Key, Jackson-Davis and four others recognized after outstanding regional performances
Frankton’s Kayden Key and Center Grove’s Trayce Jackson-Davis each produced a 40-point game in a regional final, and the two seniors headline the honorees in this week’s IBCA/Subway Player of the Week program.
Penn senior Noah Applegate, Westview junior Charlie Yoder, Ben Davis senior Dawand Jones and Evansville Day junior Noah Hupmann join Key and Jackson-Davis as recipients for the week of March 4-9 in the recognition program coordinated by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association.
Applegate and Yoder are co-winners for District 1. Key and Jones collected honors for District 2. Jackson-Davis and Hupmann shared accolades for District 3.
The 6-1 Key averaged 28.0 points and 4.0 rebounds in propelling Frankton to the Class 2A regional crown at Lapel. He opened with 15 points, four rebounds and three assists in a 57-54 triumph over Wabash. The Olivet Nazarene University signee then erupted for 41 points plus four rebounds and three assists in a 73-52 victory over Covington in the title game. Over both games, Key was 21-of-39 on field goals, 4-of-9 on 3-pointers and 10-of-15 on free throws for the Eagles (25-3). Those shooting stats included 15-of-23, 4-of-6 and 7-of-10 in the 41-point explosion.
Jackson-Davis averaged 30.0 points and 11.0 rebounds in leading Center Grove (21-8) to the Class 4A regional title at Seymour. The 6-9 forward scored 20 points with 11 rebounds, two assists, two steals and three blocks in a 65-40 decision over Jasper. The Indiana University recruit followed by pouring in 40 points with 11 rebounds, one assist and three blocks as the Trojans defeated Bloomington South 64-41. Over both games, Jackson-Davis hit 26-of-36 from the floor and 8-of-15 from the line. He was 18-of-21 and 4-of-7 in the regional final.
The 6-6 Applegate averaged 22.5 points and 9.5 rebounds in keying Penn to the Class 4A regional title at Michigan City. The Hillsdale College commit opened with 17 points and 11 rebounds in a 49-42 victory over Chesterton. He followed with 28 points – including 13 points in the fourth quarter – and eight rebounds as the Kingsmen edged Northridge 74-72 for the regional crown. In two games, Applegate converted 16-of-27 field goals, 3-of-7 3-pointers and 10-of-14 free throws as Penn improved to 24-3.
Yoder averaged 32.0 points and 5.0 rebounds in two games as Westview finished as runner-up in the Class 2A regional at North Judson. The 6-5 guard totaled 37 points, including 19 in the second quarter, plus six rebounds, three assists and one steal in a 62-48 triumph over Bluffton. He followed with 27 points, four rebounds, one assist and one steal in a 60-49 setback to Andrean. Over both games, Yoder hit 23-of-37 shots, including 6-of-13 from long range, plus 12-of-14 free throws as the Warriors completed their season at 25-6.
The 6-7 Jones averaged 22.0 points and 8.5 rebounds in lifting Ben Davis to the Class 4A regional championship at Southport. The Ohio State football recruit scored 20 points with 10 rebounds, two assists and four blocks in a 75-65 victory over Lawrence Central. He then provided 24 points, seven rebounds, one assist and three blocks as the Giants defeated New Palestine 53-47 to move to 19-7 and take home the regional plate. Over both games, Jones converted 17-of-24 field goals and 10-of-15 free throws. That included a 10-of-10, 4-of-6 performance against the Dragons.
Hupmann produced a near triple-double in the only game for Evansville Day, a 48-41 setback to Barr-Reeve in the Class A regional at Loogootee. The 7-foot-1 junior totaled 20 points, 11 rebounds and seven blocks, according to official team stats, although one newspaper account of the game listed Hupmann with 12 blocks. He sank 6-of-13 shots, one 3-pointer and 7-of-12 free throws in leading the Eagles (11-12) to just their second regional appearance in school history.
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 eighth season as an IBCA sponsor, encourages athletes to “train hard and eat fresh.”
Winners in the Player of the Week generally are chosen each week from each of the IHSAA’s three districts. Boys’ winners will be chosen from now through next week. The girls’ season is complete.
Other nominees for Week 19
District 1 boys – Ethan Brittain-Watts, Culver Academy; Sydney Curry, Fort Wayne Northrop; Trenton Daughtry, Wabash; Johnell Davis, Gary 21st Century; Caleb Furst, Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian; Joey Glidewell, Hanover Central; Colin Kenney, Marquette Catholic; Ben Lins, Covenant Christian (DeMotte); Jevon Morris, Munster; Owen Nifong, Argos; Cam Parker, Tippecanoe Valley; Blake Pocock, Angola; Kyle Ross, Andrean; Alex Stauffer, Northridge; Sawyer Stoltz, Huntington North; Jake Wadding, Chesterton; Harold Woods, Hammond.
District 2 boys – Carson Barrett, Lafayette Central Catholic; Andrew Bennett, Shenandoah; James Blackmon, Marion; Gavin Bollman, Greencastle; Jayden Brewer, Avon; Josh Bryan, Delta; Tanner Cooley, Bluffton; D’Andre Davis, Lawrence Central; Trevor Eppert, North Vermillion; Keaton Fye, Covington; Maximus Gizzi, New Palestine; Gavin Hess, Beech Grove; Yanni Karlaftis, West Lafayette; Noah Jordan, Indianapolis Metropolitan; Sincere McMahon, Indianapolis Attucks; Asher Thompson, Heritage Christian; Isaiah Thompson, Zionsville; Michael White, Northeastern; Karsten Windlan, Carmel.
District 3 boys – Braeden Beard, Tell City; Brandon Bonebrake, Owen Valley; Brett Bosley, Paoli; Hunter Carey, Princeton; Tre Coleman, Jeffersonville; Gabe Gladish, Barr-Reeve; Cade Graham, Evansville Memorial; Zane Gross, Silver Creek; Connor Hickman, Bloomington South; Tyler Kramer, Southwestern (Hanover); Logan Laster, Morristown; Aleksa Markovic, Bloomfield; Reece Milligan, Jasper; Max Newman, Monrovia; Connor Nolot, Lanesville; Robert Raver, Batesville; Evan Slover, Linton.