IBCA honors two county players, two teams for last week’s performances

The REPORTER

Two Hamilton County basketball players and two other county teams received honors from the IBCA for their performances last week.

Guerin Catholic senior Bryson Cardinal and Noblesville senior Meredith Tippner were among those selected as winners in the IBCA/Franciscan Health Player of the Week. Both were named as the District 2 Player of the Week. Meanwhile, the Fishers boys’ team and the Hamilton Southeastern girls’ team each has been cited as an IBCA/Ballogy Team of the Week in another part of this season’s IBCA recognition program.

Cardinal averaged 25.5 points, 9.8 rebounds and claimed MVP honors in propelling 3A No. 4 Guerin Catholic (10-2) to a 4-0 week and the championship of Ray Furney Holiday Classic in Lawrenceburg. The 6-7 forward scored 20 points with nine rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block in a 60-45 victory over Gainesville (Fla.). He poured in 32 points with 11 rebounds, one assist and two steals in a 72-51 decision over Jennings County. Cardinal followed with 24 points, eight rebounds, one assist and two steals as the Golden Eagles beat Whiteland 67-52. He finished his week with 26 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block in a 68-57 title-game win over 3A No. 6 Silver Creek. Over four games, Cardinal was 39-of-70 on field goals, including one 3-pointer, and 23-of-29 on free throws.

Tippner tallied 25.5 points, 13.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 4.0 steals and 2.0 blocks as the 4A No. 13 Noblesville girls (10-3) won the Noblesville Holiday Tournament. The 5-10 guard poured in 33 points with 10 rebounds, five assists, four steals and three blocks as the Millers outlasted 3A No. 7 Norwell 73-71 in overtime. The University of Miami recruit then totaled 18 points, 17 rebounds, five assists, four steals and one block as Noblesville topped Valparaiso 43-37. For the two games, Tippner was 19-of-45 from the field, 3-of-9 on 3-pointers and 10-of-13 on freebies. Her 51 points moved her into fourth place on Noblesville’s career scoring list with 1,488 points.

The Fishers boys, ranked first in 4A and the defending Class 4A champions, defeated two highly touted opponents to win the Henry Community Health Hall of Fame Classic and improve to 9-0. Sophomore Jason Gardner Jr. totaled 17 points with five assists, while sophomore Cooper Zachary tallied 11 points and four assists as the Tigers edged 4A No. 6 Warsaw 54-51 in the first round. In the title contest, Gardner notched 20 points and nine assists, senior Justin Kirby netted 20 points and Zachary had 18 points and seven assists as coach Garrett Winegar’s squad outlasted 4A No. 4 Greenfield-Central 85-80.

The Hamilton Southeastern girls, ranked No. 2 in 4A, knocked off a pair of No. 1-ranked and previously undefeated foes to move to 15-0 overall and win the girls’ Hall of Fame Classic. Senior Maya Makalusky poured in 35 points while junior Kennedy Holman added 12 points and junior Kayla Stidham had 11 points as coach Brian Satterfield’s crew beat 2A No. 1 South Knox 67-59. Holman then tallied 15 points, Stidham netted 12 points, Makalusky provided 10 points and senior Addison Van Hoesen dropped in the game-winning shot as the Royals edged 4A No. 1 Lawrence Central 52-50 in the tournament final.

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.