Semi-State IBCA Players Of The Week
Category: 2016-2017 High School Written by Staff
Maurice Knight and Jamal Harris led their teams to State Finals berths, and the Frankton senior and Indianapolis junior are two of four players earning honors as an IBCA/Subway Player of the Week. Knight and Harris are joined by Merrillville junior Johnny Bernard and Castle senior Jack Nunge as recipients for March 13-18 in the recognition program coordinated by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association.
Bernard is the winner for District 1. Knight and Harris are co-recipients for District 2. Nunge collected accolades for District 3.
The 6-4 Knight poured in 35 point with 10 rebounds, one assist and four steals as Frankton (22-6) edged Marquette Catholic 77-75 in overtime in a Class 2A semistate game at Lafayette Jeff. Knight hit 12-of-25 shots from the field, including one 3-pointers, plus 10-of-11 free throws as the Eagles earned a spot in the 2A finals against Crawford County.
Harris produced 30 points with six rebounds and one assist at Attucks (24-4) outlasted Evansville Bosse 84-77 in a Class 3A semistate contest at Seymour. He converted 13-of-15 shots and 4-of-9 free throws as the Tigers earned their first trip to the finals since 1959. Attucks will play Twin Lakes in the 3A title game.
The 6-3 Bernard tallied 32 points with four rebounds and one assist as Merrillville (21-8) dropped an 82-73 decision to Fort Wayne North in the Class 4A semistate at Huntington North. Bernard was 11-of-19 from the floor, 4-of-6 on 3-pointers and 6-of-9 from the line as the Pirates nearly rallied from an 18-point deficit at the end of three quarters.
Nunge was outstanding for Castle (24-4), which fell 74-71 to Ben Davis in the Class 4A semistate at Seymour on a last-second 3-pointer by the Giants’ Josh Brewer. The 6-10 Nunge notched a game-high 32 points with 14 rebounds, two assists, one steal and two blocks in the contest. The Iowa recruit sank 12-of-19 shots, including two 3-pointers, plus 6-of-6 free throws.
This is the ninth season for the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association Player of the Week program and the fifth season it is presented by Subway Restaurants of Indiana, a banner sponsor of the IBCA. Subway, in its sixth season as an IBCA sponsor, encourages athletes to "train hard and eat fresh."
Player of the Week winners are chosen each week from each of the IHSAA's three districts. Boys winners will be chosen for one more week after this week. The girls’ season is complete.
Other nominees for Week 20 (2016-17)
District 1 boys – Jaylen Butz, Fort Wayne North; J.J. Foster Jr., Fort Wayne Luers; De’Andre Gholston, Gary 21st Century; Colin Kenney, Marquette Catholic.
District 2 boys – Carson Barrett, Lafayette Central Catholic; Josh Brewer, Ben Davis; Justin Crabb, Twin Lakes; Eric Hunter, Tindley; Andrew Williams, Heritage Christian.
District 3 boys – Adam Beasley, Crawford County; Mekhi Lairy, Evansville Bosse; Hunter Lind, New Washington.
2016-17 winners
Oct. 31-Nov. 5 – District 1 girls: Mason VanHouten, Fort Wayne Canterbury. District 2 girls: Madison Wise, Greenfield-Central. District 3 girls: Kayana Traylor, Martinsville.
Nov. 7-12 – District 1 girls: Jenasae Bishop, East Chicago Central. District 2 girls: Audrey Minix, North White. District 3 girls: Abby Wahl, Heritage Hills.
Nov. 14-19 – District 1 girls: Mary Parkman, Westville, and Aly Reiff, Whitko. District 2 girls: Amy Dilk, Carmel. District 3 girls: Katrina Christian, Crothersville, and Grace Holdeman, Bloomington Lighthouse Christian.
Nov. 21-26 – District 1 boys: Nick Mantis, Lowell. District 1 girls: Dana Evans, Gary West. District 2 boys: Tanner Lambert, Delta, and Garrett Pumphrey, Cambridge City Lincoln. District 2 girls: Nia Clark, Ben Davis. District 3 boys: Tye Collins, Loogootee. District 3 girls: Olivia Seifert, North Decatur.
Nov. 28-Dec. 3 – District 1 boys: Colin Kenney, Marquette Catholic. District 1 girls: Kyannah Stull, John Glenn. District 2 boys: Cooper Neese, Cloverdale. District 2 girls: Faith Morris, Blackford; Tayler Vauters, Riverton Parke, and Macee Williams, Fountain Central. District 3 boys: Hayden Langkabel, Morristown. District 3 girls: Paige Barrett, Scottsburg.
Dec. 5-10 – District 1 boys: Tyrese Walker, Westville. District 1 girls: Karissa McLaughlin, Homestead. District 2 boys: Kris Wilkes, North Central.District 2 girls: Rikki Harris, North Central. District 3 boys: Isaiah Dunham, Evansville Reitz. District 3 girls: Paige Schindler, Borden.
Dec. 12-17 – District 1 boys: Nathan Walpole, Whitko. District 1 girls: Dana Evans, Gary West. District 2 boys: Zach Gunn, Hamilton Southeastern.District 2 girls: Macee Williams, Fountain Central. District 3 boys: Jack Nunge, Castle. District 3 girls: Lucy Carrigan, Rising Sun, and Stacy Payton, Northview.
Dec. 19-24 – District 1 boys: Tysean Sheppard, South Bend Clay. District 1 girls: Courtney Dunlap, Argos. District 2 boys: Courvoisier McCauley, Indianapolis Manual. District 2 girls: Sydney Parrish, Hamilton Southeastern. District 3 boys: Romeo Langford, New Albany. District 3 girls: Megg Hensler, Shawe Memorial.
Dec. 26-31 – District 1 boys: Jermaine Couisnard, East Chicago Central. District 1 girls: Hannah Noveroske, Michigan City. District 2 boys: Jack Hansen, Guerin Catholic. District 2 girls: Sydney Tucker, Frankton. District 3 boys: Nick Walker, Henryville. District 3 girls: Erinn Hodges, Evansville Central.
Jan. 2-7 – District 1 boys: Michael Hemingway, Mishawaka Marian. District 1 girls: TaiYanna Jackson, East Chicago Central. District 2 boys: Sutter Foster, Wes-Del. District 2 girls: Amy Dilk, Carmel. District 3 boys: Trevor Lengacher, Barr-Reeve. District 3 girls: Amani Brown, Terre Haute South.
Jan. 9-14 – District 1 boys: Craig Young, Fort Wayne Wayne. District 1 girls: Dana Evans, Gary West. District 2 boys: Isiah James, Pike, and Billie Webster, Seton Catholic. District 2 girls: Tayler Vauters, Riverton Parke. District 3 boys: Romeo Langford, New Albany. District 3 girls: Lilly Hatton, North Harrison.
Jan. 16-21 – District 1 boys: Damezi Anderson, South Bend Riley. District 1 girls: Karissa McLaughlin, Homestead. District 2 boys: Robert Phinisee, McCutcheon. District 2 girls: Rachel McLimore, Zionsville. District 3 boys: Brady Ewing, East Central, and Jaylen Minnett, Terre Haute South. District 3 girls: Jaelah Crosby, Evansville Bosse.
Jan. 23-28 – District 1 boys: Matt Jennings, Logansport. District 1 girls: Sophia Nolan, Marquette Catholic, and Mason VanHouten, Fort Wayne Canterbury. District 2 boys: Mack Smith, Warren Central. District 2 girls: Emily Kiser, Noblesville. District 3 boys: Michael Sizemore, West Washington.District 3 girls: Kyra Whitaker, Greensburg.
Jan. 30-Feb. 4 – District 1 boys: Nathan Walpole, Whitko. District 1 girls: Sydney Freeman, Central Noble. District 2 boys: Christian Harvey, Richmond. District 2 girls: Madison Wise, Greenfield-Central. District 3 boys: Hayden Langkabel, Morristown. District 3 girls: Jorie Allen, Bedford North Lawrence.
Feb. 6-11 – District 1 boys: Jalen Paul, Churubusco. District 1 girls: Nicole Konieczny, South Bend St. Joseph. District 2 boys: Tim Leavell, Marion.District 2 girls: DeShawna Harper, Heritage Christian. District 3 boys: Cooper Bybee, Edgewood, and Matt Cornett, South Decatur. District 3 girls: Rachel Stewart, Eastern (Pekin).
Feb. 13-18 – District 1 boys: John Cory, Lowell. District 1 girls: Karissa McLaughlin, Homestead. District 2 boys: Jalen Moore, Cloverdale. District 2 girls: Justiss Cantu, Union City. District 3 boys: Tim Abel, Indian Creek. District 3 girls: Rachel Stewart, Eastern (Pekin).
Feb. 20-25 – District 1 boys: Cornell Conner, Elkhart Central. District 1 girls: Karissa McLaughlin, Homestead, and Daly Sullivan, South Bend St. Joseph. District 2 boys: Tyler Watson, Tri-West. District 2 girls: None. District 3 boys: Mekhi Lairy, Evansville Bosse. District 3 girls: Brenna Maikranz, Wood Memorial, and Rachel Stewart, Eastern (Pekin).
Feb. 27-March 4 – District 1 boys: Kyle Mangas, Warsaw. District 2 boys: Jalen Moore, Cloverdale. District 3 boys: Grant Smith, Connersville.
March 6-11 – District 1 boys: Kyle Mangas, Warsaw. District 2 boys: Brandon Perry, Indianapolis Lutheran. District 3 boys: Mekhi Lairy, Evansville Bosse.
March 13-18 – District 1 boys: Johnny Bernard, Merrillville. District 2 boys: Jamal Harris, Indianapolis Attucks, and Maurice Knight, Frankton. District 3 boys: Jack Nunge, Castle.