Week-8 of the IBCA/Franciscan Health Player of the Week Program Highlights Six; Knepp & Hull Stand Out
With Christmas Eve falling on a Friday and Christmas Day falling on a Saturday, last week left us just four days with opportunities to play games. While a number of schools chose to take the week off entirely, there were still several memorable performances, and six players were selected as their district’s IBCA/Franciscan Health Players of the Week.
Fort Wayne South Side Senior Ashton Johnson, Mount Vernon (Fortville) Senior Armon Jarrard, Barr-Reeve Senior Hagen Knepp, Warsaw Senior Kacilyn Krebs, Zionsville Junior Laila Hull, and Bedford North Lawrence Sophomore Chloe Spreen have been selected as recipients for Dec. 20-Dec. 25 in the recognition program coordinated by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association. Johnson is the boys’ winner, while Krebs is the girls’ winner in Disrict-1. Jarrard and Hull are the boys’ and girls’ recipients, respectively, in District-2. Knepp takes home boys’ honors, while Spreen takes home girls’ honors in District-3.
The Archers of Fort Wayne South Side participated in the Summit Conference Classic on Tuesday, taking on South Bend’s John Adams, and finishing the day with a nice 62-47 victory. Senior Ashton Johnson was key to their success, as he scored 22 points on 9-14 shooting, plus he was 2-4 from deep and made both free throw attempts. The 6-2 guard also snagged three rebounds, found teammates for seven other scores, and collected six steals in success.
The Warsaw Lady Tigers took on IBCA #7 Lake Central Wednesday night, upsetting the Lady Indians in impressive fashion, 66-39. Senior Kacilyn Krebs was a big catalyst in the win, knocking down 9-16 from the floor, including a superb 6-10 from behind the arc, as she scored 24 points to help her Lady Tigers. The 5-9 wing, committed to the University of Indianapolis, also managed to grab seven rebounds, hand out five assists, and pick off a steal in the effort.
Senior Armon Jarrard and the Mount Vernon Marauders picked up a huge Hoosier Heritage Conference win Thursday night, as they went into the New Castle Fieldhouse and won 63-52. The 6-2 point guard was everywhere, scoring 16 points, collecting eight caroms, dishing out four assists, picking off a pair of steals, and blocking three shots in the triumph. The IUPUI commit was also an efficient 6-11 from the field and 4-5 from the charity stripe.
The Zionsville Eagles managed to find a way to play three games last week, and Junior forward Laila Hull put forth three nice efforts, with double-doubles each time she took the floor. Monday evening, the Eagles traveled to Tri-West, where they took care of the Lady Bruins, 65-45. Hull began her week with a nice 21-point, 11-rebound performance, plus she added four assists and a pair of blocked shots.
Then on Wednesday, Zionsville and Hull headed South to the Walt Raines Classic in Franklin, Indiana. In their first game of the day, they dispatched of Terre Haute North Vigo, 49-34. The 6-1 forward scored 20 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, handed out three assists, and nabbed a pair of steals, as the Eagles advanced to the championship game.
In that final game of the day, Zionsville ran into the host school, 16-0 and IBCA #2 Franklin Community, falling 65-48 in the evening tilt. The Junior Hull did her best to give the Eagles a chance, scoring 26 points and collecting 11 rebounds, while also picking up two more steals and two more blocked shots in defeat.
Barr-Reeve headed to Northeast Dubois Tuesday night for a Blue Chip Conference game just before Christmas, and the Vikings took care of the host Jeeps, 66-43. Senior Hagen Knepp was outstanding in the effort, making 14-21 shots, knocking down a pair of triples, while also burying four of his five free throw attempts, scoring 34 points in total. The 6-3 wing nearly posted a double-double with his nine rebounds, but he also contributed a pair of assists, four steals, and a blocked shot, helping the Vikings to a 2-0 start in conference play.
Wednesday, the Bedford North Lawrence Lady Stars hosted their own tournament, with an impressive field of four highly ranked teams taking the floor throughout the day. The IBCA #4 Lady Stars began their day with a hard-fought, 47-40 win over the 17th ranked East Central Lady Trojans. Talented Sophomore Chloe Spreen managed 15 points, six rebounds, and a trio of assists for the Lady Stars in the low-scoring, tough win.
Later, in the championship game, Bedford North Lawrence took on IBCA #5 Noblesville in a battle of elite backcourts. The 5-9 Spreen was dialed in, knocking down 12-17 shots from the field, 3-6 from long range, while adding a point from the line, scoring 28 points in total. The Sophomore guard added six rebounds, three assists, a steal, and two blocked shots, as the Lady Stars won convincingly, 59-40.
This is the 14th season for the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association Player of the Week program, but just the second 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 through the Monday following the IHSAA Girls State Finals. Boys’ winners will be chosen through the Monday following the IHSAA Boys State Finals.
Other Top Nominees for Week-8 (2021-22)
District-1 Boys: Luke Andree, Kankakee Valley; Brayden Betzner, Maconaquah; Ben Garwood, LaCrosse; Tyvon Henry, South Bend Career Academy; Chris Hood, East Noble; Ben Keil, Lakeland; Fletcher Loyer, Homestead; Isaiah Malone, Prairie Heights; Reece Marrs, Hebron; Trey Schoch, South Adams.
District-1 Girls: Allison Capouch, Kouts; Jessica Carrothers, Crown Point; Sidney Elijah, Hebron; Eva Fisher, Northridge; Ellia Foster, Bremen; Ella Haupert, Southwood; Bailey Kelham, Garrett; Kennedy Kugler, Prairie Heights; Kate Thomas, Kankakee Valley; Zoe Willems, Bethany Christian.
District-2 Boys: Landon Biegel, Oak Hill; Javan Buchanan, Lafayette Jefferson; Will Grissom, Guerin Catholic; Logan Imes, Zionsville; Jonah Lucas, West Lafayette Harrison; Chrishon McCray, Avon; A.J. Roseman, Bishop Chatard; Braden Smith, Westfield; Javon Tracy, Decatur Central; Jackson Ullom, Monroe Central.
District-2 Girls: Sydney Argo, Faith Christian; Asiah Baxter, Warren Central; Riley Flinn, West Lafayette Harrison; McKenna Layden, Northwestern; Ally Madden, Blue River Valley; Jaelynne Murray, Pike; Mady Rees, Liberty Christian; Ashlee Schram, Tipton; Ashlynn Shade, Noblesville; Adrianne Tolen, West Lafayette.
District-3 Boys: Connor Agler, Evansville Memorial; Zach Cole, Southwestern (Hanover); Chad Cox, Franklin County; Raedhyn Foust, Northeastern; Cameron Gelhausen, Evansville North; Ian Hall, Orleans; Mason Harvey, Seton Catholic; Sam King, Columbus North; Branden Northern, Silver Creek; Trent Sisley, Heritage Hills.
District-3 Girls: Madi Allen, North Decatur; Jenna Donohoo, Tecumseh; Kylee Edwards, Shelbyville; Lauren Foster, Indian Creek; Jaidn Green, Evansville North; Keylee Hudson, Eastern Greene; Kencia Levasseur, Washington; Madelyn Poe, Hauser; Josie Trabel, East Central; Ava Weber, Corydon Central.
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