As one door closes, another one opens. The IHSAA crowned Noblesville, South Bend Washington, Forest Park, and Tecumseh girls’ State Champions on Saturday, putting the final touches on the 2021-2022 girls’ basketball season. Meanwhile, the boys finished their regular season, and now they turn to sectional play this evening at 64 different locations. Due to their play last week, the IBCA has chosen four young women and three young men as Week 17 IBCA/Franciscan Health Players of the Week.
Noblesville junior Ashlynn Shade, South Bend Washington freshman Kira Reynolds, Forest Park junior Amber Tretter, Tecumseh sophomore Jenna Donohoo, LaCrosse senior Ben Garwood, Tri-Central senior Jake Chapman, and South Decatur senior Hunter Johnson have been selected as recipients for Feb. 21-Feb. 26 in the recognition program coordinated by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association. Reynolds is the girls’ winner, while Garwood is the boys’ winner in District 1. Shade and Chapman are the girls’ and boys’ recipients, respectively, for District 2. Tretter and Donohoo share girls’ honors, while Johnson picks up boys’ honors for District 3.
The Noblesville Millers participated in their first State Finals appearance since 1990 on Saturday, winning just their second title ever, winning their first in 1987. They had to take on a tough Franklin Community team but held them at bay most of the evening, pulling away in the fourth quarter to win convincingly, 76-52. Junior guard Ashlynn Shade tied a Class 4A record, scoring 31 points in the contest. She was a solid 13 of 22 from the floor and 5 of 5 from the free throw line. The 5-10 guard added seven rebounds, five assists, and three steals in the championship win. Shade has already verbally committed to attend the University of Connecticut.
Noblesville junior Dani Mendez and sophomore Reagan Wilson were also nominated for Player of the Week from District 2.
In a rematch of the 2021 Class 3A State Finals, South Bend Washington once again faced off against Silver Creek, however the outcome was much different, as the Lady Panthers were dominant from beginning to end, winning 93-35. While the Lady Panthers had a number of strong performances, Freshman Kira Reynolds really stood out, posting a massive double-double with her 17 points and 24 rebounds (11 offensive). The 6-3 front-liner was 7 of 12 from the field, plus she knocked down a trio of free throws in the championship win. She also blocked four shots on the evening. This marked the second girls basketball state championship for South Bend Washington (2007).
While most boys’ teams were tuning up for the Sectional with a game or two, LaCrosse managed to squeeze in four contests last week, winning all four to post a 12-9 regular season record…their first winning season since 2003-2004. Senior Ben Garwood was steady all week, helping them to the four victories. Monday against Attica was his lowest scoring output, yet he managed 16 points, knocked down 2 of 3 from deep, and buried all six free throw attempts. He added eight rebounds and a pair of steals in limited minutes, during the comfortable win.
The next night, Garwood and LaCrosse took on South Bend Career Academy, earning a 70-56 victory this time out. The senior wing scored 25 points, her made three shots from long range, and he was a nice 8 of 10 from the charity stripe. He posted a double-double with his 11 rebounds, plus he added four assists, a pair of steals, and four blocked shots.
Wednesday marked the third consecutive day the Tigers took to the hardwood, this time heading to the Hammond Academy for Science & Technology. They summoned enough energy to leave with a solid 82-62 win. The 6-4 Garwood scored 20 points and was again a perfect 6 of 6 on free tosses. He posted a double-double once more, collecting 11 caroms, and he dished out five assists.
LaCrosse finished its week Friday evening with a big Porter County Conference clash against nearby Kouts, winning their toughest game of the week, 59-56. Garwood was as efficient as he was all week, knocking down 8 of 12 shots from the field, making 5 of 6 from 3-point range, and hitting 3 of 4 from the free throw line. He grabbed eight more rebounds and picked off three more steals to cap their 4-0 week.
Tri-Central concluded its regular season with a pair of wins last week. Senior Jake Chapman was instrumental in each win, and he continued his strong Senior season with two dynamic performances. First, in a Wednesday matchup with the Indiana School for the Deaf, Chapman poured in a career high of 46 points, helping the Trojans to a 79-53 triumph. He was an efficient 20 of 30 from the field, 3 of 7 from deep, and he made 3 of 4 from the free throw line. Chapman also contributed seven rebounds and three steals.
Two nights later, the Trojans traveled to Northfield, pulling out a 64-49 victory. The 6-4 Chapman was once again dialed in, as he was responsible for more than half of Tri-Central’s scoring, tallying 32 points himself and handing out a pair of assists. The senior wing used the charity stripe to his advantage, as he made 15 of 17 shots from 15 feet. Chapman also posted a double-double, adding ten rebounds in success. Additionally, he collected six steals in the regular season finale.
In District 3, the IBCA chose two winners on the girls’ side, as each young lady put together a huge performance on the biggest stage of the season. In the Class 2A game, Forest Park went back and forth with Frankton, eventually pulling out the 52-44 title win. Junior forward Amber Tretter was a big part of what the Lady Rangers did all season, but she was especially good in this game, as she scored 22 points and grabbed 17 rebounds (8 offensive). Of her 17 rebounds, she pulled down 12 of them in the second half. The 6-1 front-liner also managed three assists, two steals, and six blocked shots, as Forest Park picked up their first ever girls’ basketball State Championship.
The other District 3 female recipient is Tecumseh Sophomore Jenna Donohoo. Tecumseh managed to handle Lafayette Central Catholic’s speed and pressure all morning, and when the dust settled, the Lady Braves were 60-53 victors in the Class 1A title game. Donohoo, a 5-9 forward, scored 29 points in the victory, with 19 coming in the second half, 11 falling in the decisive fourth quarter. The Sophomore also picked up 13 caroms in the contest, posting a double-double for her efforts. Add to that a pair of assists, a pair of steals, and a pair of blocked shots, and she played a well-rounded game in Tecumseh’s first State Finals appearance and first ever State Championship.
South Decatur’s Hunter Johnson has been explosive all Winter, and last week he capped off the regular season with a bang in two games. On Tuesday evening, the Cougars traveled to Oldenburg Academy, escaping with a hard-fought, 64-55 win. Johnson, a senior, scored 29 points, as he was a perfect 9 of 9 from the free throw line. His ten rebounds helped him post a double-double, plus he handed out two assists and collected three steals in victory.
Friday evening, South Decatur hosted Knightstown, extending their win streak to three games with a 77-55 outcome. The 6-2 Johnson was a real problem for the Panthers, scoring 39 points, burying four shots from long range, and knocking down 7 of 8 from the free throw stripe. He again posted a double-double, his 11th of the season, grabbing 19 rebounds on the evening (11 offensive). To top things off, the senior also picked off four passes in the success.
This is the 14th season for the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association Player of the Week program, but just the second 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. This is the last week girls’ winners will be chosen, with the IHSAA Girls State Finals having concluded. Boys’ winners will be chosen through the Monday following the IHSAA Boys State Finals.
