 guard scored 27 points with seven rebounds, two assists and two steals in a 63-56 upset of 4A No. 7 Lawrence North. He tallied 31 points, three rebounds, two assists and three steals in a 90-61 victory over Yorktown. Gizzi totaled 34 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals as the Dragons improved to 16-2 with a 97-49 runaway at Indian Creek. For the week, the Indiana Wesleyan recruit converted 35-of-61 field goals, 7-of-17 3-pointers and 15-of-18 free throws. Gizzi now has 1,527 career points, 86 away from breaking the school record of 1,612 set by his brother Maximus Gizzi in 2020.

            Craig poured in 36 points with 19 rebounds in Switzerland County’s only game of the week, a 79-64 victory at Milan. The 6-4 forward added five assists and two steals as the Pacers improved to 8-8 for the season. Craig sank 11-of-15 shots, including 1-of-4 3-pointers, plus 13-of-17 charity tosses en route to moving his career point total to 1,519. A week earlier, he became his school’s all-time leading scorer when he passed the mark of 1,456 points set by 1982 graduate Brad Burk.

            The Avon boys, ranked ninth in Class 4A, was chosen the IBCA Team of the Week for the second time after the Orioles ran past Decatur Central 77-47 and 4A No. 4 Westfield 55-39. Junior Keriawn Berry scored 24 points, senior Kendrick Dunmore added 15 points, junior Jedidiah Minnett tallied 14 points and senior DeAndre Lott-Hancock had 10 points against the Hawks. Minnett and Lott-Hancock each totaled 14 points, senior Rohan Pearson netted 10 points and Berry had nine points against the Shamrocks as coach Drew Schauss’ squad improved to 15-2. Avon previously was an IBCA Team of the Week for the week of Jan. 13-18.

            The Greensburg girls, ranked No. 1 in Class 3A, claimed Team of the Week accolades by winning two games to complete a 21-0 regular season. Senior Mylie Wilkison scored 26 points, sophomore Claire Larrison netted 17 points and senior Leah West and junior Aly Powers each had 10 points in a 70-33 victory over New Palestine, a game that also was the 200th career victory for Pirates’ coach Jason Simpson. West dropped in 22 points, Wilkison tallied 14 points and Powers and Larrison each totaled 10 points in a 61-37 decision over Lawrenceburg.

            This is the 17th season for the IBCA Player of the Week program and the fifth season the awards are being presented by Franciscan Health Sports Medicine, an IBCA corporate partner. This is the first season for the IBCA Team of the Week program. The Team of the Week program is presented by Ballogy, another IBCA corporate partner.

            Winners are chosen each week in the Player of the Week program from each of the IHSAA's three districts, and one Team of the Week is selected from the entire state. Former Martinsville boys’ coach Kip Staggs oversees the selection of boys’ honorees. Former Brownsburg girls’ coach Debbie Smiley oversees the selection of girls’ honorees.

            Coaches may nominate players and teams via buttons on the IBCA website (in.nhsbca.org). Coaches must be a current-year member for their players and/or team to be selected for a weekly award. Girls' winners are chosen from now through Monday following the IHSAA girls' State Finals. Boys' winners are chosen from now through the Monday following the IHSAA boys' State Finals.

2024-25 IBCA weekly honorees

            Nov. 4-9 – District 1 girls: Laniah Davis, Marquette Catholic. District 2 girls: McKenzie Koch, Eastern Hancock. District 3 girls: Brynn Owens, Austin. Team of the Week (girls): Center Grove.

            Nov. 11-16 – District 1 girls: Lillian Barnes, Valparaiso. District 2 girls: Jacklynn Hosier, Alexandria. District 3 girls: Brooklynn Renn, Silver Creek. Team of the Week (girls): South Knox.

            Nov. 18-23 – District 1 girls: Addison Baxter, Columbia City. District 2 girls: Maya Makalusky, Hamilton Southeastern. District 3 girls: Jalyn Davidson, North Central (Farmersburg). Team of the Week (girls): Warsaw.

            Nov. 25-30 – District 1 boys: Gavin Betten, Manchester. District 1 girls: Vanessa Rosswurm, Norwell. District 2 boys: Josiah Love, Wes-Del. District 2 girls: Avery Gordon, Brownsburg. District 3 boys: Michael Cooper, Jeffersonville. District 3 girls: Mollie Ernstes, Jennings County. Team of the Week (boys): Vincennes Lincoln. Team of the Week (girls): Evansville North.

            Dec. 2-7 – District 1 boys: Anthony Murphy, Michigan City. District 1 girls: Laniah Davis, Marquette Catholic. District 2 boys: Braylon Mullins, Greenfield-Central. District 2 girls: Aniah Smith, Avon. District 3 boys: Keaton Lawson, Columbus East. District 3 girls: Maddy Shirley, Evansville Central. Team of the Week (boys): Warsaw. Team of the Week (girls): Lawrence Central.

            Dec. 9-14 – District 1 boys: Chase Konieczny, South Bend Saint Joseph. District 1 girls: Ashley Cox, DeKalb. District 2 boys: Gavin Saunders, Hamilton Heights. District 2 girls: Jaylah Lampley, Lawrence Central. District 3 boys: Mar Nicholson, Shelbyville. District 3 girls: Gabby Spink, Gibson Southern. Team of the Week (boys): Lawrence North. Team of the Week (girls): Columbia City.

            Dec. 16-21 – District 1 boys: Dillon Stewart, Tri-Township. District 1 girls: Emily Bleke, Bellmont. District 2 boys: Azavier Robinson, Lawrence North. District 2 girls: Laniah Wills, Lapel. District 3 boys: Blake Neill, Bloomfield. District 3 girls: Emma Schoen, Silver Creek. Team of the Week (boys): Silver Creek. Team of the Week (girls): North Central (Farmersburg).

            Dec. 23-28 – District 1 boys: Steven Reynolds III, South Bend Washington. District 1 girls: Lily Scholl, Northridge. District 2 boys: Bryson Cardinal, Guerin Catholic. District 2 girls: Meredith Tippner, Noblesville. District 3 boys: Cole Henry, South Ripley, and Blaine Ward, South Ripley. District 3 girls: Ellie Richardson, Scottsburg. Team of the Week (boys): Fishers. Team of the Week (girls): Hamilton Southeastern.

            Dec. 30-Jan. 4 – District 1 boys: Josiah Ball, Maconaquah. District 1 girls: Kira Reynolds, South Bend Washington. District 2 boys: Kelby Harwood, North Montgomery. District 2 girls: Avery Gordon Brownsburg. District 3 boys: Michael Cooper, Jeffersonville. District 3 girls: Maddy Shirley, Evansville Central. Team of the Week (boys): Ben Davis. Team of the Week (girls): Bellmont.

            Jan. 6-11 – District 1 boys: Ethan Zahn, Huntington North. District 1 girls: Lillian Barnes, Valparaiso. District 2 boys: Zion Bellamy, Kokomo. District 2 girls: Kenzie Koch, Eastern Hancock. District 3 boys: Eli Sego, Triton Central. District 3 girls: Claire Larrison, Greensburg. Team of the Week (boys): Fort Wayne Bishop Luers. Team of the Week (girls): Lanesville.

            Jan. 13-18 – District 1 boys: Brad Rhode, Hanover Central. District 1 girls: Addison Baxter, Columbia City. District 2 boys: Braylon Mullins, Greenfield-Central. District 2 girls: Kenzie Garner, Sheridan. District 3 boys: Benjamin Kahler, Southwestern (Shelby). District 3 girls: Ella Bobe, South Knox. Team of the Week (boys): Avon. Team of the Week (girls): Silver Creek.

            Jan. 20-25 – District 1 boys: Lucas Kleckner, Kouts. District 1 girls: Brooke Winchester, Warsaw. District 2 boys: Jace Tonagel, Oak Hill. District 2 girls: Lillie Graves, McCutcheon. District 3 boys: Cole Thomas, South Central (Elizabeth). District 3 girls: Ava Wheeler, Borden. Team of the Week (boys): Penn. Team of the Week (girls): Homestead.

            Jan. 27-Feb. 1 – District 1 boys: Drew Bowers, Rochester. District 1 girls: Kila Foster, Bremen. District 2 boys: Julius Gizzi, New Palestine. District 2 girls: Jacklynn Hosier, Alexandria. District 3 boys: Cam Craig, Switzerland County. District 3 girls: Shelby Allen, Lanesville. Team of the Week (boys): Avon. Team of the Week (girls): Greensburg.