Lawrence North junior Kai McGrew posted a trio of double-doubles and Carroll (Fort Wayne) senior Paxton Crane tallied a pair of double-doubles as each helped his team claim an Indiana high school sectional championship. Thus, that duo headlines this week’s honorees in the IBCA/Franciscan Health Player of the Week program for 2024-25.
McGrew and Crane are joined by Jennings County senior Carter Kent as winners for the week of March 3-8 in the recognition program coordinated by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association. Also, the Mt. Vernon (Fortville) boys’ team has been cited as an IBCA/Ballogy Team of the Week in another part of this season’s IBCA recognition program.
Players of the Week are chosen by IHSAA district – Crane for District 1, McGrew for District 2, and Kent for District 3. A single team from the entire state is cited as a Team of the Week in that portion of the program. Players and teams are recognized based on all performances in a Monday through Saturday week.
McGrew averaged 17.7 points, 14.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks in helping Class 4A No. 12 Lawrence North to the championship of Sectional 10 at Lawrence Central, The 6-9 forward opened with 15 points, 13 rebounds, two assists, one steal and two blocked shot in a 65-56 victory over Lawrence Central. He followed with 23 points, 16 rebounds, two assists, two steals and three blocks in a 58-48 semifinal decision over Warren Central. McGrew completed his week with 15 points, 13 rebounds, three assists, two steals and four blocks as the Wildcats topped North Central 74-59 to improve to 20-6. For the week, he sank 21-of-29 field goals, including 4-of-7 3-pointers, plus 7-of-14 free throws.
Crane posted norms of 25.5 points, 12.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists in leading Carroll (Fort Wayne) to the Class 4A Sectional 5 title in his home gym. The 6-7 forward totaled 28 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and one block in a 62-42 semifinal triumph over Fort Wayne Snider. In the final against Fort Wayne Northrop, Crane provided 23 points, 14 rebounds, four assists and one block as the host Chargers (11-15) prevailed 58-39. In the two games, he was 22-of-28 from the field, 1-of-2 from distance and 6-of-11 from the line.
Kent averaged 29.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 7.0 assists and had one double-double as Jennings County seized the Class 3A Sectional 29 trophy at South Dearborn. The 6-1 guard dropped in 32 points with 10 rebounds, eight assists and three steals in a 71-46 semifinal victory over Batesville. He then tallied 27 points, six rebounds, six assists and four steals as the Panthers knocked off the host Knights 69-55 to improve to 12-14. Kent converted 22-of-34 shot, 2-of-9 3-pointers, and 13-of-15 charities in the two contests.
Mt. Vernon (Fortville), ranked No. 15 in Class 4A, won three games – including upsets of two highly ranked squads – in claiming the crown of Sectional 9 at Muncie Central. Junior Luke Ertel scored 22 points, sophomore Max Vise tallied nine points and senior Tyler Davis had eight points in a 65-35 first-round victory over Richmond. Ertel netted 26 points, Vise provided 16 points, junior Elijah Parra chipped in 15 points and senior Ryker Baer netted nine points in a 76-60 semifinal decision over 4A No. 5 Anderson. In an 83-76 double-overtime stunner against 4A No. 3 Greenfield-Central, Ertel produced 36 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, while Parra netted 13 points, Baer tallied 11 points, Davis added 10 points and Vise had eight points as coach Joe Bradburn’s Marauders improved to 20-5.
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 oversaw the selection of girls’ honorees during their season.
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. Boys’ winners are chosen from now through the Monday following the IHSAA boys’ State Finals. The girls’ portion of the recognition program concluded on March 4 for 2024-25.