Noblesville’s Ashlynn Shade was named as the District 2 Week 14 Player of the Week in the IBCA/Franciscan Health award program.
Shade helped the Millers to defend their Class 4A Sectional 8 championship at Westfield last week. Starting with a Feb. 1 first-round game, No. 5-ranked Noblesville took on Zionsville, avenging a loss from a couple of weeks ago with a convincing 62-46 win this time. Shade began her week with a 25-point performance, as she was 9-19 from the floor and a perfect 7-7 from the charity stripe. In the win, she handed out a pair of assists, collected six rebounds, and grabbed five steals.
On Feb. 4, in the sectional semi-final, the Millers managed to keep Carmel at arm’s length, winning 57-48 over the Greyhounds. Shade had to work for her 20 points, but she added four rebounds, five assists, and four steals to her nice, well-rounded effort, setting up a showdown with No. 7 Fishers.
In last Saturday’s championship, Noblesville held off the Tigers, 54-48. It took 22 points from the junior guard in this game, including 16 from Shade down the stretch in the fourth quarter. The University of Connecticut commit was again balanced with her contributions, grabbing six rebounds, handing out four assists, collecting two steals, and blocking two shots.
REGIONAL GLANCE
The Millers will take on No. 1 Homestead in the first semi-final game of the Marion regional this Saturday, with the game tipping off at 10 a.m. The contest will be a re-match of an early-season game between the two teams. Noblesville traveled to the Spartans’ gym on Nov. 20 and won 69-48.
Homestead is 23-1 for the season and won Sectional 6 at Huntington North by beating Columbia City 62-51 in the semi-finals and Fort Wayne South Side 87-55 in the championship. Spartans senior Ayanna Patterson, who is also headed to Connecticut, is averaging a double-double for the season with 26.3 points and 12.0 rebounds per game. Junior Alison Stephens averages 13.0 points per game.
Shade is averaging 20.6 points and 8.4 rebounds per contest for the 21-4 Millers, with sophomore Reagan Wilson and freshman Meredith Tippner both contributing 9.6 points per game. Tippner also has 6.3 rebounds per contest.
The other semi-final will see Northwestern take on No. 10 Fort Wayne Snider, with the tipoff around noon. The championship game is scheduled for 8 p.m.
AT BELLMONT
Hamilton Heights will travel to a very tough Bellmont regional on Saturday, as three of the four teams playing are ranked in the IGCSA top 10 in Class 3A.
The No. 8 Huskies play No. 2 Garrett in the first semi-final at 10 a.m. The Railroaders are 25-1, with their only loss to Noblesville, 79-57 back on Nov. 13.
Garrett won Sectional 21 at Woodlan, beating Angola 40-32 in the semi-finals and Bishop Dwenger 47-29 in the championship. Junior Bailey Kelham is the Railroaders’ leading scorer at 16.5 points per game, with senior Moran Ostrowski adding 12.0 points and 8.7 rebounds. Another senior, Nataley Armstrong, averages 9.1 points and 9.1 assists per game.
Heights comes into the regional at 18-5, having won three games to claim Sectional 24 at Yorktown. The Huskies beat No. 6 Jay County 36-33 in an overtime first-round game, Delta 46-16 in the semi-finals, and another overtime contest, 51-50 against New Castle, in the championship.
Sophomore Camryn Runner leads the Heights scoring with 16.7 points per game, followed by two seniors. Mia Shields contributes 10.7 points, and MyKayla Moran adds 8.8 points. Moran is the rebounding leader with 5.7 per game, followed by Runner with 5.5 per contest.
In the other semi-final, host Bellmont takes on No. 3 Benton Central. That game is set for noon, with the championship at 8 p.m.
AT SOUTHMONT
University is looking to defend its Class 2A regional title at Southmont this year. The No. 6-ranked Trailblazers take on Union County in the first semi-final at 10 a.m.
The Patriots are 12-8 for the season, and qualified for the regional by winning Sectional 41 at Shenandoah. Union County beat Hagerstown 27-12 in the semi-finals and Northeastern 44-34 in the championship. Senior Faith Richardson is the Patriots’ leader, averaging 7.6 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, with junior Brooke Fields adding 7.4 points per game.
University took care of business at Sectional 43 at Western Boone. The ‘Blazers beat No. 8 Cascade 63-51 in the first round, Covenant Christian 61-28 in the semi-finals and Park Tudor 41-28 in the championship.
Junior Payton Seay is the leading scorer for 21-4 University, averaging 15.1 points per game. Senior Patty Chikamba adds 13.8 points, while junior Kelsey DuBois contributes 13.0 points and leads the rebounds with 7.9 per contest. Chikamba and Seay both average 6.4 rebounds per game.
North Putnam and Heritage Christian will play in the noon semi-final at Southmont. The championship game is set for 8 p.m.
