The Lafayette Jefferson Bronchos boys’ basketball team has been named to the field of the 2019 Raymond James Hall of Fame Classic to be played Saturday, Dec. 28 at the New Castle Fieldhouse.
The event will begin at 11 a.m. with defending Class 3A champion Silver Creek facing Heritage Hills, followed by Lawrence Central taking on Lafayette Jeff. The consolation game will be played at 6 p.m. that evening, followed by the championship contest.
Lafayette Jeff replaces previously announced Mishawaka Marian in the event lineup.
The Bronchos return over 99 percent of their scoring from an underclass-laden 17-8 squad that had the seventh highest scoring offense in the state in 2018-19. 6’2” Braxton Barnhizer averaged 19.8 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists as a junior, 6’2” Avery Beaver averaged 16.8 points as a junior, 6’8” Brooks Barnhizer averaged 16.2 points, 9.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists as a sophomore and 6’1” sophomore Ashton Beaver averaged 7.0 points for a Bronchos team that averaged 72.9 points per game and topped 90 points in four contests last season.
Head coach Mark Barnhizer enters his second season at Lafayette Jeff. In 35 years as a head coach, his teams have a 453-338 career record.
The girls Hall of Fame Classic takes place Friday, Dec. 27. Brownsburg plays Penn at 11 a.m., followed by Salem vs. Crown Point. The consolation game tips off at 6 p.m., with the championship to follow. The girls’ field has a combined record of 97-10 from the past season.
The prestigious event, spotlighting the best in Indiana high school basketball, will be held for the 36th time for girls and it will be the 43rd edition for the boys.
Tickets for the tournaments will be available through participating schools and the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in the 2019-20 school year.
Notables about the other boys teams:
Silver Creek – The Dragons will return two sizeable starters from their 25-3 IHSAA 3A championship squad. 6’8” sophomore Trey Kaufman averaged 15.1 points and 9.0 rebounds per game, while 6’6” classmate Kooper Jacobi averaged 13.7 points and 7.1 rebounds.
Head coach Brandon Hoffman 151-67 in nine seasons at his alma mater. He has led the Dragons to a 45-9 record the past two seasons and their 105-26 (.802) record over the past five seasons is 9th best in the state.
Heritage Hills – The Patriots return their top four scorers from a 22-2 squad that won 19 games in a row in 2018-19.
6’4” junior wing Murray Becher averaged 20.4 points per game and has been tabbed a 2019 Junior All-Star, 6’2” junior point guard Simon Scherry averaged 15.6 points and 5.1 assists, 6’8” sophomore Blake Sisley averaged 12.8 points and 7.6 rebounds and 6’1” junior Cole Sigler scored 7.6 points per contest.
Head coach Nate Hawkins is 57-15 in three seasons at Heritage Hills and has a 121-41 record in seven seasons overall.
Lawrence Central – The Bears return two Indiana Junior All-Stars from their 22-4, Sectional 10 championship squad.
6’6” junior Dre Davis (University of Nebraska) averaged 16.9 points and 8.3 rebounds, while 6’1” junior point guard Nijel Pack (Kansas State) averaged 16.5 points and 4.1 assists per game. Each were named to the core six of the 2019 Indiana Junior All-Star team.
Head coach Al Gooden is 78-42 in five years at LC with a career mark of 470-270 in 31 seasons overall.
Notables about the girls teams:
Brownsburg – The Bulldogs come off a 20-4 finish this season and have a 39-10 record over the last two seasons.
Junior Allison Bosse (Marian University) averaged 15.7 points per game, sophomore Ally Becki averaged 13.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 3.5 steals, and junior Mackenzie Stein scored 8.5 points per contest.
Debbie Guckenberger has a 70-29 record in five years at Brownsburg and a career record of 197- 162 in 16 seasons. She has been named the head coach of the 2019 Indiana All-Star team.
Penn – The Kingsmen return their top three scorers from a 25-1 team that reached the 4A regional finals in 2018-19.
Sophomore Trinity Clinton averaged 14.6 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.8 steals, junior Reganne Pate averaged 12.4 points and sophomore Jordyn Smith scored 10.3 per game.
Head coach Kristi Kaniewski Ulrich is 229-29 in 10 seasons at Penn. That is best record in the state over the past 10 years.
Salem – The Lady Lions return four starters from their 24-4 3A semi-state finalist squad. Junior point guard Leah Miller averaged 14.4 points per game, junior guard Hope Tomlinson scored 10.1, sophomore Karly Sweeney averaged 9.1 points and 5.2 rebounds and 6’2” junior Letti Nice averaged 7.2 points and 8.6 rebounds per contest.
Head coach Jerry Hickey has a 92-58 record in 6 seasons at Salem.
Crown Point – A youthful Bulldogs squad returns significant firepower from their 28-1 4A semi-state finalist squad.
Freshman point guard Jessica Carrothers averaged 21.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.7 steals, 6’1” junior Abby Stoddard scored 9.3 points per contest, sophomore Alyna Santiago averaged 6.7 points and 4.2 steals and 6’3” freshman Lilly Stoddard held averages of 5.4 points and 6.1 rebounds
Head coach Chris Seibert is 77-27 in four seasons at Crown Point and holds a 136-104 career record in 10 seasons overall. He has been named an assistant coach of the 2019 Indiana All- Stars.
