South Central boys - (Updated 4/6) Down to three candidates. Intvs 4/7 and 4/13.

Trinity Lutheran boys - (Updated 4/6) Good Varsity Club member reports Trinity Lutheran girls coach Mike Lang front runner now for boys job.

Westville boys - Departing Coach Ken Pepper (Interim)
WESTVILLE, Ind. -- (Updated 4/6) Coach Pepper took over for Drew Eubank just before Sectional. Word now that Westville will open for intvs.

Southridge boys - Departing Coach Tim Lagrange
HUNTINGBURG, Ind. -- (Updated 4/6) Tim Lagrange has stepped down after 1 season as the Raiders Coach. He is also the superintendent of schools at SW Dubois schools.


Southmont boys - Departing Coach Jake Turner
CRAWFORDSVILLE, Ind. -- (Updated 4/6) Jake Turner resigned as Southmont boys basketball coach last night. Coach has been there for six years and had a record of 64-67, but they were 15-8, 19-7 and 11-10 the last three years. Varsity Clubber’s report continues the Mounties lose two starters. Will be decent next year with three starters and a good JV team. Play in the rugged Sagamore Athletic Conference. Won the school’s second sectional two years ago (2 in 52 years).

Northeast Dubois boys - Departing Coach Terry Friedman
DUBOIS, Ind. -- (Updated 4/6) WBDC is reporting Terry Friedman has resigned after 17 seasons at the helm of his Alma mater. Friedman will continue to serve as the athletic Director at NE Dubois.

New Washington boys – Departing Coach Torrey Winchester (Interim)
NEW WASHINGTON, Ind. – (Updated 4/6) Coach Winchester took over for Blake Snodgrass during the season.

Elwood boys - Departing Coach Ryan VanSkyock (Interim)
ELWOOD, Ind. -- (Updated 4/6) Ryan VanSkyock is the AD and coached the team when they never hired a coach. Varsity Club report indicates he wants to be AD only. Looking for a professional coach with organizational experience.

So much happening - Thanks to all submitting info. Working on all of these confirmed openings. Tomorrow will be a big day of updates. If you can offer any insight, please drop me an email HickoryHusker@yahoo.com

Boys
Beech Grove
Elwood
New Wash
Southmont
Southridge
Westville

Girls
Cascade
EV Mater Dei
Gary 21st
Tri-West
Westville

Hearing that the Putnam counties schools (previously WIC) Montgomery county schools Sagamore) maybe forming their own conference. Heard rumors of Western Boone, possibly Frankfort joining. But the first 7 seem like a real good bet. Not sure what that does for Danville, Tri-West, and Lebanon.

Monrovia girls - Departing Coach Kevin Rounds
MONROVIA, Ind. -- (Updated 2/15) Bulldog girls job now officially open. Coach Rounds will not return for an eighth season. Monrovia has gone 70-90 during his time there including a 15-7 season last go round. Good Varsity Clubber reports Bulldogs do lose their leading scorer (15 ppg,) but that is their only graduation loss. Much of their varsity production game from soph class including PG play. Decent post play reported as well among underclassmen. JV is as you’d expect given so many underclassmen contributing at the varsity level. 8th grade above .500 and last year’s 7th grade was undefeated. Assistant Coach Jennifer Baylor mentioned a probable name from inside. Monrovia is a member of the Indiana Crossroads Conference: Ritter, Triton Central, Cascade, Speedway, Lutheran. Scecina, and Beech Grove. Teaching openings include HS Physical Education (possible Social Studies & Business). Stipend: $5500

Eastern Hancock Boys - Departing Coach Aaron Spaulding
Charlottesville, Ind. -- (Updated 4/3) Word now that Coach Spaulding has announced his retirement after a terrific career and 300 wins, all at Eastern Hancock. Last year’s Royals went 19-7 before dropping Sectional games to Scecina. Varsity Clubber emails that five seniors graduate, and with them goes the heart of last year’s effort. There are letter-winning holdovers that should help keep EH competitive, but competing for a Sectional title may be a bit out of reach for incoming coach. Prospective name already getting much attention is JV Coach/Social Studies teacher Brett Bechtel.

Boone Grove girls - Departing Coach Michael Coslet
VALPARAISO, Ind. -- (Updated 4/3) School corp is now listing this position as open (JV as well.) $7000 Stipend. Openings for Sped and HS Science. More coming!

Seems like I remember the NFHS giving the states their choice on whether to use the shot clock or not. And doesn't this come into play starting next year with the 23-24 school year?

Any word on this? Any rumors floating out of Meridian Street?

r/GC

Marian girls - Departing Coach Steve Scott
MISHAWAKA, Ind. -- (Updated 4/1) Coach Scott has resigned after six seasons in charge of the Knights. He was 126-32 in those six years, including the program's only sectional titles in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2023. To say the last few years have been successful would be an understatement. However, a good Varsity CLub member reports the gravy train of talent is finally coming to an end. Six seniors graduate along with just about all varsity contributions. Three holdovers are expected back, but the underclass trio combined for only about 5-6ppg collectively. Now that’s not to say that others won’t appear on the roster as did one of this year’s stars Shayla Alexander - formerly of South Bend Clay. However, no help expected from an abysmal JV. Internal interest reported. Teaching openings at this point include: HS Math, HS Science, HS Guidance, and HS English.

Woodlan girls - Departing Coach Gary Cobb
WOODBURN, Ind. -- Dave Randall (Closed 4/1)

Adams girls - Departing Coach Dawn Huff
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- (Updated 4/1) Coach Huff departs to focus on her AD duties. Last season the Adams Eagles went 11-12. Six seniors graduate, and although there are enough underclassmen on varsity to field a decent roster next season, getting to .500 is a real stretch. Sr-2-b guard Taylor Warbington leads the pack as a returning all-conference player. Varsity Club member also adds that last year’s JV was horrible. Internal interest expected. Teaching openings include HS FACS, Eled, HS Guidance, HS Earth Science, Several MS openings as well.

University girls - Departing Coach Justin Blanding
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- (Updated 3/31) Coach Blanding departs to accept the boys job. Good Varsity Club member reports 47 ppg graduates including 1000 pt scorers Payton Seay and Kelsey DuBois. Junior to be Taylor Seay returns along with srs-2-be Alex Feeney and Keira Bright who were rotation pieces. JV had a winning record against tough schedule with some promising frosh class that needs to develop. Internal interests

Greensburg boys - Departing Coach Stacey Meyer
GREENSBURG, Ind. -- (Updated 3/31) Coach Meyer has resigned now at Greensburg. Coach put together 17 seasons at Greensburg, Meyer’s teams won 11 sectional championships, 3 regional championships, 2 semi-state championships, and 2 Class 3A State Championships (2013 & 2014.) The Pirates are coming off a 20-7 Sectional championship season, with 3 starters are expected back. That’s the good news. Trouble is that all leading scores depart, and while there are starters coming back, they were not those driving the bus. Greensburg will be hard pressed to touch last year’s win total. Not much going on with a losing JV team last year. Apps deadline is 4/12.

2023 Indiana Boys' Junior All-Stars named

18 players selected to face Kentucky Juniors, Indiana Seniors in June games

Eighteen players have been selected for the IndyStar Indiana boys Junior All-Stars for 2023, All-Stars games director Mike Broughton announced Friday (March 31).

Those selected to the six-player Core Group are Jack Benter of Brownstown Central, Flory Bidunga of Kokomo, Kanon Catchings of Brownsburg, Micah Davis of Franklin Community, Tyler Parrish of Chesterton and K.J. Windham of Ben Davis.

In addition to the core group, six players each were voted to squads labeled Red Group and Blue Group.

The Red Group players are Sabien Cain of University, Camron Casky of Pike, Josiah Dunham of Evansville Christian, Taray Howell of Evansville Bosse, Ron Rutland III of Indianapolis Attucks and Justin Sims of Chesterton.

The Blue Group players are Isaac Andrews of Wapahani, Trey Buchanan of Westfield, Aaron Fine of Noblesville, Brauntae Johnson of Fort Wayne North, Jaelyn Johnson of Portage and Jevon Lewis Jr. of Fort Wayne Wayne.

Aaron Wolfe of Class 3A state champion NorthWood will be head coach for the 2023 boys' Junior All-Stars. He will be assisted by J.B. Neill of Bloomfield. Both coaches were voted IBCA district Coaches of the Year.

Wolfe is 281-110 in 16 seasons at NorthWood, including a 28-2 record this past season. He previously was an assistant coach for the 2016 Indiana All-Stars. Neill has a 208-115 ledger in 13 seasons as a boys’ varsity head coach. That total includes a 24-4 finish this past season and a 74-30 aggregate in four seasons at Bloomfield. He also went 75-54 in six seasons as the girls' head coach at Eastern Greene.

The Junior All-Stars will play one game against the Kentucky Junior All-Stars on Sunday, June 4 at Jeffersonville High School. The Junior All-Stars also will play one game against the Indiana All-Star senior girls on Wednesday, June 7 at a site to be announced. Both games will be doubleheaders with the 2023 Indiana girls' Junior All-Stars, whose rosters were announced on March 8.

The boys Junior All-Star head coach will be Zach Newby of Class 2A state runner-up Lapel. He will be assisted by Brodie Garber of Class 3A state champion Fairfield. Newby has led Lapel to an 82-42 record in five seasons, including a 22-8 finish in 2022-23. Garber is 180-89 in 11 seasons at Fairfield, including a 28-2 record this past season. Both coaches also were 2023 IBCA district Coaches of the Year.

The boys' players listed as Core Group players each will play in two games. The players listed in the Red and Blue groups each will play in one game, the Red Group on June 4 against the Kentucky Juniors and the Blue Group on June 7 against the Indiana Seniors.

The Indiana senior All-Stars will play the Kentucky senior All-Stars on June 9 at the Owensboro Sportscenter in Owensboro, Ky. The Indiana senior All-Stars will play Kentucky's seniors again on June 10 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

The June 10 date also will include the inaugural IndyStar Indiana All-Star "Futures Games." The Futures Games will be a girls-boys doubleheader at Gainbridge Fieldhouse with Indiana-only squads of juniors, sophomores and freshmen in a North vs. South format. The girls' Futures Games rosters were announced on Feb. 16. The boys' Futures Games rosters were announced on March 21.

The 2023 Indiana boys' Junior All-Star team was selected through a process that allows all IBCA-member head coaches to nominate players through the IBCA all-state process. The IBCA 20-member Indiana Basketball Coaches Association all-state committee reviewed and voted on players for the 2023 IBCA/Franciscan Health boys' All-State teams that were released March 22.

The 20 all-state committee members also provided input to a six-person IBCA subcommittee appointed by IBCA executive director Marty Johnson and chaired by Brandon Bradley of Kankakee Valley. Bradley, Broughton plus coaches Don Carlisle of Ben Davis, Mark Rohrer of Gibson Southern, Marc Urban of Chesterton and all-state committee chairman David Wood, former coach at West Lafayette, finalized the selections for the 2023 boys' Junior All-Stars.

The Indiana Junior All-Star program was founded in 1996 by former Indiana All-Star games director Patrick Aikman. In most years, 18 players have been chosen to the Junior All-Stars. In five years (2005, 2006, 2007, 2018 and 2019), 24 players were chosen to the Junior All-Stars. In 2021, just 12 players were chosen to the Junior All-Stars.

In games from 1996 through 2022 (with no games in 2020 because of COVID-19), the Indiana Senior girls lead the Indiana Junior girls 41-10 and the Indiana Senior boys lead the Indiana Junior boys 41-10. In five years of games against the Kentucky Juniors, the Indiana Junior girls lead 10-1 and the Indiana Junior boys lead 7-4. Games against the Kentucky Juniors previously have been played in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2018, 2019 and 2022.

A list of those chosen as 2023 boys' Junior All-Stars follows.

2023 IndyStar Indiana Boys Junior All-Stars

BOYS CORE GROUP (playing on June 4 and June 7)
Name, Ht., Pos., PPG, High School, College Choice
Jack Benter, 6-5, G, 28.7, Brownstown Central, Purdue
Flory Bidunga, 6-10, F, 20.2, Kokomo, undecided
Kanon Catchings, 6-8, F, 17.5, Brownsburg, Purdue
Micah Davis, 6-2, G, 17.3, Franklin Community, undecided
Tyler Parrish, 6-3, G, 20.7, Chesterton, undecided
K.J. Windham, 6-3, G, 8.6, Ben Davis, undecided

BOYS RED GROUP (playing on June 4 vs. Kentucky Juniors)
Name, Ht., Pos., PPG, High School, College Choice
Sabien Cain, 6-3, G, 20.4, University, undecided
Camron Casky, 6-4, G, 13.8, Pike, undecided
Josiah Dunham, 6-1, G, 24.6, Evansville Christian, undecided
Taray Howell, 5-8, G, 23.2, Evansville Bosse, undecided
Ron Rutland III, 6-2, G, 18.0, Indianapolis Attucks, undecided
Justin Sims, 6-6, F, 16.5, Chesterton, undecided

BOYS BLUE GROUP (playing on June 7 vs. Indiana Seniors)
Name, Ht., Pos., PPG, High School, College Choice
Isaac Andrews, 6-1, G, 18.1, Wapahani, undecided
Trey Buchanan, 6-0, G, 14.3, Westfield, undecided
Aaron Fine, 6-3, G, 13.8, Noblesville, undecided
Brauntae Johnson, 6-4, G, 20.8, Fort Wayne North, undecided
Jaelyn Johnson, 6-7, F, 10.7, Portage, undecided
Jevon Lewis Jr., 5-10, G, 16.6, Fort Wayne Wayne, undecided
Head coach: Aaron Wolfe, NorthWood
Assistant coach: J.B. Neill, Bloomfield

My latest article.

For some of you, this will be an article you will hate. Others will love it.

Former Beech Grove Boys Basketball Coach Mike Renfro can be a polarizing figure.

I found Renfro to be a fascinating personality - engaging, personable, and passionate. He is hard driving, and very family oriented and would do anything for his family and friends - and certainly his players.

He also has flaws that were publicly shown all over Indiana at the pinnacle of his coaching career.

That conflict makes for a good story of an interesting man.

He is not perfect - none of us are.

Will you read this with an open mind, or will you dismiss it as he will always be guilty for what he has done? As I said above, there is probably no in-between.

There is little need to beat a guy down further than he has been already. And there is also little need to belittle the reasons he was forced to resign his positions with Beech Grove schools several months ago.

A story of the highest highs and the lowest lows. Thanks for reading.

Central Noble boys - Departing Coach John Bodey
ALBION, Ind. -- (Updated 3/20) The Central Noble job is now posted after an 18-7 mark last season. Coach Bodey put together a largely successful 134-49 mark during his seven seasons leading the Cougars. At this point only a very limited report from Varsity Clubber on this listing. Central Noble JV reported as really weak. Even bad JV teams got their W’s vs. Central Noble. 8th grade blown out most nights. 7th grade group pretty decent. No teaching positions available.

Wes-Del boys - Departing Coach John McGlothin
GASTON, Ind. -- (Updated 3/27) Now official that Coach McGlothin has resigned after eleven seasons. Coach had become fixture with the Warrior program. Varsity CLubber emails that the Warriors return all but 10ppg from last season’s 9-13 team. No less than 6 underclassmen played significant varsity time including leading scorer (17ppg) in 5-11 jr-2-b guard Josiah Love. A couple of other underclassmen capable of scoring double digits return as well. All-in-all the Warriors are on paper to improve their won/loss record in a big way. Varsity Clubber reports JV was average or just below. 8th grade and 7th grade both described as competitive. Zero teaching positions available at this time. Some internal interest expected.

Three girls coaches honored by IBCA for 2022-23 season

Garber, Newby and Allen to receive Bob King Awards as girls' District Coaches of the Year

Three Indiana high school girls basketball coaches have been chosen as 2023 Bob King Coaches of the Year by their peers in the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association, it was announced Monday (March 27).

Brodie Garber of Class 3A state champion Fairfield, Zach Newby of Class 2A state runner-up Lapel and Jeff Allen of Class 4A state champion Bedford North Lawrence have been selected as honorees for the 2022-23 season through voting that occurred from late January through early March, IBCA executive director Marty Johnson said.

Honors are awarded according to IHSAA district boundaries, and one coach from each district is a recipient – Garber in District 1; Newby in District 2; and Allen in District 3. These three coaches will receive plaques as an IBCA District Coach of the Year during the 2023 IBCA Clinic, which is set for April 20-21 at Mt. Vernon High School in Fortville.

The Coach of the Year award is named for the late Bob King, the IBCA executive director from 1984-94. King was a Lebanon native who coached at Sacred Heart and Shortridge high schools in Indianapolis before serving as an assistant basketball coach at Purdue University. He later also was as an assistant athletic director and associate athletic director at Purdue.

A list of former IBCA/Bob King Coaches of the Year in girls' basketball is below. The 2023 IBCA/Bob King Coaches of the Year for boys' basketball will be announced later.

Here is information about the 2023 IBCA/Bob King girls' Coach of the Year honorees.

District 1: Brodie Garber, Fairfield

Brodie Garber is the IBCA District 1 Coach of the Year after guiding Fairfield to a 28-2 season that included a 49-42 victory over Corydon Central for the Class 3A state championship. Along the way, his Falcons also captured Northeast Corner Conference, Fairfield Sectional, Jimtown Regional and LaPorte Semi-State trophies.

Garber has directed the Falcons to a 180-89 record in 11 seasons, annually finishing in the upper half of the NECC during his tenure. This season was the best in program history, the Falcons claiming their first semi-state and state titles while adding their fourth sectional and third regional during Garber’s tenure.

The IBCA award is Garber’s second. He previously was an IBCA District 1 Coach of the Year in 2018. Garber also twice has been recognized as Coach of the Year by The Goshen News, in 2018 and again this season.

Garber is a 1995 graduate of Fairfield, where he earned 11 letters in basketball, baseball and tennis. He was an all-NECC selection in all three sports and was selected Fairfield Athlete of the Year as a senior. In basketball, Garber scored 1,076 career points at Fairfield, was a three-time team MVP, a three-time all-conference selection and led his team to a 20-3 record as a senior. He also was a three-time all-conference choice in tennis and a two-time all-conference choice in baseball, posting a state No. 2 batting average of .529 as a senior.

Garber then attended Huntington University, scoring 1,766 points during his basketball career with the Foresters, earning all-Mid-Central Conference accolades four times and helping the team to the NAIA national final four in 2000. Garber also earned three letters in baseball at HU, and he was inducted into the Elkhart County Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.

Garber began his coaching career as a boys’ assistant at Fairfield for two seasons (2001-03). He then became an assistant in the Fairfield girls’ program for eight years (2004-12) before become the girls’ head coach starting in the 2012-13 season. Garber also served as the Falcons’ head baseball coach from 2002-13.

Garber, who earned a bachelor’s degree from Huntington University in 2000 and a master’s degree from Olivet Nazarene University in 2003, teaches physical education at Fairfield Junior-Senior High School.

He and his wife, Amy, have two children – Brea, a senior standout on the 2022-23 Fairfield team, and Brant.

District 2: Zach Newby, Lapel

Zach Newby is the IBCA District 2 Coach of the Year after leading Lapel to a 22-8 season that included a Class 2A state runner-up finish. His Bulldogs earlier had clipped the nets by winning the Madison County Tournament, the Wapahani Sectional, the Lapel Regional and the Logansport Semi-State.

Newby has compiled an 82-42 record in five seasons as a head coach after assisting the boys’ and girls’ programs for a combined eight years at Lapel, his alma mater. His teams posted 16-8, 17-7, 10-11 and 17-8 ledgers in his first four campaigns, then broke through this season with program’s first county title in 17 years and snapping 16-year sectional and regional droughts before seizing the Bulldogs’ first semi-state trophy.

A 2006 graduate of Lapel, Newby was a four-year member of the basketball program and played for coaches Derek Shelton, Tim Hillenbrand and Hall of Famer Jimmie Howell. He then attended Ball State, earning a bachelor’s degree in education in 2010.

Newby then returned to Lapel, serving as an assistant coach in Howell’s boys’ program for three seasons, in Kevin Brattain’s girls’ program for four seasons and in Howell’s boys’ program for one more season before becoming the girls’ head coach in the spring of 2018.

He has been a teacher for Frankton-Lapel Community Schools for 13 years, currently teaching health and physical education classes at Lapel High School.

Newby and his wife, Kayla, are parents to two children – Noah, 10, and Laken, 6.

District 3: Jeff Allen, Bedford North Lawrence

Jeff Allen is the IBCA District 3 Coach of the Year after directing Bedford North Lawrence to a 27-3 campaign that included a 46-42 victory over Fishers for the Class 4A state championship. During the season, the Lady Stars also won the Hoosier Hills Conference, the Bedford North Lawrence Sectional, the Bedford North Lawrence Regional and the Southport Semi-State.

Allen is 206-40 in nine seasons as the varsity coach of the Lady Stars, a tenure that has included five HHC crowns, nine sectional trophies, three regional titles and his first semi-state and state crowns. This is his second IBCA District 3 Coach of the Year award, joining a previous honor in 2019. He also was head coach of the 2020 and 2021 Indiana All-Stars, although the 2020 All-Stars did not get to play because of COVID-19.

A 1979 graduate of Eastern Greene High School, Allen averaged 21 points and 12 rebounds as a senior and was named all-Southwest Indiana Conference, the Bedford Times-Mail co-Player of the Year, small school all-state and honorable mention all-state selection in boys’ basketball.

He went on to become a two-year starter for coach Dan Sparks at Vincennes University, averaging 8.1 points for a 27-10 team as a freshman and 8.6 points for a 19-10 squad as a sophomore. Allen then went to DePaul, playing two years for Hall of Fame coach Ray Meyer on squads that posted 26-2 and 21-12 seasons.

Allen began his coaching career as a men’s basketball graduate assistant from 1984-1986 at DePaul while completing a master’s of business of administration. He returned to coaching in 2007 for a two-year stint as a boys’ basketball assistant at Bedford.

He shifted to the girls’ program in 2009, serving as a Lady Stars’ assistant for five seasons and helping the program capture Class 4A state championships in 2013 and 2014. He was promoted to BNL girls’ varsity coach for the 2014-15 season.

Allen received a bachelor’s degree in business in 1983 and his MBA in 1986. He currently is the chief financial officer for InFab, Inc., of Bedford.

He and his wife, Linda, have four children – sons Jared and John as well as Indiana All-Star daughters Jenna and Jorie, the 2019 Indiana Miss Basketball.

Oldenburg Academy girls - Departing Coach Eric Feller
OLDENBURG, Ind. -- (Updated 3/27) Oldenburg Academy job now official. Good Varsity Club member reports OA is a 1A private Catholic school located in the southeastern part of the state. The team returns 4 starters from an 11-10 team. Next year’s team will have a good balance of senior experience, talented underclassmen and a good incoming freshman class. Admin reportedly looking for someone with multiple years of coaching experience either as a head varsity, head JV or varsity assistant. Math position only teaching opening at this time. Additional report indicates the Twisters should have a pretty good team next year. The incoming freshman class should be very good as well. Two girls that are 5’10” probably taller, one will be a Soph and the other a frosh next year.

It has been a long and grueling season once again in Indiana, and Saturday it came to a close with the 2022-2023 IHSAA boys’ basketball State Finals. Four schools are now etched in history as this year’s champions, while four others can take pride in the journey that brought them to Indianapolis. Like we did for the girls, instead of highlighting a recipient from each district during this final review, we instead honor someone from each of the four championship programs.

Ben Davis Senior Zane Doughty, NorthWood Senior Cade Brenner, Blackhawk Christian Sophomore Kellen Pickett, and Indianapolis Lutheran Sophomore L.J. Ward have been selected as winners for March 20-March 25 in the recognition program coordinated by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association. Doughty is highlighted in Class 4A. Brenner takes home honors in Class 3A. Pickett is the recipient in Class 2A. Ward stands out in Class 1A.

The Ben Davis Giants completed two feats Saturday evening. Not only did they win their fourth state championship in program history, but they also finished with an impenetrable 33-0 record. A big part of their success the last couple of seasons has been Senior Zane Doughty. Saturday, the 6-9 front-liner was a highly efficient 10-13 from the floor, finishing with 20 points in the Giants’ 53-41 win over the Kokomo Wildkats (24-5). Doughty also chipped in three rebounds, a steal, and a pair of blocked shots, and he will play at Valparaiso University next Winter.

Senior Cade Brenner came up huge for NorthWood (28-2) Saturday evening, as the Panthers needed all 28 of his points to survive in overtime, 66-63, against the Guerin Catholic Golden Eagles

(20-9). The 6-3 guard buried five shots from long range and was a near-perfect 5-6 from the free throw line on the evening. He also added two rebounds, two assists, and a steal, as the Panthers won their first state title in program history. Brenner will lace them up for Huntington University next season.

The Blackhawk Christian Braves (27-3) won their third state title in five years, and their second in Class 2A, as the defeated the Linton-Stockton Miners (29-2) Saturday afternoon, 52-45. Stepping up big for the Braves was Sophomore Kellen Pickett. The 6-8 forward nearly posted a double-double with his 19 points and nine rebounds. He made 6-11 shots from the field, 2-5 from deep, and he was 5-7 from the charity stripe. The Sophomore forward also handed out four assists, collected a steal, and blocked a shot in the program’s big win.

There were a number of individuals to choose from in Indianapolis Lutheran’s 97-66 victory over the Southwood Knights (15-13) Saturday morning, but Sophomore L.J. Ward put together as complete of a game as any of them. The 5-10 guard scored 17 points, he snagged seven caroms, he dished out seven assists, he collected six steals, and he managed to block four shots as well in the big win. It was the Saints’ (20-7) first title and the second time they have been to the state finals (2008).

This is the 15th season for the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association Player of the Week program, but just the third 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. Girls’ winners were chosen through February 25th, following the IHSAA Girls State Finals. This is the final week for boys’ winners to be chosen, following the IHSAA Boys State Finals this past Saturday.

Heritage Christian boys - Departing Coach Brandon Coffer (Interim)
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- (Updated 3/25) Now official that Heritage has officially opened their interim position. Coach Coffer went 3-6 after Coach Warren Wallace resigned offering a cryptic, “Working relationship” issue as the reason in late January. Link to story, but don’t look for much clarity - https://www.yahoo.com/now/warren-wallace-resigns-heritage-christian-154602682.html Good Varsity Clubber reports five seniors graduate not the least of which, Purdue recruit Myles Colvin. The 6-6 stud feasted on 3A HC’s schedule, which included 11 1A and 2A opponents. Incoming coach will likely need that schedule as the talent level reportedly drops-off the table. But getting back to Myles. Good Varsity Club member reports that there are several issues that will/could impact new coach. One being perceived lack of support from admin when attempting to discipline a star player. Another is the long standing conflict of players growing up within a program only to lose playing time to transfer studs. Both problems allegedly played a role in last year’s star-studded 11-12 mark (and first round Sectional ousting via Brebeuf.) A Varsity Clubber familiar with the program reports that a core of 4-5 srs-2-b did log varsity time last year, although none went for more than a handful of buckets a game. Internal interest expected, but unclear which direction admin wants to go at this point. HS English is about it at this point. JV described as solid.

Southport head coach Eric Brand announced on Friday that he is stepping down to spend more time with his children.