Boys’ Season Start, Thanksgiving, Headline Week-4 of the IBCA/Franciscan Health Player of the Week Program
Week-4 was an extremely busy sports week throughout the state. Whether it was the Pacers going 4-0 in the NBA’s new in-season tournament, the IHSAA Football State Finals and Indianapolis Colts playing on at Lucas Oil Stadium on three consecutive days, the continuation of the girls’ basketball season, or the beginning of the boys’ basketball season, there was plenty to do. Oh, yeah, and Thanksgiving was somewhere in the middle of the week. After the dust settled, three boys and three girls stood out as Week-4 players of the week in their respective districts.
Southwood Sophomore Bryce Wilcox, Warsaw Sophomore Brooke Zartman, Cathedral Junior Brady Koehler, McCutcheon Freshman Lillie Graves, Borden Senior Kasym Nash, and Evansville Central Sophomore Madalynn Shirley have been selected as winners for Nov. 20-Nov. 25 in the recognition program coordinated by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association. Wilcox and Zartman are the boys’ and girls’ winners, respectively, in District-1. Koehler is the boys’ recipient, while Graves is the girls’ recipient in District-2. Nash takes home boys’ honors, while Shirley takes home girls’ honors in District-3.
The Southwood Knights avenged last season’s opening night loss to Blackford by knocking off the Bruins last Tuesday, 74-67. Sophomore Bryce Wilcox was an all-around standout, contributing in each facet of the game. The 6-6 forward posted a double-double, as he scored 23 points and pulled down 11 rebounds in the effort. But he also blocked 5 shots, he handed out 4 assists, and he collected 4 steals in the early season victory.
Also Tuesday night, Warsaw hosted Penn in girls’ action, and the host Tigers defeated the black & gold for the first time since the 2016-2017 season, 69-50. That ended a 9-game losing streak to the Kingsmen. Sophomore guard Brooke Zartman was outstanding in the big win, burying 7 of 11 shots from 3-point range and scoring 25 points in total on the evening. The 5-7 guard added a pair of rebounds, 3 assists, and 4 steals, as Warsaw moved to 4-2 on the season.
District-2 saw a number of strong performances in both boys’ and girls’ action. Cathedral earned a pair of big wins in boys’ hoops, knocking off Warren Central on Wednesday, 92-71, then turning around and defeating a good Jeffersonville team, 78-66, on Saturday. Junior Brady Koehler was instrumental in both wins, helping the Irish to a 2-0 start to their season. In the game against Warren Central, Koehler scored 27 points on 9-14 shooting. He was on-target from deep (5-7 on 3-pointers) and a perfect 4-4 from the charity stripe, plus he pulled in 3 rebounds and blocked a pair of shots. Against Jeffersonville, the 6-8 wing was again key, scoring 24 points, knocking down 3-6 shots from long range, and making 7-8 of his free tosses. He also grabbed 7 caroms, dished out 3 assists, and collected 3 steals in the nice win.
In District-2 girls’ action, McCutcheon Freshman Lillie Graves has been outstanding to begin her career. Last Tuesday, in a 74-51 win at Parke Heritage, the 6-0 wing poured in 39 points on an efficient 16-23 from the field. She was 2-4 from 3-point range, 5-7 from the charity stripe, plus she added 8 assists, 8 steals, 5 rebounds, and 3 blocked shots in the triumph. In her young career, 39 points is a personal best, but it wasn’t the first time she has topped 30 points this season.
When Borden hosted Eastern (Pekin) last Tuesday, little did anyone know that Senior Kasym Nash would erupt for 51 points, helping his Braves to a 77-53 victory. The 6-1 guard was 18-29 from the field, 5-10 from downtown, and 10-13 from the free throw line. Nash also chipped in 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals in the opening night success. Saturday, the Braves turned around and defeated Shoals, 55-43. Nash was once again strong, scoring 20 points. He was again solid shooting it, making 2-3 from 3-point range and 10-12 from the free throw line. He added 3 rebounds and 2 assists to his season totals as well.
Evansville Central played just one game last week, as they defeated North Posey with ease on Tuesday evening. Sophomore Madalynn Shirley made sure to do her part, helping the Bears to victory behind 29 points and 17 rebounds. She was highly efficient from the field, shooting 11-13 overall, 2-3 from behind the arc, and she knocked down all 5 free throws attempted. The 6-0 forward added 4 steals, 3 assists, and 3 blocked shots to her output.
This is the 16th 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 through the Monday following the IHSAA Girls State Finals. Boys’ winners will be chosen 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.
Nov. 6-Nov. 11: District-1 girls: Ava Ziolkowski, Crown Point. District-2 girls: Kayla Lacombe, Arsenal Technical. District-3 girls: Chloe Spreen, Bedford North Lawrence.
Nov. 13-Nov. 18: District-1 girls: Samantha Redinger, Argos, and Gracyn Gilliard, Munster. District-2 girls: Kaycie Warfel, Pendleton Heights. District-3 girls: Audrey Annee, Center Grove.
Nov. 20-Nov. 25: District-1 boys: Bryce Wilcox, Southwood. District-1 girls: Brooke Zartman, Warsaw. District-2 boys: Brady Koehler, Cathedral. District-2 girls: Lillie Graves, McCutcheon. District-3 boys: Kasym Nash, Borden. District-3 girls: Madalynn Shirley, Evansville Central.