       Three 40-point scorers headline this week’s group of honorees in the IBCA/Franciscan Health Player of the Week program for 2024-25.
       Columbus East junior Keaton Lawson, Greenfield-Central senior Braylon Mullins and Evansville Central junior Maddy Shirley each scored 40 points or more in a game during the week of Dec. 2-7. Thus, Lawson, Mullins and Shirley along with Michigan City senior Anthony Murphy, Marquette Catholic junior Laniah Davis and Avon senior Aniah Smith have been selected as winners in the recognition program coordinated by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association.
       Also, the Warsaw boys’ team and the Lawrence Central girls’ team each has been cited as an IBCA/Ballogy Team of the Week in a new portion of the IBCA recognition program for 2024-25.
       Players of the Week are chosen by IHSAA district – Murphy and Davis for District 1, Mullins and Smith for District 2 and Lawson and Shirley for District 3. A single for each gender from the entire state is cited as a Team of the Week in the new part of the recognition program. Players and teams are recognized based on all performances in a Monday through Saturday week.
       The 6-5 Lawson averaged 31.5 points, 14.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 4.5 steals and 2.5 blocks in leading Columbus East (3-0) to a pair of victories. First, he poured in 44 points with 15 rebounds, one assist, four steals and four blocks while hitting 18-of-27 shots, 3-of-4 3-pointers and 5-of-6 free throws in an 83-61 triumph over Trinity Lutheran. He followed by netting 21 points with 13 rebounds, six assists, five steals and one block as the Olympians defeated Southwestern (Hanover) 71-55. For both games, Lawson was 26-of-42 from the floor, 4-of-6 from deep and 9-of-11 on freebies.
       Mullins shined as then-Class 4A No. 3 Greenfield-Central prevailed in its only game of the week, a 57-52 decision over then-4A No. 9 Ben Davis. The 6-6 guard tallied 41 points with six rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block as the Cougars moved to 2-0 for the season. The University of Connecticut signee was efficient in his scoring, hitting 13-of-18 shots, 5-of-7 3-pointers and 10-of-11 free throws.
       The 6-2 Murphy produced a double-double with 28 points and 12 rebounds as Michigan City outlasted Gary West Side 79-74 in its only contest of the week. Murphy added four assists, three steals and two blocks. He also converted 10-of-15 field goals, 2-of-2 from distance and 6-of-10 charities as the Wolves improved to 2-0.
       Shirley surpassed 1,000 career points in one game and set a school record with 40 points in another as she averaged 27.3 points and 11.7 rebounds in a 2-1 week. The 6-1 forward opened with 29 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks as then 3A No. 9 Evansville Central blasted Evansville Harrison 66-26. She followed with 40 points, seven rebounds, five assists, one steal and two blocks in a 75-74 setback to Avon. Shirley then tallied 13 points, 16 rebounds, one assist and three blocks in a 44-39 win over Jasper to move her career scoring total to 1,080 points. For the week, Shirley connected on 31-of-65 from the field, 2-of-3 3-pointers and 18-of-21 free throws for the week as the Bears improved to 7-3. Those shooting totals included 12-of-23 from the floor and 16-of-18 from the line in 40-point game, which topped the previous school record of 39 points by Zuri Sanders against Vincennes Lincoln on Feb. 5, 2015.
       The 5-7 Davis became the first repeat Player of the Week winner for 2024-25 as she averaged 24.0 points, 13.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 5.0 steals as 1A-No. 3 Marquette Catholic moved to 6-2 by beating Oregon-Davis 65-25 and Mishawaka 59-18. Against O-D, Davis totaled 21 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and four steals.  Against Mishawaka, she produced 27 points, 17 rebounds, four assists and six steals. For the week, Davis was 21-of-35 from the field, 3-of-6 from deep and 3-of-5 on freebies.
       Smith set two school career records while averaging 22.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 5.3 steals as Avon went 3-0 for the week to improve to 8-3 for the season. The 5-3 guard opened with 18 points, 13 rebounds, five assists and steals in a 57-54 upset of then-4A No. 5 Plainfield. The Jacksonville University commit followed with 32 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and eight steals as the Orioles topped then-3A No. 9 Evansville Central 75-74. She then tallied 17 points, seven rebounds, four assists and five steals as Avon defeated Lebanon 63-36. During the week, Smith was 27-of-67 on field goals, 4-of-16 on 3-pointers and 9-of-14 on free throws while setting school marks for career points (1,364) and career steals (305). Smith passed the respective marks of 1,322 points by 1989 graduate Heather Farrell and 296 steals set by 1993 graduate Kami Phelps in moving to the top of the two Orioles’ lists.
       Warsaw (3-0) was selected boys’ Team of the Week after the 4A No. 8 Tigers beat then-3A No. 19 Columbia City 62-53, knocked off Homestead 62-60 in overtime and topped Huntington North 77-53 for coach Matt Moore. Senior Brandt Martin tallied 15 points and five rebounds, while classmate Carson Gould provided 11 points, five rebounds, eight assists and six steals against the Eagles. Martin netted 18 points, senior Robbie Finlinson added 17 points, senior Luke Bricker had 15 points and junior Mydin Burgher netted nine points – including the game winner – against the Spartans. Martin provided 18 points and 12 rebounds, Finlinson 17 points, Bricker 15 points, senior Parker Justice 11 points and Gould 10 assists in the triumph over the Vikings.
       The Lawrence Central girls (8-0), Indiana’s defending 4A state champions and currently ranked first in 4A, defended state bragging rights by defeating two Kentucky traditional powers in the Hoops 4 Harvest Showcase at Edgewood, Ky. With senior Jaylah Lampley scoring 23 points, junior Lola Lampley netting 16 points, junior Aniyah McKenzie notching 15 points and senior Laila Abdurraqib providing 11 points and 10 assists, the Bears knocked off four-time defending Kentucky state champion Sacred Heart Academy 69-49 in matchup of 2024 state winners. Coach Jannon Lampley’s crew followed that performance as it defeated Mercy Academy 81-43. In the latter game, Jaylah Lampley tallied 33 points and 12 rebounds, Lola Lampley netted 18 points and nine rebounds and Abdurraqib totaled 13 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists.
       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.
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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.