I saw all over Twitter that you can go to a JUCO now for one or two years and retain four years of NCAA eligibility. That's a game changer for kids who think they go to a smaller school and transfer their way up. Go play JUCO for a year then transfer or go somewhere and sit?
The post high school athletic world is so far different than when I was in high school, it's hard for an old guy like me to wrap my mind around it and know it it is all good or not. I guess it's like anything, if you use the process it's good, if the process uses you, it's not.

Wow!

St. Martin’s has been declared the winner of the 2024 boys basketball state championship in Division IV select after the LHSAA determined that Crescent City won the title in March with an ineligible player.

Click to expand...

St. Martin’s declared 2024 boys basketball state champion after Crescent City ruling

Everyone knows it seems to position-less basketball these days; but do any Teams still play traditional lineups with Forwards and Centers? Do these teams try to get the ball inside or is this play style just outdated?

Two players with a trio of double-doubles plus another player who drained a school-record 12 3-pointers en route to a 44-point game headline this week’s group of honorees in the IBCA/Franciscan Health Player of the Week program for 2024-25.

South Bend Saint Joseph senior Chase Konieczny and DeKalb senior Ashley Cox each posted three double-doubles, while Hamilton Heights senior Gavin Saunders made it rain from distance during the week of Dec. 9-14. Thus, Konieczny, Cox and Saunders along with Shelbyville junior Mar Nicholson, Lawrence Central senior Jaylah Lampley and Gibson Southern senior Gabby Spink have been selected as winners in the recognition program coordinated by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association.

Also, the Lawrence North boys’ team and the Columbia City girls’ team each has been cited as an IBCA/Ballogy Team of the Week in a new portion of the IBCA recognition program for 2024-25.

Players of the Week are chosen by IHSAA district – Konieczny and Cox for District 1, Saunders and Lampley for District 2 and Nicholson and Spink for District 3. A single team for each gender from the entire state is cited as a Team of the Week in that portion of the recognition program. Players and teams are recognized based on all performances in a Monday through Saturday week.

Konieczny averaged 24.7 points and 10.7 rebounds as Class 3A No. 1 SBSJ went 3-0 for the week to move to 5-0 for the season. The 6-4 wing opened with 20 points, 12 rebounds, two assists and two steals in a 77-62 victory over Class 1A No. 2 Marquette Catholic. He followed with 33 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and two steals in an 81-60 decision over Lakeland. He closed with 21 points, 10 rebounds and two assists as the Huskies defeated Goshen 85-44. In the three games, Konieczny was 26-of-50 from the field, 7-of-18 on 3-pointers and 15-of-18 on free throws.

Saunders connected on 16-of-29 shots – including a school-record 12-of-20 from 3-point range – en route to 44 points, six rebounds and three steals in leading Hamilton Heights to an 88-50 triumph over Logansport. The 6-4 guard provided 13 points, six rebounds and five steals as the Huskies moved to 4-2 for the season by topping Muncie Central 48-41. In the two games, Saunders was 20-of-43 from the field, 13-of-24 from deep and 4-of-6 on freebies.

Nicholson averaged 31.5 points and 8.5 rebounds in two victories as Shelbyville improved to 5-0. The 6-5 forward tallied 32 points, eight rebounds, two assists and three blocks in a 70-61 decision over New Castle. He followed with 31 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two blocks as the Golden Bears edged Whiteland 67-64. For the week, Nicholson was 26-of-34 from the floor, 1-of-2 on 3-pointers and 10-of-13 on free throws.

Cox produced a trio of double-doubles as DeKalb went 3-0 to improve to 7-3 overall. A Saint Francis (Ind.) commit, she totaled 10 points, five rebounds and 10 assists in a 64-55 victory over Fort Wayne Concordia. The 5-8 guard followed with 15 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and five steals as the Barons beat Leo 57-39. She completed her week with 16 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and two steals in a 43-28 decision over Garrett. In three games, Cox was 14-of-28 from the field, 3-of-7 on 3-pointers and 10-of-11 on free throws.

Lampley paced 4A No. 1 Lawrence Central to a second consecutive Marion County Tournament championship by averaging 17.5 points and 5.0 rebounds in four victories. The Mississippi State signee scored 23 points with seven rebounds and four steals in a 75-50 victory over Pike. She netted eight points with four rebounds and two assists as the Bears edged township-rival Lawrence North 52-51. The 6-1 guard tallied 23 points, seven rebounds and four steals in a 51-27 decision over Warren Central. She finished her week with 16 points, two rebounds, three assists and three steals as the Bears defeated Franklin Central 64-50 to move to 12-0. In the four games, Lampley sank 23-of-50 shots, 14-of-36 3-pointers and 10-of-12 free throws.

Spink averaged 23.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists in two victories in helping Gibson Southern improve to 7-4. The Murray State signee opened with 23 points, four rebounds, three assists and one steal in a 70-41 triumph over 3A No. 9 Evansville Memorial. The 5-8 guard then provided 24 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and one steal as the Titans topped Evansvillle North 63-60 in overtime. For the week, Spink was 14-of-32 from the field, 3-of-10 from distances and 16-of-18 on charity tosses.

Lawrence North, then ranked fifth in 4A, posted a pair of impressive victories to be named boys’ Team of the Week. They opened with a 75-45 triumph over township-rival Lawrence Central as Cameron Webster scored 17 points, Brennan Miller tallied 16 points, Azavier Robinson netted 12 points and Kai McGrew had 10 points. The Wildcats (3-1) followed by beating 4A No. 2 Greenfield-Central 77-59 and snapping the Cougars’ 44-game regular-season winning streak. Robinson poured in 30 points while McGrew added 18 points in the latter contest.

Columbia City, then fourth in 3A, is the girls’ Team of the Week after it moved to 9-2 by beating two ranked opponents. The Eagles began by upsetting then-4A No. 3 Homestead as senior Addison Baxter flirted with a triple-double with 13 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists. The Butler-bound Baxter achieved a triple-double in the next game, totaling 32 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists as Columbia City outlasted 3A No. 6 Norwell 74-67. Anisa Tonkel added 25 points in the latter game, while Torah Holler reached double figures in both contests.

Name High School
Suzie (Hammel) Albert Lebanon
Leigh (Carr) Bovaird North Harrison
Sara (Strahm) Corbin Ben Davis
Jennifer M. DesJean Perry Meridian
Karen Force-Spurgeon Columbus East
Johna Goff Mt. Vernon (Fortville)
Kirsti Holloway New Washington
Jessica (Reiter) Horvath Penn
Connie (Myers) Kline Columbia City
Lauren Dailey Martin West Vigo
Sara Nord Jeffersonville
Amie (Owsley) Ott Marion Lakeview Christ.
Jessica (Brock) Peelman Rising Sun
Abby Scharlow New Albany
Lindsay Secrest Bloomfield
Lynn Johnson-Thomas Corydon Central
Anna Waugh Franklin Community
Natalie Yudt Portage

NEW CASTLE, Ind. – Eighteen women have been named to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame’s 2025 women’s Silver Anniversary Team, based on outstanding accomplishments as basketball players throughout their careers in high school and college.

The Silver Anniversary Team recognizes players from the graduating class of 25 years earlier – in this case, honorees are all 2000 high school graduates. The 2025 Silver Anniversary Team includes 11 players who were named to the 2000 Indiana All-Star squad. Seven other All-State caliber players are included to recognize the top of Indiana’s high school class of 2000.

The 2000 Indiana All-Star players honored are Miss Basketball Sara Nord of Jeffersonville as well as Suzie (Hammel) Albert of Lebanon, Sara (Strahm) Corbin of Ben Davis, Jennifer DesJean of Perry Meridian, Johna Goff of Mt. Vernon (Fortville), Jessica (Reiter) Horvath of Penn, Abby Scharlow of New Albany, Lindsay Secrest of Bloomfield, Lynne (Johnson) Thomas of Corydon Central, Anna Waugh of Franklin Community and Natalie Yudt of Portage.

Completing the list of 2025 SAT honorees are Leigh (Carr) Bovaird of North Harrison, Karen Force-Spurgeon of Columbus East, Kirsti Holloway of New Washington, Connie (Myers) Kline of Columbia City, Lauren (Dailey) Martin of West Vigo, Amie (Owsley) Ott of Marion Lakeview Christian and Jessica (Brock) Peelman of Rising Sun.

A mid-day reception, free and open to the public, will be held earlier on April 26 at the Hall of Fame Museum in New Castle. The evening banquet will take place at Primo Banquet Hall, 2615 National Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46227.

I will qualify this by stating I am not a fair weather fan. See my Reds status. Quite the contrary, in fact, as I am more than willing to be done with some wins if it means we are also done with the five-star recruits and their attitudes. I’m done with the blue chippers, Woodson, and all that goes with it. There is nothing Hoosier about this team. Nothing. IU has sold its soul to the idea of chasing another banner and in the process lost what made it great.

Give me five Indiana kids that play hard, and I’ll take the outcome that goes with it.

Saying this, I realize there is no putting the genie back in the bottle. I am a minority, and the IU fan$ of today want a winner at all costs - even if we now look like Kentucky in red jerseys.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Ben Davis girls 40-38 win over Roncalli in the Marion County Tourney was even more historic than it was dramatic. Their 18-point comeback, after being down 26-8 at halftime, is the 5th biggest ever!


Largest Come From Behind Victory
(G) Down 22 - Tipton (54) vs. Delphi (52) 2010-11
(G) Down 20 - Greenwood (52) vs. Franklin (48) OT! 2009-10
(G) Down 19 - Huntington North (67) vs. Kokomo (60) 1999-00
(G) Down 19 - Tri-County (51) vs. West Central (44) 2010-11
(G) Down 18 - Ben Davis (40) vs. Roncalli 38 2024-25
(G) Down 18 - Knox (50) vs. Calumet (45) 2009-10
(G) Down 18 - Borden (47) vs. Paoli (39) 2010-11
(G) Down 16 - Brownsburg (62) vs. Lafayette Jeff (57) 2004-05
(G) Down 16 - Roncalli (65) vs. Lawrence North (55) 2012-13

Three 40-point scorers headline this week’s group of honorees in the IBCA/Franciscan Health Player of the Week program for 2024-25.

Columbus East junior Keaton Lawson, Greenfield-Central senior Braylon Mullins and Evansville Central junior Maddy Shirley each scored 40 points or more in a game during the week of Dec. 2-7. Thus, Lawson, Mullins and Shirley along with Michigan City senior Anthony Murphy, Marquette Catholic junior Laniah Davis and Avon senior Aniah Smith have been selected as winners in the recognition program coordinated by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association.

Also, the Warsaw boys’ team and the Lawrence Central girls’ team each has been cited as an IBCA/Ballogy Team of the Week in a new portion of the IBCA recognition program for 2024-25.

Players of the Week are chosen by IHSAA district – Murphy and Davis for District 1, Mullins and Smith for District 2 and Lawson and Shirley for District 3. A single for each gender from the entire state is cited as a Team of the Week in the new part of the recognition program. Players and teams are recognized based on all performances in a Monday through Saturday week.

The 6-5 Lawson averaged 31.5 points, 14.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 4.5 steals and 2.5 blocks in leading Columbus East (3-0) to a pair of victories. First, he poured in 44 points with 15 rebounds, one assist, four steals and four blocks while hitting 18-of-27 shots, 3-of-4 3-pointers and 5-of-6 free throws in an 83-61 triumph over Trinity Lutheran. He followed by netting 21 points with 13 rebounds, six assists, five steals and one block as the Olympians defeated Southwestern (Hanover) 71-55. For both games, Lawson was 26-of-42 from the floor, 4-of-6 from deep and 9-of-11 on freebies.

Mullins shined as then-Class 4A No. 3 Greenfield-Central prevailed in its only game of the week, a 57-52 decision over then-4A No. 9 Ben Davis. The 6-6 guard tallied 41 points with six rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block as the Cougars moved to 2-0 for the season. The University of Connecticut signee was efficient in his scoring, hitting 13-of-18 shots, 5-of-7 3-pointers and 10-of-11 free throws.

The 6-2 Murphy produced a double-double with 28 points and 12 rebounds as Michigan City outlasted Gary West Side 79-74 in its only contest of the week. Murphy added four assists, three steals and two blocks. He also converted 10-of-15 field goals, 2-of-2 from distance and 6-of-10 charities as the Wolves improved to 2-0.

Shirley surpassed 1,000 career points in one game and set a school record with 40 points in another as she averaged 27.3 points and 11.7 rebounds in a 2-1 week. The 6-1 forward opened with 29 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks as then 3A No. 9 Evansville Central blasted Evansville Harrison 66-26. She followed with 40 points, seven rebounds, five assists, one steal and two blocks in a 75-74 setback to Avon. Shirley then tallied 13 points, 16 rebounds, one assist and three blocks in a 44-39 win over Jasper to move her career scoring total to 1,080 points. For the week, Shirley connected on 31-of-65 from the field, 2-of-3 3-pointers and 18-of-21 free throws for the week as the Bears improved to 7-3. Those shooting totals included 12-of-23 from the floor and 16-of-18 from the line in 40-point game, which topped the previous school record of 39 points by Zuri Sanders against Vincennes Lincoln on Feb. 5, 2015.

The 5-7 Davis became the first repeat Player of the Week winner for 2024-25 as she averaged 24.0 points, 13.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 5.0 steals as 1A-No. 3 Marquette Catholic moved to 6-2 by beating Oregon-Davis 65-25 and Mishawaka 59-18. Against O-D, Davis totaled 21 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and four steals. Against Mishawaka, she produced 27 points, 17 rebounds, four assists and six steals. For the week, Davis was 21-of-35 from the field, 3-of-6 from deep and 3-of-5 on freebies.

Smith set two school career records while averaging 22.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 5.3 steals as Avon went 3-0 for the week to improve to 8-3 for the season. The 5-3 guard opened with 18 points, 13 rebounds, five assists and steals in a 57-54 upset of then-4A No. 5 Plainfield. The Jacksonville University commit followed with 32 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and eight steals as the Orioles topped then-3A No. 9 Evansville Central 75-74. She then tallied 17 points, seven rebounds, four assists and five steals as Avon defeated Lebanon 63-36. During the week, Smith was 27-of-67 on field goals, 4-of-16 on 3-pointers and 9-of-14 on free throws while setting school marks for career points (1,364) and career steals (305). Smith passed the respective marks of 1,322 points by 1989 graduate Heather Farrell and 296 steals set by 1993 graduate Kami Phelps in moving to the top of the two Orioles’ lists.

Warsaw (3-0) was selected boys’ Team of the Week after the 4A No. 8 Tigers beat then-3A No. 19 Columbia City 62-53, knocked off Homestead 62-60 in overtime and topped Huntington North 77-53 for coach Matt Moore. Senior Brandt Martin tallied 15 points and five rebounds, while classmate Carson Gould provided 11 points, five rebounds, eight assists and six steals against the Eagles. Martin netted 18 points, senior Robbie Finlinson added 17 points, senior Luke Bricker had 15 points and junior Mydin Burgher netted nine points – including the game winner – against the Spartans. Martin provided 18 points and 12 rebounds, Finlinson 17 points, Bricker 15 points, senior Parker Justice 11 points and Gould 10 assists in the triumph over the Vikings.

The Lawrence Central girls (8-0), Indiana’s defending 4A state champions and currently ranked first in 4A, defended state bragging rights by defeating two Kentucky traditional powers in the Hoops 4 Harvest Showcase at Edgewood, Ky. With senior Jaylah Lampley scoring 23 points, junior Lola Lampley netting 16 points, junior Aniyah McKenzie notching 15 points and senior Laila Abdurraqib providing 11 points and 10 assists, the Bears knocked off four-time defending Kentucky state champion Sacred Heart Academy 69-49 in matchup of 2024 state winners. Coach Jannon Lampley’s crew followed that performance as it defeated Mercy Academy 81-43. In the latter game, Jaylah Lampley tallied 33 points and 12 rebounds, Lola Lampley netted 18 points and nine rebounds and Abdurraqib totaled 13 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists.

Now official that Lake Station Edison will not field a girls squad this season due to lack of numbers..

Happy Holidays, everyone! Since you have participated in our annual College Bowl pick’em in the past, I wanted to send you an invite for this year’s contest. Beginning again December 14, there will be at least one college bowl nearly every day until after New Year’s.

If you’re looking for a reason to give a hoot about the Duke’s Mayonnaise Bowl, this is your ticket. 36 bowls this year. Plus we also get to add the 12-team playoff to our game this year!

If you know of someone that would enjoy playing, feel free to forward this along to them. All are welcome. The rules are the same as past years.

1. Entry fee is $20, winner takes all. Feel free to Venmo me if I won’t see you in person. @Leigh-Evans-13

2. Pick the winner of each Bowl Game and then rank each with confidence points, 1-36. Winning the 12 point game would earn you 12 points. The 36 point game would earn you 36 points etc. Use each point value only once.

3. Tourney new this year! In addition, the tourney bracket at the bottom will be scored much like March Madness. First round games will be worth 20 points each, second round quarterfinal games worth 30, 3rd round semifinals worth 40, and championship worth 50. All tourney points will be added to regular bowl games to determine each player’s total score.

4. Print out the attached entry form, fill it out with old school pen/pencil, and text me a photo of your entry form. 317-224-7150

Deadline to complete your picks is Saturday, December 14 by 12 noon (EST) as that is the kickoff of the first game with the not-so-prestigious Cricket Celebration Bowl. I will text updated standings as in days of old..

Past Winners:
2024 ???
2023 Kenny Knartzer
2022 Greg Scudder
2021 Kenny Haupt
2020 Quin Schneider
2019 Quin Schneider
2018 Chris Bauer
2017 Kailey Evans

Merry Christmas!
Leigh Evans
317-224-7150

Here’s the link to entry form to print - Good luck!
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/14dVvQBbK4ecTJ_ArE88i2R5ofzJNntKe6MdZ0XbKs_8/edit?usp=sharing

NEW CASTLE, Ind. – Girls’ and women’s basketball in Indiana historically has seen a number of the top players in the nation. The 2025 Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame induction class is no different. The board of directors of the Hall proudly announces its 23rd women’s induction class, to be honored in ceremonies on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Seventeen people are in the class, including 1998 Indiana Miss Basketball Kelly Komara of Lake Central. The class also includes former Indiana All-Stars Carrie (Mount) Roelle of Bedford North Lawrence and Anderson High School teammates Sarah Armington and Melina Griffin, seven other players, five coaches and one contributor – Martha Randel of Zionsville – as the Indiana Pacers/Indiana Fever Silver Medal winner. The Silver Medal is presented to a person who contributed to Indiana high school basketball in a role other than as a player or coach.

Four of five posthumous inductees are from the 1920s and 1930s era of Indiana girls’ basketball. They are Ruth (Hutchins) Parker of Griffith, Doris “Bill” (Smyers) Richards of Wabash, Sarah (MacGregor) Ward of Mt. Vernon (Posey)and coach Marcia Snow, who guided Wabash teams from 1926-35. A fifth posthumous inductee is Tom Earlywine, coach at Mt. Vernon (Fortville) from 1979-91.

The Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame’s 23rd Women’s Awards Banquet is planned for Saturday, April 26, 2025. The day’s events will include a reception at the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame Museum in New Castle that afternoon with a banquet that evening at the Primo Banquet Hall in Indianapolis.

Ran across this and had to share. Ad in an Indiana Pioneer era Newspaper

“Any gal that got a calico dress, coffee pot and skillet, knows how to sew britches and can make a hunting shirt, knows how to take care of children can have me as husband till death do us part.”

[KNIGHTSTOWN — Medora made a long and memorable trip on Friday night, turning back the clock to play on an historic playing surface in Indiana. The Hornets made the trip to Knightstown to face Lighthouse Christian Academy at the Hoosier Gym for a Southern Roads Conference matchup.

The team made the most of the experience, topping the Lions by 19 points, led by Kade Wright’s 25 and Jaxon Nugen’s 21 points. Medora secured the victory 76-57, improving to 2-1 on the 2024-25 regular season.]

LAPEL, Ind. -- Lapel's 53-38 home win over University this past weekend saw a white hot Taylor Mroz knock down 5 five three pointers in the first quarter. Although she would go scoreless the remainder of the contest her historic first quarter places her name among some of the best shooters our state has ever seen. The 5-7 multisport senior Lapel moved to 5-5 on the year. University, playing their third game in five days, dropped to 3-4.


Lapel's Taylor Mroz

Most 3 Pointers in a Quarter
(G) 7 Jodi Howell - Alexandria vs. Madison-Grant 2004-05
(G) 6 Annmarie Keller - Kouts vs. LaCrosse 2007-08
(G) 6 Jessica Norris - Center Grove vs. Perry Meridian 2014-15
(G) 6 Tori Packwood - West Washington vs. Crawford County 2012-13
(G) 6 Shae Hines - Jeffersonville vs. Floyd Central 2013-14
(G) 5 Jenna Blakely - University vs. Scecina 2018-19
(G) 5 Corie West - New Castle vs. Muncie South 2003-04
(G) 5 Amy McLaughlin - Brownsburg vs. Pike 1990-91
(G) 5 Taylor Mroz - Lapel vs. University 2024-25
(G) 5 Angie Enders - Brownsburg vs. Tri-West 1994-95
(G) 5 Abbey Kirchner - Jennings Co. vs. Brownstown 2003-04
(G) 5 Olivia Nickerson - Twin Lakes vs. Tri-County 2023-24
(G) 5 Abby Pliett - Central Noble vs. Lakeland 2023-24
(G) 5 Cortney Smith - Muncie South vs. Wapahani 2009-10

Poll Results - DECEMBER 8, 2024 POLL

Rank School Total Points Record 1st Place Votes

1 Fishers 440 4-0 (22)
2 Attucks 412 5-0
3 Carmel 361 3-0
4 Greenfield-Central 356 2-0
5 Jeffersonville 322 2-1
6 Lawrence North 287 1-1
7 Cathedral 276 2-2
8 Warsaw 267 3-0
9 Crown Point 249 1-0
10 New Palestine 211 2-0
11 Anderson 205 3-0
12 St. Joe 160 2-0
13 East Chicago 136 3-1
14 Noblesville 133 2-1
15 Ben Davis 129 1-2
16 Pike 99 3-0
17 New Albany 90 2-0
18 Northridge 72 4-0
19 Westfield 55 2-1
20 Luers 48 1-0


Other Schools Receiving Votes (LISTED ALPHABETICALLY)
Avon (3-1), BNL (2-1), Brownsburg (1-1), Brownstown Central (2-0), Columbia City (3-1), Danville (4-0), Reitz (1-0), EV Harrison (1-1), EV Memorial (0-0), Blackhawk (3-1), Wayne (1-1), Gary West Side (2-3), Guerin (4-0), Homestead (2-1), Lutheran (0-0), Leo (2-1), Mt. Vernon (F) (3-1), North Central (Indianapolis) (1-1), NorthWood (3-0), Parke Heritage (4-0), Plainfield (2-2), Portage (2-0), Princeton (4-0), Silver Creek (4-0), Riley (3-0), Southridge (2-0), Valpo (0-3), Wapahani (3-0), Warren Central (1-1), Zionsville (1-3), 21st Century Charter School – Gary (3-0)

2024-25 IBCA girls basketball poll – Week 5 (Dec. 8, 2024)
Rank School (FPV) Points Record
1 Lawrence Central (20) 436 8-0
2 Homestead (2) 408 9-0
3 Hamilton Southeastern 403 10-0
4 Center Grove 365 8-0
5 Warsaw 360 9-0
6 South Bend Washington 315 8-1
7 Northridge 289 8-1
8 Greensburg 282 10-0
9 McCutcheon 252 9-1
10 Plainfield 222 7-1
11 South Knox 218 11-0
12 Silver Creek 197 7-1
13 Brownsburg 191 7-2
14 Noblesville 120 5-3
15 Columbia City 118 7-2
16 Floyd Central 104 7-0
17 Bloomington South 103 8-1
18 Fishers 49 8-3
19 Pike 42 6-1
20 Lawrence North 34 4-3

Others receiving votes (listed alphabetically):
Alexandria (10-0),
Austin (8-0), Avon (8-3), Brownstown Central (8-0), Danville (6-2),
Eastern Hancock (8-0), Evansville Central (7-3), Evansville Reitz (8-0),
Franklin Central (5-4), Gibson Southern (5-4), Northeastern (10-0),
Norwell (7-3), Penn (5-3), Washington (7-2).

One of Indiana’s most highly respected journalists, Ken Fox of the Elkhart Truth is the recipient of the 2024-25 IHSAA Distinguished Media Service Award.

https://www.ihsaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/120424.KenFox.pdf

Week 1 for the boys and Week 4 for the girls produced an excellent group of winners in the IBCA/Franciscan Health Player of the Week program for 2024-25, headed by Manchester senior Gavin Betten, who became his school’s all-time leading scorer, and Norwell junior Vanessa Rosswurm, who set a single-game school record for scoring.

Betten and Rosswurm are joined by Wes-Del senior Josiah Love, Jeffersonville senior Michael Cooper, Brownsburg senior Avery Gordon and Jennings County junior Mollie Ernstes as honorees for the week of Nov. 25-30 in the recognition program coordinated by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association.

Also, the Vincennes Lincoln boys' team and the Evansville North girls' team each is cited as an IBCA/Ballogy Team of the Week in a new portion of the IBCA recognition program for 2024-25.

Players of the Week are chosen by IHSAA district – Betten and Rosswurm for District 1, Love and Gordon for District 2 and Cooper and Ernstes for District 3. A single team for each gender from the entire state is cited as a Team of the Week in the new part of the recognition program. Players and teams are recognized based on all performances in a Monday through Saturday week.

Betten totaled 35 points, 17 rebounds, three assists and three steals as Manchester defeated Oak Hill 76-36 in the Squires’ only game of the week. The 6-6 forward was a dead-eye shooter, converting 12-of-13 field goals, 1-of-1 from 3-point range and 10-of-11 free throws for his game-high total. Betten’s output moved his career total to 1,459 points, passing the previous record of 1,455 points set by 1990 graduate Andy Holderman.

Love was another sharpshooter – hitting 27-of-34 shots, 5-of-8 3-pointers and 4-of-5 freebies over two games – as he led Wes-Del to victories over Cambridge City Lincoln and Alexandria. The 5-11 guard opened with 34 points, five rebounds and three steals as the Warriors topped the Golden Eagles 75-63. He then tallied 29 points, four rebounds and two assists in a 64-48 triumph over the Tigers. In the two games, Love averaged 31.5 points and 4.5 rebounds.

Cooper was a standout as IBCA preseason No. 2 Jeffersonville knocked off IBCA preseason No. 4 Indianapolis Cathedral 67-65. The 6-3 guard scored 29 points while adding four rebounds, one assist and five steals as the Red Devils prevailed. A Wright State signee, Cooper sank 9-of-19 shots, 3-of-5 3-pointers and 8-of-10 free throws.

Rosswurm poured in a school-record 43 points with 10 rebounds, five assists and five steals as Norwell opened a 2-0 week with an 80-48 victory over Fort Wayne Concordia. The 5-10 guard followed with 22 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists and two steals as the Knights moved to 6-3 with a 64-56 decision at Angola. Rosswurm hit 16-of-28 shots, 4-of-9 3-pointers and 7-of-7 free throws in the record-setting game. For the week, she averaged 32.5 points, 10.0 rebounds, 7.0 assists and was 24-of-49 from the floor, 7-of-19 from distance and 10-of-11 from the line.

Gordon averaged 28.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 4.5 blocks in a 1-1 week for then-IBCA No. 12 Brownsburg (6-2). The 6-6 center netted 20 points with four rebounds and two blocks in a 66-60 setback to IBCA No. 3 Hamilton Southeastern. She bounced back to produce 36 points, 14 rebounds and seven blocks in a 67-58 victory over then-IBCA No. 16 Columbia City. For the week, the Purdue recruit hit 24-of-40 from the field and 8-of-10 from the line.

Ernstes tallied 25.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 3.0 steals in a 1-1 week for Jennings County (2-4). The 6-0 guard scored 20 points with four rebounds, four assists, four steals and two blocked shots as the Panthers fell to Jeffersonville 66-55. She came back strong, though, pouring in 31 points with 10 rebounds, one assist, two steals and one block in a 49-47 victory over Pendleton Heights. Ernstes converted 18-of-44 field goals, 4-of-18 3-pointers and 11-of-12 free throws in the two games.

Vincennes Lincoln, which went 5-0 for the week, is the first boys’ winner in the IBCA/Ballogy Team of the Week program. Senior Luke Hall averaged 17.6 points and 3.6 rebounds as coach Dave Mahurin’s Alices defeated Pike Central 66-34 in their opener, then beat four Illinois schools in the Capital Classic in Lawrenceville, Ill. – Fairfield (67-39), Richland County (60-30), Red Hill (81-58) and host Lawrenceville (83-63). Senior Joel Sanders added 16.4 points and 8.8 rebounds, while sophomore Colton York contributed 9.0 points, junior Jadon Miller tallied 6.8 points and senior Joshua Clegg netted 6.0 points and 4.0 assists.

Evansville North claimed girls’ Team of the Week honors after the Huskies went 2-0 to move to 3-2 for the season by knocking off Castle 57-32 and beating previously undefeated Bloomington South 54-52 in overtime. Senior Libby Blythe averaged 17.0 points, while sophomore Brooke Silva tallied 16.5 points in the two games.

NEW CASTLE, Ind. – Eighteen men have been named to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame’s 2025 Silver Anniversary Team, based on outstanding accomplishments as a senior basketball player 25 years ago.

Bloomington North's Jared Jeffries

The team includes 11 members named to the 2000 Indiana All-Star squad. Seven other all-state players are included to recognize the top of Indiana’s high school class of 2000.
2000 Indiana All-Stars include Mr. Basketball Jared Jeffries, Michael Bennett, Brett Buscher, Steve Drabyn Jr, John Hamilton Jr., Andre Owens, Austin Parkinson, Shane Power, Zach Randolph, John Standeford and Aaron Thomas.

The remaining seven, named to various all-state teams are Braden Bushman, Ron Dokes, Mark Drake, Adam Mark, Mickey McGill, Bryant Northern, and Corey Seegers.2025 Men’s Silver Anniversary Team members will be honored at the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame’s 63rd Men’s Awards Banquet on Wednesday, March 19, 2025.
A midday reception, free and open to the public, will be held at the Hall of Fame Museum in New Castle. The evening banquet will take place at the Primo Banquet Hall, which is located on the southside of Indianapolis.

Brett Buscher totaled 1,365 points (15.9) and 594 rebounds (6.9) over four varsity seasons, one year at Whiting and the last three at Chesterton while playing for his father, coach Bob Buscher. He averaged 21.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists as a senior, earning a spot on the 2000 Indiana All-Stars as well as being a McDonald’s All-American nominee, AP first-team All-State, IBCA first-team All-State, 2000 Louisville Courier-Journal first-team All-State and IBCA honorable mention Academic All-State.The 6-8 forward also was a 1999 Junior All-Star, 1999 IBCA first-team Underclass All-State, 1998 IBCA honorable mention Underclass All-State, two-time Northwest Indiana Times first-team All-Area, two-time NWI Times honorable mention All-Area, two-time first-team all-Duneland Conference, 1997 honorable mention all-Lake 10 Conference, two-time team MVP and three-time team captain. He scored a career-high and school-record 40 points against LaPorte at Conseco Fieldhouse on Dec. 22, 1999.Buscher went on to Purdue, where he scored 674 points (5.6) and grabbed 388 rebounds (3.2) while helping the Boilermakers to a four-year record of 66-58. He led Purdue in field goal accuracy as a junior (.526, 70-of-133) and tallied career highs of 21 points at Akron on Dec. 27, 2000, and 10 rebounds on two occasions. He won the Purdue “Courage Award” as a sophomore and played for Gene Keady-coached teams that earned a spot in the 2003 NCAA Tournament, won the 2003 Great Alaska Shootout and played in the 2001 and 2004 National Invitation Tournaments.Buscher earned a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership and supervision from Purdue in 2004, a master’s degree in kinesiology from IUPUI in 2019 and a transition to teaching degree from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2021. After college, he played professionally in Germany in 2004-05 and has served as an assistant coach at Indianapolis North Central (2018-20) and at Wayzata High School in Plymouth, Minn. (2021-22). Since 2022, he has been a teacher for Anoka-Hennepin Schools in Minnesota. His hobbies include reading, traveling and staying fit.