IBCA PRESS RELEASE: And a junior will lead them.

            

 

             Warren Central’s Shaila Beeler, Northwestern’s Stephanie Burns, Central Noble’s Sydney Freeman and Marquette Catholic’s Sophia Nolan – juniors all – helped her respective team to an IHSAA girls basketball state championship, and that quartet leads the honorees in this week’s IBCA/Subway Player of the Week program.

 

            Southwood senior Carson Blair, Cloverdale senior Jalen Moore, Zionsville junior Isaiah Thompson, Center Grove junior Trayce Jackson-Davis and New Albany senior Romeo Langford share boys’ honors for Feb. 19-24 in the recognition program coordinated by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association.

 

            Blair, Freeman and Nolan are honorees for District 1. Moore, Thompson, Beeler and Burns are winners for District 2. Jackson-Davis and Langford are recipients in District 3.

 

            The 5-8 Beeler scored 21 points with two rebounds, two assists and two steals in keying the Warren Central girls (20-7) to a 50-46 victory over Zionsville for the Class 4A championship. Beeler was 4-of-11 from the field, 1-of-4 on 3-pointers and 12-of-16 on free throws as the Warriors claimed the program’s first state crown.

 

            Burns totaled 17 points, eight rebounds, one steal and one block as the Northwestern girls (29-1) knocked off Greensburg 53-42 for the Class 3A title. The 6-1 center was a perfect 6-of-6 on field goals plus 5-of-7 on free throws in helping the Tigers claim their school’s first girls basketball championship.

 

            The 5-7 Freeman tallied 14 points with seven rebounds and six steals in propelling the Central Noble girls (23-5) past Winchester 46-42 for the Class 2A trophy. Freeman, a Ball State recruit, converted 5-of-11 from the floor, 1-of-3 3-pointers and 3-of-4 from the line as the Cougars claimed their first state title.

 

            Nolan overcame foul trouble to net 12 points with seven rebounds and one assist as the Marquette Catholic girls defeated Vincennes Rivet 38-31 for the Class A championship. The 6-1 Nolan, a Saint Louis University recruit, hit 6-of-11 shots en route to helping the Blazers capture the first crown.

 

            Blair averaged 32.0 points and 5.5 rebounds in keying the Southwood boys (19-3) to a pair of victories. The 6-0 guard tallied 39 points with five rebounds and one steal in a 101-64 victory over Eastbrook. He followed with 25 points, six rebounds and six steals as the Knights beat Bluffton 69-61. For both games, Blair made 19-of-37 field goals, 14-of-26 3-pointers and 12-of-13 free throws.

 

            The 5-9 Moore poured in 47 points with two rebounds, the assists and six steals as the Cloverdale boys (17-6) defeated Rockville 83-73 in their only game of the week. Moore was 14-of-17 from the field and 19-of-19 from the line en route to yet another big game. He has moved his career point total to 2,281, 16^th on Indiana’s all-time boys’ basketball scoring list.

 

            Thompson averaged 29.0 points while leading the Zionsville boys (19-3) to a pair of triumphs. First, he scored a gym-record 40 points – which included a school-record 12-of-14 3-pointers – with three rebounds, two assists and two steals in a 73-37 home decision over Noblesville. The 6-0 guard followed with 18 points, two rebounds and one assist as the Eagles edged Traders Point Christian 62-56. Over both games, the Purdue commit hit 19-of-30 shot, 14-of-20 3-pointers and 6-of-6 free throws.    

                  

            The 6-9 Jackson-Davis averaged 31.5 points and 10 rebounds in a 1-1 week for the Center Grove boys (16-6). The standout front-liner opened with 33 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and two blocks in a 72-69 overtime setback to Brownsburg. Jackson-Davis produced 30 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks as the Trojans clipped Columbus North 58-41. Over both games, Jackson-Davis went 28-of-35 from the field and 7-of-14 on free throws.

 

            Langford closed his regular season by erupting for 46 points with 16 rebounds, three assists, eight steals and two blocks as the New Albany boys (21-1) beat Bloomington North 88-47 in their only game of the week. The 6-5 wing made 15-of-28 shots, 3-of-9 3-pointers and 13-of-17 free throws while moving his career point total to 2,851 – fourth on Indiana’s all-time boys’ basketball list.

 

            This is the 10th season for the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association Player of the Week program and the sixth season it is presented by Subway Restaurants of Indiana, a banner sponsor of the IBCA. Subway, in its seventh season as an IBCA sponsor, encourages athletes to "train hard and eat fresh."