Saturday marked a new, one-game Regional format for the IHSAA boys’ state tournament, and 64 teams statewide were whittled down to 32 by the end of the night. With an “Elite Eight” in each of the four classifications now headed into Semi-State play this coming weekend, we would like to highlight three players from last week’s action who stood out with their play.
John Glenn Senior Brycen Hannah, Wapahani Junior Isaac Andrews, and Jennings County Sophomore Carter Kent have been selected as recipients for March 6-March 11 in the recognition program coordinated by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association. Hannah stood out in District-1. Andrews is the winner for District-2. Kent earned honors in District-3.
The Falcons of John Glenn (17-10) entered the Regional with the task of taking on the South Bend Washington Panthers (18-6), ranked #9 in the Class 3A AP poll entering the state tournament. Behind the play of Senior Brycen Hannah, the Falcons emerged victorious, with a hard-fought, 58-54 outcome. Hannah, a 6-4 forward, scored 22 points and grabbed eight rebounds in the win. He was 7-12 from the floor, he knocked down a shot from long range, and he was an efficient 7-9 from the free throw line. The Senior forward also managed to chip in a pair of assists, a pair of steals, and he blocked a pair of shots. The Falcons will start their Semi-State run with a Saturday matchup against Delta (18-9).
Junior Isaac Andrews of Wapahani (25-1) posted a double-double in their 73-50 Regional win against the Carroll Cougars (22-5) of Flora, Indiana. The 6-1 guard was strong at both ends of the floor, scoring 21 points, pulling down 11 rebounds, and finding teammates with assists on six occasions. He also buried three shots from deep and was 6-8 from the charity stripe. The Warriors lost their opening game of the season by a mere two points, but they have rattled off 25 straight wins since. Andrews will now help lead Wapahani against Lewis Cass (19-7) this Saturday.
Of our three winners, Jennings County Sophomore Carter Kent was the only one to play two games last week, as the Panthers (24-2) had to first take care of some Sectional business last Monday due to a postponement. In that Sectional Championship game, a 51-39 triumph over New Albany (11-14), Kent scored 22 points on 7-12 shooting, he was 4-8 from deep, and he was 4-5 on free tosses. He added a pair of rebounds and a pair of assists. Saturday, in their 64-40 win over Evansville F.J. Reitz (19-7), the Sophomore guard was again a standout. Kent put up 16 points on 6-10 shooting, including a solid 4-6 from outside. He also added three each in rebounds, assists, and steals to his stat line. Jennings County will return to action this Saturday with a big Semi-State matchup against Brownsburg (21-4).
This is the 15th season for the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association Player of the Week program, but just the third 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 were chosen through February 25th, following the IHSAA Girls State Finals. Boys’ winners will be chosen through the Monday following the IHSAA Boys State Finals.