Bonds, Spencer among IBCA scholarship winners

Forty Indiana high school seniors selected

The REPORTER

Carmel’s Sydney Bonds and Sheridan’s Chance Spencer are among the 40 Indiana high school seniors have been named winners of 2026 scholarship awards from the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association, it was announced Tuesday.

The IBCA — a statewide coaches group with about 2,400 members — this year is presenting a grant of $500 to each recipient in the names of Marion Crawley, Junior Mannies Pat Aikman and Steve & Jeanie Witty.

Through the years, the IBCA has awarded about $840,000 in scholarships to Indiana student-athletes.

“I would like to congratulate you for being selected as a recipient,” IBCA executive director emeritus Steve Witty wrote in informing winners of the various selections. “… Thank you for your contributions to Indiana high school basketball, and best of luck as you move on to the college of your choice.”

Bonds and Spencer were among those that received Crawley Scholarships. A total of 34 Crawley Scholarships were presented to 12 boys’ players, 16 girls’ players, four student managers, one cheerleader and one student trainer/team statistician.

Criteria for the Crawley Scholarship includes achievement in basketball, achievement in academics, participation in extracurricular activities and service to one’s school and community. Crawley was a former four-time boys basketball state championship coach — two with the Washington Hatchets and two with the Lafayette Jeff Bronchos — who amassed 644 career wins. He later became the first executive director of the IBCA, serving in that role from 1970-74. He then served as the IBCA assistant executive director from 1974 until he passed away in 1982.

Two players — Grace Behny of the Knightstown girls’ team and Jack Guerre of the Mt. Vernon boys’ team — are recipients of the 16th annual Pat Aikman Character and Leadership Awards. This scholarship is named for Aikman, the Indiana All-Star games director from 1988-2007 and former IBCA Coordinator of Special Projects.

Criteria for the Aikman Award include achievements and contributions in basketball, scholastic achievement, extra-curricular activities, and service to school and community. Also, those considered for the Aikman Award are students who plan to enter the fields of journalism, sports management, athletic training or physical therapy. Behny and Guerre are the 43rd and 44th recipients of Aikman Awards presented since 2011.

Guerre’s Mt. Vernon teammate Brady Webber also received a Crawley Scholarship.

“These are deserving young people who help make coaching a great profession,” Witty said of the 40 winners for 2026.