Week-4 was an extremely busy sports week throughout the state. Whether it was the Pacers going 4-0 in the NBA’s new in-season tournament, the IHSAA Football State Finals and Indianapolis Colts playing on at Lucas Oil Stadium on three consecutive days, the continuation of the girls’ basketball season, or the beginning of the boys’ basketball season, there was plenty to do. Oh, yeah, and Thanksgiving was somewhere in the middle of the week. After the dust settled, three boys and three girls stood out as Week-4 players of the week in their respective districts.



Southwood Sophomore Bryce Wilcox, Warsaw Sophomore Brooke Zartman, Cathedral Junior Brady Koehler, McCutcheon Freshman Lillie Graves, Borden Senior Kasym Nash, and Evansville Central Sophomore Madalynn Shirley have been selected as winners for Nov. 20-Nov. 25 in the recognition program coordinated by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association. Wilcox and Zartman are the boys’ and girls’ winners, respectively, in District-1. Koehler is the boys’ recipient, while Graves is the girls’ recipient in District-2. Nash takes home boys’ honors, while Shirley takes home girls’ honors in District-3.

The Southwood Knights avenged last season’s opening night loss to Blackford by knocking off the Bruins last Tuesday, 74-67. Sophomore Bryce Wilcox was an all-around standout, contributing in each facet of the game. The 6-6 forward posted a double-double, as he scored 23 points and pulled down 11 rebounds in the effort. But he also blocked 5 shots, he handed out 4 assists, and he collected 4 steals in the early season victory.

Also Tuesday night, Warsaw hosted Penn in girls’ action, and the host Tigers defeated the black & gold for the first time since the 2016-2017 season, 69-50. That ended a 9-game losing streak to the Kingsmen. Sophomore guard Brooke Zartman was outstanding in the big win, burying 7 of 11 shots from 3-point range and scoring 25 points in total on the evening. The 5-7 guard added a pair of rebounds, 3 assists, and 4 steals, as Warsaw moved to 4-2 on the season.

District-2 saw a number of strong performances in both boys’ and girls’ action. Cathedral earned a pair of big wins in boys’ hoops, knocking off Warren Central on Wednesday, 92-71, then turning around and defeating a good Jeffersonville team, 78-66, on Saturday. Junior Brady Koehler was instrumental in both wins, helping the Irish to a 2-0 start to their season. In the game against Warren Central, Koehler scored 27 points on 9-14 shooting. He was on-target from deep (5-7 on 3-pointers) and a perfect 4-4 from the charity stripe, plus he pulled in 3 rebounds and blocked a pair of shots. Against Jeffersonville, the 6-8 wing was again key, scoring 24 points, knocking down 3-6 shots from long range, and making 7-8 of his free tosses. He also grabbed 7 caroms, dished out 3 assists, and collected 3 steals in the nice win.

In District-2 girls’ action, McCutcheon Freshman Lillie Graves has been outstanding to begin her career. Last Tuesday, in a 74-51 win at Parke Heritage, the 6-0 wing poured in 39 points on an efficient 16-23 from the field. She was 2-4 from 3-point range, 5-7 from the charity stripe, plus she added 8 assists, 8 steals, 5 rebounds, and 3 blocked shots in the triumph. In her young career, 39 points is a personal best, but it wasn’t the first time she has topped 30 points this season.

When Borden hosted Eastern (Pekin) last Tuesday, little did anyone know that Senior Kasym Nash would erupt for 51 points, helping his Braves to a 77-53 victory. The 6-1 guard was 18-29 from the field, 5-10 from downtown, and 10-13 from the free throw line. Nash also chipped in 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals in the opening night success. Saturday, the Braves turned around and defeated Shoals, 55-43. Nash was once again strong, scoring 20 points. He was again solid shooting it, making 2-3 from 3-point range and 10-12 from the free throw line. He added 3 rebounds and 2 assists to his season totals as well.

Evansville Central played just one game last week, as they defeated North Posey with ease on Tuesday evening. Sophomore Madalynn Shirley made sure to do her part, helping the Bears to victory behind 29 points and 17 rebounds. She was highly efficient from the field, shooting 11-13 overall, 2-3 from behind the arc, and she knocked down all 5 free throws attempted. The 6-0 forward added 4 steals, 3 assists, and 3 blocked shots to her output.

This is the 16th season for the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association Player of the Week program, and the fourth 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 will be chosen through the Monday following the IHSAA Girls State Finals. Boys’ winners will be chosen through the Monday following the IHSAA Boys State Finals.

Are those rankings correct on the homestead website? They have Bloomfield ranked #1 in 1A yet they lost about everybody. And North Daviess is ranked #6 in 3A and they did lose everybody.

r/GC

Tom Allen spent four seasons steadily taking Indiana up the Big Ten ladder.

Then everything came crashing down in college football’s rapidly evolving world.

Three consecutive losing seasons and a three-year conference record of 3-24 cost Allen his dream job on Sunday, when the two sides reached a financial settlement to part ways.

Tom Allen won't return as Indiana Hoosiers coach. The sides reached a $15.5 million buyout :: WRALSportsFan.com

Tom Allen spent four seasons steadily taking Indiana up the Big Ten ladder.

www.wralsportsfan.com

Just noticed in the past few days the reports of good crowds at early boys basketball games. Obviously a big crowd at Kokomo to see Flory Bidunga vs. Western. I saw a decent crowd at Franklin Tuesday night for the FCHS-Indian Creek boy-girl doubleheader, and apparently the Center Grove at Greenwood game the next night also had a good crowd by Johnson County standards. According to pictures and videos on Facebook the annual Barr Reeve-Washington game was played before a nearly packed Hatchet House on Wednesday. Are there reports of other strong crowds this week? Just wondering if this is the holiday or opening game attractions, or if we are looking at a possible positive attendance trend. I might add the FCHS-IC game did not feature much of a student turnout for either school, which unfortunately has become the norm in most of Johnson County.
Hope that all had a Happy Thanksgiving with family and friends!

Purdue Poly North (also called Purdue Poly-Broad Ripple) has been approved as a full IHSAA member.

Commissioner Paul Neidig and Assistant Commissioner Robert Faulkens reported on the status of Purdue Polytechnic – Broad Ripple which was approved for provisional membership this summer. Per Article III, Section 3 of the Member School By-Laws, it has been confirmed that the school maintains the same Board of Directors as full member Purdue Polytechnic – Downtown. Given this confirmation, the commissioners recommended the required three years of provisional membership be waived and full membership granted immediately for the school beginning with this winter’s state tournaments.

Who scrimmages who?
Silver Creek v. Mooresville

Girls Teams with the most IHSAA Tourney Wins
159 BNL
143 Rushville
128 Ben Davis
122 Benton Central
120 Crown Point
117 NorthWood
117 Valpo
113 FW Luers
112 Jac-Cen-Del
108 Kokomo
105 Mooresville
105 North Central(I)
104 Penn
103 Mt. Vernon(F)
101 Center Grove
101 Lake Central

Seniors Step Up to Earn Week-2 IBCA/Franciscan Health Player of the Week Honors

Week-1 of the 2023-2024 IBCA/Franciscan Health Player of the Week program saw three underclassmen take home honors, and rightfully so. However, it is as if the Class of 2024 got the memo and stepped it up throughout the state in Week-2. The three ladies we have chosen as Week-2 winners were outstanding in each of their respective districts.

Crown Point Senior Ava Ziolkowski, Arsenal Technical Senior Kayla Lacombe, and Bedford North Lawrence Senior Chloe Spreen have been chosen as the recipients for Nov. 6-Nov. 11 in the recognition program coordinated by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association. Ziolkowski earns the nod in District-1, Lacombe collects honors in District-2, while Spreen has been chosen in District-3.

Crown Point Senior Ava Ziolkowski has been strong through both weeks this season, however, during Week-2 she helped lead the Bulldogs to a pair of victories. In an easy Tuesday win at Bishop Noll, the 6-1 forward was a highly efficient 12-16 from the field, 4-6 from deep, and 2-2 from the charity stripe, on her way to 30 points. She added 11 rebounds for the double-double, plus she stole the ball 6 times. She followed up that performance with a bigger one, as the Bulldogs took care of Hammond Central on Saturday, 58-45. Ziolkowski, an Indiana Institute of Technology commit, poured in 36 points on 14-27 shooting. She snagged another 13 rebounds, knocked down a pair of triples, was 6-7 from the line, and collected 7 more steals in the triumph.

In Central Indiana, Arsenal Technical High School and Senior Kayla Lacombe are off to a strong 3-0 start. They started last week with an easy win at Indianapolis Washington Tuesday night, and Lacombe was just getting going. The 5-8 wing scored a game-high 29 points, as she buried 4 3-pointers, pulled down 9 rebounds, and handed out 4 assists in the win. But Thursday was the monumental performance for the Lady Titan star. In another comfortable win, against the Phelan Academy, Lacombe erupted for the first 50-point game of the season, posting a 52-point output on 18-26 shooting. She added a trio of 3-pointers, 13-15 free throw shooting, plus she collected another 9 caroms in the success.

Bedford North Lawrence Senior Chloe Spreen is no stranger to awards, and she is our District-3 winner this week for a pair of nice outputs early in her final year. The 5-9 guard gave a well-rounded performance in a wide-margin win Tuesday at Bloomington North. Spreen scored 27 points on 11-16 shooting, including a perfect 3-3 from deep and 2-2 from the free throw line. Her 7 rebounds, 6 steals, and 3 assists completed the balanced outing. Saturday, in another lopsided win against Mitchell High School, Spreen was 14-18 from the field, 2-4 from outside, and 4-5 from the line in limited time. She has committed to play at the University of Alabama.

This is the 16th season for the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association Player of the Week program, and the fourth 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 will be chosen through the Monday following the IHSAA Girls State Finals. Boys winners will be chosen starting in two weeks and through the Monday following the IHSAA Boys State Finals.

I'm a sucker for folklore, and while all of these don't help predict the winter, many of the do. Nay I have missed?

Weather Rhymes

• If crows fly low, winds going to blow.
• If crows fly high, winds going to die.
• If it rains before seven, it will clear before eleven
• Ring around the moon, rain real soon.
• Red sky at night, sailor’s delight.
• Red sky at morn, sailor take warn.
• If dew is on the grass, the rain will pass.
• If bugs start to bite, rain it might.
• Leaves over they roll, coming storm foretold.
• Clouds flying high, fair weather nigh.
• Clods fly low, wind is going to blow.
• Pinecones opened-up, empty is water’s cup.
• Cows on their tummy, weather’s crummy.
• Squirrel nests high, snow piles high.
• Nuts falling harder, better stock up the larder.
• Light on the berries, less snow to carry.
• When squirrels start early to hoard, winter will pierce us like a sword.
• Beavers with sticks in its mouth, better head south.
• If the rooster molts before the hen, we’ll have winter thick and thin.
• If the hen molts before the cock, we’ll have winter hard as a rock.
• Wild turkeys perched high in a tree, snow’s coming & so is a freeze.
• Bees building inside hives, winter sure to arrive.
• Outside hives for the bee, a pleasant winter we’ll see.
• Mushrooms galore, much snow in store.
• No mushrooms at all, no snow will fall.
• Thunder in winter nature, snow comes 7 days later.

Other Weather Clues

• Count cricket chirps for 14 seconds + 40 = Temperature
• Wooly worms – Black = harsh winter, brown = mild
• Thicker onion skins = rough winter ahead
• Persimmon seeds, spoon = lots of snow, knife = cold winter
• Height of the hornets’ nest = total feet of winter’s snowfall
• The number of days from Christmas when the snowflakes first fall will tell you how many times it will snow this winter.

Longtime Madison-area basketball coach James Adams has been named the first head coach at Indiana University-Columbus.

“It’s a very exciting opportunity to be able to coach at this level,” Adams tells Madison365. “I’m really excited about the opportunity to be able to be their first-ever head men’s basketball coach.

“The move itself, it’s gonna be a challenge and a big change, but I’m ready and I’m prepared and I’m excited about doing it,” he adds.

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Avon junior Aniah Smith now into the Record Book with a historic performance of 18 steals in the Orioles' 81-28 thrashing of home-standing Terre Haute North. Smith would also add 30 points in the win.




Most Steals in a Game
(B) 22 Matthew Graves - White River Valley vs. Shakamak 1991-92
(B) 19 Larry Stone - Howe vs. Holy Cross 2004-05
(B) 14 Kem Martin - Charlestown vs. North Harrison 1975-76
(B) 14 Grant Ream - Frontier vs. North White 2009-10
(B) 13 Joey Davidson - Sullivan vs. Rivet 1998-99
(B) 13 AJ Lawton - Westfield vs. North Montgomery 2012-13
(B) 13 Jake Odum - TH South vs. BNL 2008-09
(B) 12 LaSalle Thompson - Pike vs. Center Grove 1989-90
(B) 11 John Michael Jarvis - TH South vs. Martinsville 2009-10
(B) 11 Roddy Richardson - Lafayette Jeff vs. Rossville 2008-09
(G) 20 Debbie McNeely - Scottsburg vs. Brownstown 1973-74
(G) 20 Jodie Whitaker - Austin vs. Lanesville 1982-83
(G) 18 Aniah Smith - Avon vs. TH North 2023-24
(G) 17 Kacie Juday - Tipton vs. Northwestern 2013-14
(G) 17 Kristen Spolyar - Lebanon vs. Triton Central 2015-16
(G) 16 Alec Fitts - Arlington vs. Providence Cristo Rey 2016-17
(G) 16 Jada Stansberry - Alexandria vs. Muncie Burris 2021-22
(G) 15 Kim Armand - Scottsburg vs. Silver Creek 1979-80
(G) 15 Judy Cummings - Brownsburg vs. Avon 1978-79
(G) 15 Lilliann Frasure - North Judson vs. LaVille 2019-20
(G) 15 Heather Gonser - Owen Valley vs. S. Vermillion 2006-07
(G) 15 Amanda Miller - Charlestown vs. Rock Creek 2008-09

WESTFIELD, Ind. — Westfield police announced the arrest of a 17-year-old male from Indianapolis for his alleged role in shots fired at the Pacers Athletic Center Sunday evening.

According to police, a fight happened inside the facility Nov. 5 after a boys basketball game. Police said the suspect then followed a coach out toward the coach's car, yelled at the coach and shot three rounds in the direction of the coach's car as it drove away.

KOKOMO, Ind. -- It may be cliche to talk of rewriting a Record Book, but in the case of Kokomo center, Flory Bidunga it is actually taking place before our eyes. The 6-9 Kansas Jayhawk commit has been added for 13 Record Book marks. ..And we're just heading into his senior season.



Most Dunks in a Season
(B) 152 Flory Bidunga - Kokomo 2022-23
(B) 66 Flory Bidunga - Kokomo 2021-22
(B) 39 Zach Odum - Terre Haute South 2007-08
(B) 18 Erik Grant - Hobart 1988-89
(B) 16 Matt Holba - Guiren Catholic 2013-14
(B) 10 Aaron Brennan - Guiren Catholic 2013-14
(G) 6 Amber Harris - North Central 2005-06

Most Dunks in a Game
(B) 11 Flory Bidunga - Kokomo vs. McCutcheon 2022-23
(B) 9 Flory Bidunga - Kokomo vs. Anderson 2022-23
(B) 9 Flory Bidunga - Kokomo vs. Brownsburg 2022-23
(B) 8 Flory Bidunga - Kokomo vs. FW Wayne 2022-23
(B) 8 Flory Bidunga - Kokomo vs. Richmond 2021-22
(B) 8 Greg Oden - Lawrence North vs. Ben Davis 2005-06
(B) 7 Flory Bidunga - Kokomo vs. Penn 2022-23
(B) 7 Flory Bidunga - Kokomo vs. Marion 2022-23
(B) 7 Flory Bidunga - Kokomo vs. Tech 2022-23
(B) 7 Flory Bidunga - Kokomo vs. Logansport 2022-23
(B) 7 Flory Bidunga - Kokomo vs. FW Northrop 2022-23
(B) 4 Gary Harris - Hamilton Southeastern vs. North Central 2010-11
(G) 1 Amber Harris - North Central vs. Kokomo 2005-06

Most Career Blocks
(B) 570 Kiyron Powell - EV Bosse 2017-20
(B) 371 John Allison - New Palestine 1996-98
(B) 341 Matt Howard - Connersville 2004-07
(B) 341 Greg Oden - Lawrence North 2003-06
(B) 308 Josh Grant - Taylor 1997-00
(B) 288 Josh McRoberts - Carmel 2002-05
(B) 274 Flory Bidunga - Kokomo 2021-present
(B) 256 Marcus Johnson - Pike 1987-90
(B) 224 Rhett Smith - Sullivan 2009-12
(B) 209 Bill Dawson - Avon 1971-74
(G) 568 Katie Griffin - Avon 2006-09
(G) 503 Jennifer Bursley - Hebron 1988-91
(G) 490 Lilly Hatton - North Harrison 2016-19
(G) 458 Lindsey Syrek - University 2017-20
(G) 428 Recinia Russell - TH South 1999-02
(G) 427 Ruth Riley - North Miami 1994-97
(G) 369 Stephanie Mavunga - Brownsburg 2010-13
(G) 361 Abby Conklin - Charlestown 1990-93
(G) 355 Melissa Taylor - Floyd Central 1989-92

Best Field Goal % in a Game (min. 10)
(B) 100% (16/16) Tyler Zeller - Washington vs. Mt. Vernon 2006-07
(B) 100% (15/15) David Richmond - Columbia City vs. Bellmont 1997-98
(B) 100% (14/14) Flory Bidunga - Kokomo vs. Logansport 2022-23
(B) 100% (14/14) Chris Brunson - Reitz vs. Jeffersonville 2000-01
(B) 100% (14/14) Dale White - Covington vs. Benton Central 1976-77
(B) 100% (13/13) Dennis Balentine - Kokomo vs. Peru 1991-92
(B) 100% (13/13) Flory Bidunga - Kokomo vs. Anderson 2022-23
(B) 100% (13/13) Wade Burtron - Westfield vs. Rushville 2011-2012
(B) 100% (12/12) B.J. Flynn - Jeffersonville vs. Jennings Co. 1992-93
(B) 100% (12/12) Bob Watkins - Jeffersonville vs. Seymour 1969-70
(B) 100% (12/12) John Harshbarger - Avon vs. Franklin 1999-00
(G) 100% (12/12) Hannah Richards - Heritage Christian vs. Indy Northwest 2003-04
(G) 100% (11/11) Amy Bogard - Jeffersonville vs. New Washington 1995-96
(G) 100% (11/11) Haley Nichols - Avon vs. Noblesville 2017-18
(G) 100% (10/10) Tiffany Fisher vs, Eastside 2006-07
(G) 100% (10/10) Haley Nichols - Avon vs. Mooresville 2017-18
(G) 100% (10/10) Dawn Watkins - Brownsburg vs. Danville 1987-88

Best Field Goal % in a Season (min. 100)
(B) 86.0% Levi Sherman - Southern Wells (198/228) 2012-13
(B) 80.7% Flory Bidunga - Kokomo (246/305) 2022-23
(B) 79.0% Flory Bidunga - Kokomo (207/263) 2021-22
(B) 79.0% Dawand Jones - Ben Davis (110/147) 2017-18
(B) 78.8% Seth Rummel - Knightstown (123/156) 2004-05
(B) 78.2% De Armond Davis - Mt. Vernon (F) (93/119) 2009-10
(B) 78.0% Jack Day - Lebanon (85/109) 2009-10
(B) 77.7% Jason Horn - McCutcheon (80/103) 1990-91
(B) 76.5% Andrew Bowman - Center Grove (104/136) 2006-07
(B) 75.9% John Kraffa - Noblesville (117/158) 1985-86
(G) 76.8% Ta'Shia Phillips - Brebeuf (153/199) 2006-07
(G) 73.0% Haley Nichols - Avon 2017-18
(G) 71.7% Samantha Johnson - Jeffersonville 2004-05
(G) 71.4 Sabrina Johnson - Jeffersonville (217/304) 2005-06
(G) 68.4% Anissa Lewis - Jeffersonville 1990-91
(G) 67.5% Tiffany Fisher - Westview (193/286) 2005-06
(G) 67.1% Soja Boyd - Jeffersonville 1994-95
(G) 65.8% LaTonya Lloyd - Charlestown 2006-07

Interesting column, as it comes from a displaced Hoosier writing for a paper in Princeton, New Jersey.

Just wow.

Both Hebron and Wes-Del announced today they will not field girls varsity basketball teams this season.

Monday, October 30, began the 2023-2024 season for girls’ basketball in Indiana, as there were three games on the slate. Between then and Saturday, November 4, most teams around the state officially tipped off for the first time. There were several strong performances last week, but we selected the three ladies below as our first recipients this season for the IBCA/Franciscan Health Player of the Week award, one from each of the IBCA’s three districts.

Chesterton Sophomore Tenley Davis, Brownsburg Junior Avery Gordon, and Lanesville Junior Hadley Crosier were selected as the winners for Oct. 30-Nov. 4 in the recognition program coordinated by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association. Davis is the representative for District-1, Gordon takes home honors in District-2, while Crosier is the recipient in District-3.

Last Thursday was a big night for the Chesterton Trojans as they began their season, plus they saw Sophomore Tenley Davis top her career high from last season by 20, as she poured in 36 points in a 68-53 victory at Highland High School. The 6-1 forward also collected five rebounds and handed out five assists in the opening night win. Two days later, the second-year player posted her first double-double of the season, as she came away with 18 points and 11 rebounds in hard-fought 65-52 defeat at the hands of the Northridge Lady Raiders. Davis added four more assists in the loss.

The Brownsburg Bulldogs picked up a pair of key victories last week, topping Warren Central on Halloween, 61-58, then taking care of North Central on Saturday, 78-70. To say Junior Avery Gordon is a big part of what Brownsburg does is just the half of it. Standing 6-6, the center posted a double-double in each win. Tuesday, at Warren Central, she was credited with 25 points and 12 rebounds. Saturday, she returned to the court and increased her totals against the Panthers to 29 points and 16 rebounds on the evening. The dominant post has already announced her verbal commitment to Purdue University.

Coming off a 2023 Class 1A State Championship, the Lanesville Eagles have not missed a beat, and Junior Hadley Crosier is a big reason for the continuity. In a 61-50 season-opening win Tuesday at Rock Creek, the 5-9 guard scored a career high 29 points on 11-16 shooting, including a strong 7-9 performance from the charity stripe. She added eight rebounds, eight steals, and three assists in the success. Saturday, in a blowout victory against Mitchell, Crosier scored 14 points on 6-10 shooting, she handed out four assists, plus she collected five caroms and four steals in limited minutes of an easy win.

This is the 16th season for the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association Player of the Week program, and the fourth 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 will be chosen from now through the Monday following the IHSAA Girls State Finals. Boys winners will be chosen starting in three weeks and through the Monday following the IHSAA Boys State Finals.