Blackmon headlines IBCA/Subway Players of the Week
Marion sophomore joined by Mantis, Hemenway, Radtke, Syrek and Hisle as honorees
Jalen Blackmon averaged 36.0 points over two games, and the Marion High School sophomore leads the honorees in this week’s IBCA/Subway Player of the Week program.
Blackmon is joined by Lowell sophomore Christopher Mantis, Castle senior Alex Hemenway, Rensselaer Central senior Bianca Radtke, University junior Lindsey Syrek and Evansville North junior Kenna Hisle as recipients for the week of Jan. 14-19 in the recognition program coordinated by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association.
Mantis is the boys’ winner and Radtke is the girls’ winner for District 1. Blackmon and Syrek collected respective boys’ and girls’ accolades for District 2. Hemenway and Hisle are honorees for District 3.
The 6-2 Blackmon opened his week with 30 points, four rebounds, three assists and four steals as the Marion boys beat Anderson 73-58. Blackmon then exploded for 42 points with two rebounds, two assists and one assist as the Giants (7-5) dropped a 103-70 decision to Lafayette Jeff. Over both games, Blackmon sank 23-of-48 field goals, 7-of-24 3-pointers and 19-of-24 free throws.
Mantis poured in 35 points in the only game of the week for the Lowell boys (6-8). The 6-6 guard added eight rebounds, three assists and three blocks in a 72-67 overtime setback to Lake Central. He was 12-of-20 from the floor, 4-of-7 from long range and 7-of-7 on free throws.
The 6-4 Hemenway averaged 33.5 points in two games for the Castle boys (11-4). The Clemson recruit started his week by scoring 40 points with four rebounds and four assists in an 84-56 triumph over Henderson County, Ky. He followed with 27 points with two assists and three blocks as the Knights fell 56-54 to Bloomington South in the 800th career victory for Panthers coach J.R. Holmes. Hemenway was 22-of-26 from the field, 11-of-15 on 3-pointers and 12-of-13 from the line over both games.
Radtke averaged 32.5 points in keying the Rensselaer Central girls (12-7) to a pair of victories. First, the 5-7 guard scored 29 points with five rebounds, four assists and four steals in a 79-42 decision over North Newton. Radtke followed with 36 points, four rebounds, four assists and five steals as the Bombers beat Western 67-60. Over both games, she hit 18-of-33 shots, 10-of-19 3-pointers and 19-of-23 free throws.
The 6-2 Syrek was one block shy of a trio of triple-doubles for the University girls (19-2). She started with 19 points, 13 rebounds, four steals and 10 blocks in a 72-33 victory over Greenwood Christian. Syrek followed with 23 points, 16 reboudns, two assists and 10 blocks as the Trailblazers topped Guerin Catholic 56-39. She tallied 12 points with 13 rebounds, three assists and nine blocks in a 71-70 loss to Tri-West. Over three games, Syrek went 22-of-43 from the field, 2-of-4 on 3-pointers and 8-of-13 on free throws.
Hisle averaged 23.0 points and 5.3 rebounds in propelling the Evansville North girls (10-11). The 6-0 guard scored 31 points with seven rebounds, one assist and one steal in a 65-44 victory over Pike Central. She tallied 24 points with three rebounds, two assists and two steals in a 51-44 decision over Forest Park. Hisle netted 14 points with six rebounds, four assists and two steals as the Huskies beat Princeton 50-38. Over three games, Hisle hit 27-of-52 shots, including 3-of-10 from long range, plus 12-of-17 free throws.
This is the 11th season for the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association Player of the Week program and the seventh season it is presented by Subway Restaurants of Indiana, a banner sponsor of the IBCA. Subway, in its seventh season as an IBCA sponsor, encourages athletes to “train hard and eat fresh.”
Winners in the Player of the Week are chosen each week from each of the IHSAA’s three districts. Girls winners will be chosen from now through the week following Feb. 23. Boys winners will be chosen from now through the week following March 23.
Other nominees for Week 12 (2018-19)
               District 1 boys – Ali Ali, East Noble; Alec Burton, Heritage; Trenton Daughtry, Wabash; Davion Davis, Calumet; David Ejah, Carroll (Fort Wayne); Caleb Furst, Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian; Easton Good, Lewis Cass; Gavin Herrema, Covenant Christian (DeMotte); Dallas Holmes, Southwood; Gabe Johnson, South Bend Riley; Kyle Ross, Andrean; Hank Smith, Elkhart Memorial; Charlie Yoder, Westview.
               District 1 girls – Taylor Austin, Lake Station; Sophie Bussard, Tippecanoe Valley; Jessica Carrothers, Crown Point; Jordan Clingler, Caston; Erin Coffel, Bremen; Audrey Freeland, Carroll (Fort Wayne); Morgan Litwiller, Northridge; Sarah Martin, Kankakee Valley; Mercedes Rhodes, Oregon-Davis; Madison Shedrow, Culver.
               District 2 boys – Luke Brown, Blackford; Josh Bryan, Delta; Luke Bumbalough, New Castle; Austin Etherington, Hamilton Southeastern; Armaan Franklin, Cathedral; Josh Hatzell, Frankton; Jonathan Irwin, Bluffton; Zack Johnson, Noblesville; Jake LaRavia, Lawrence Central; Allen Plunkett, South Putnam; Wyatt Rudy, Madison-Grant; Isaiah Thompson, Zionsville; Brody Whitaker, Greencastle.
               District 2 girls – Maddie Bischoff, Roncalli; Caily Bolser, Mississinewa; Shelby Caldwell, Jay County; Tori Combs, Cloverdale; Maggie Cora, Tri-West; Cassidy Crawford, Tipton; Olivia Dowden, McCutcheon; Bailey Everett, Covenant Christian; Khera Goss, Ben Davis; Grace Hunter, Bellmont; Sydney Jacobsen, Harrison (West Lafayette); Madison Jones, Western Boone; Alaina Omonode, West Lafayette; Sydney Parrish, Hamilton Southeastern; Kaela Roby, Oak Hill; Madison Thompson, Wapahani.
               District 3 boys – Brayton Bailey, Bedford North Lawrence; Drew Buhr, Austin; Michael Dunagan, Terre Haute North; Reece Hammelman, North Knox; Trayce Jackson-Davis, Center Grove; Jake Johnson, Oldenburg Academy; Logan Laster, Morristown; Anthony Leal, Bloomington South; Peyton Moore, Mitchell; Grant Niehaus, Washington; Keegan O’Neill, Barr-Reeve; Josiah Ricketts, North Posey; Brody Ruggles, Vincennes Lincoln; Blake Sisley, Heritage Hills.
               District 3 girls – Aubrey Burgess, Linton; Darrian Carmean, Vincennes Lincoln; Aliyah Evans, Greensburg; Madison Gray, Union County; Koryn Greiwe, Columbus East; Lilly Hatton, North Harrison; Piper Hensley, Crothersville; Chloe Mowery, Wood Memorial; Meredith Raley, Gibson Southern; Login Richardson, Owen Valley; Elise Scaggs, Mooresville; Morgan Wood, Waldron.
2018-19 winners
               Oct. 29-Nov. 3 – District 1 girls: Darliesha Reed, Hammond Gavit. District 2 girls: Madison Jones, Western Boone. District 3 girls: Addy Blackwell, Bloomington South, and Amani Brown, Terre Haute South.
Nov. 5-10 – District 1 girls: Sydney Freeman, Central Noble, and Dash Shaw, Gary West. District 2 girls: Maggie Cora, Tri-West. District 3 girls: Hannah Sisk, Princeton.
Nov. 12-17 – District 1 girls: Sophie Bussard, Tippecanoe Valley. District 2 girls: Alaina Omonode, West Lafayette, and Cameron Tabor, New Castle. District 3 girls: Lilly Hatton, North Harrison.
Nov. 19-24 – District 1 boys: Sam Skaggs, Logansport. District 1 girls: Mila Reynolds, South Bend Washington. District 2 boys: Colton Brown, Covington, and Luke Brown, Blackford. District 2 girls: Ella Collier, Danville. District 3 boys: Drew Buhr, Austin. District 3 girls: Nan Garcia, Jeffersonville.
Nov. 26-Dec. 1 – District 1 boys: Colin Kenney, Marquette Catholic. District 1 girls: Lilliann Frasure, North Judson. District 2 boys: Luke Brown, Blackford. District 2 girls: Jayla Smith, Lawrence North. District 3 boys: Josiah Ricketts, North Posey. District 3 girls: Jewel McCormick, Springs Valley.
Dec. 3-8 – District 1 boys: Tanner Behnfeldt, Fremont. District 1 girls: Emma Nolan, Marquette Catholic. District 2 boys: Zach Banks, Westfield. District 2 girls: Grace Hunter, Bellmont. District 3 boys: Kade Badger, Henryville. District 3 girls: Myah Montgomery, Southridge.
Dec. 10-15 – District 1 boys: Brandon Newman, Valparaiso. District 1 girls: Hannah Noveroske, Michigan City. District 2 boys: Luke Brown, Blackford. District 2 girls: Sydney Parrish, Hamilton Southeastern. District 3 boys: Trayce Jackson-Davis, Center Grove. District 3 girls: Grace Waggoner, Vincennes Rivet.
Dec. 17-22 – District 1 boys: Chuck Wilcox, North Judson. District 1 girls: Courtney Blakely, Hammond Noll. District 2 boys: Luke Bumbalough, New Castle. District 2 girls: Shelby Caldwell, Jay County. District 3 boys: Cobie Barnes, Floyd Central. District 3 girls: Meredith Raley, Gibson Southern.
Dec. 24-29 – District 1 boys: Jaden Ivey, Mishawaka Marian. District 1 girls: Jessica Carrothers, Crown Point. District 2 boys: Armaan Franklin, Cathedral. District 2 girls: Cassidy Crawford, Tipton. District 3 boys: Alex Hemenway, Castle. District 3 girls: Ella Thompson, Center Grove.
Dec. 31-Jan. 5 – District 1 boys: G’Angelo Reillo, Whiting. District 1 girls: Emma Nolan, Marquette Catholic, and Hannah Noveroske, Michigan City. District 2 boys: Harold Bennett, Indianapolis Attucks. District 2 girls: Kendall Bostic, Northwestern. District 3 boys: Drew Buhr, Austin, and Khristian Lander, Evansville Reitz. District 3 girls: Makinzi Meurer, North Knox.
Jan. 7-12 – District 1 boys: Spencer Sroufe, Whitko. District 1 girls: Jordan Clingler, Caston. District 2 boys: Gus Etchison, Hamilton Heights, and John Michael Mulloy, Carmel. District 2 girls: Madison Jones, Western Boone. District 3 boys: Christian Tucker, Springs Valley. District 3 girls: Natalie Boesing, Providence, and Allison Stogsdill, Brown County.
Jan. 14-19 – District 1 boys: Christopher Mantis, Lowell. District 1 girls: Bianca Radtke, Rensselaer Central. District 2 boys: Jalen Blackmon, Marion. District 2 girls: Lindsey Syrek, University. District 3 boys: Alex Hemenway, Castle. District 3 girls: Kenna Hisle, Evansville North.