Week-14 of the IBCA/Franciscan Health Player of the Week Awards Headlined by Girls’ Sectional Play
With the girls having completed Sectional play and looking ahead to this weekend’s Regional rounds, three young ladies who helped their respective teams to titles Saturday night are honored below as the Week-14 girls’ winners. Add to that three boys who put together outstanding weeks, and six total players have been selected as the IBCA/Franciscan Health Players of the Week for Week-14.
Lakeland Senior Bailey Hartsough, Noblesville Sophomore Ashlynn Shade, Brownstown Central Senior Katherine Benter, Rensselaer Central Senior Joshua Fleming, McCutcheon Senior Leyton McGovern, and South Decatur Senior Lane Lauderbaugh are the recipients for Feb. 1-Feb. 6 in the recognition program coordinated by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association. Hartsough is the girls’ winner, and Fleming is the boys’ winner in District-1. Shade and McGovern are the girls’ and boys’ recipients, respectively, in District-2. Benter is the girls’ honoree, while Lauderbaugh is the boys’ honoree in District-3.
With a 46-33 win over 2020 Class 3A State Champion NorthWood Saturday evening, Lakeland won its first Sectional title in 24 years. Senior Bailey Hartsough was huge for the Lakers throughout the week, performing at a high level each night. In a 62-56 win Tuesday against Central Noble, the 5-10 wing was 7-12 from the field and 14-19 from the free throw line, scoring 28 points in total. Additionally, Hartsough grabbed an impressive 19 rebounds, plus she handed out three assists and collected five steals in the triumph.
Friday, in the Semifinals, Hartsough helped Lakeland to a hard-fought, 49-47 victory over West Noble. The Senior wing scored 19 points, snagged eight rebounds, plus she added a pair of assists, a pair of steals, and a pair of blocked shots in the close contest. Saturday, in the title game against NorthWood, Hartsough scored 14 points, grabbed six caroms, handed out a team-high seven assists, and collected two steals. The multisport star is headed to Western Carolina University next year to play volleyball.
Rensselaer Central Senior Joshua Fleming helped the Bombers even out their record last week with a pair of nice outings. Thursday, the Bombers headed to Faith Christian, escaping with a narrow 65-62 win. The 6-0 guard was everywhere, scoring 32 points, grabbing a dozen rebounds, and handing out seven assists in the victory. Fleming made 12-23 shots from the floor, 7-10 from the line, plus he knocked down a 3-pointer.
Saturday, Rensselaer Central headed to Delphi and had a much easier time, knocking off the Oracles 65-41. In this win, Fleming again put together a balanced attack, affecting the game at both ends of the floor. He scored 24 points, grabbed six rebounds, handed out five assists, and collected four steals. The Senior guard has scored 20 or more points nine times already this season.
Noblesville Sophomore Ashlynn Shade has made quite an imprint on the program during her first two seasons, and Saturday night she helped deliver the Millers’ first Sectional crown since 2015. Shade started her week Tuesday, leading the Millers to a 57-48 win against Hamilton Southeastern. In that contest, the 5-11 guard was a stellar 8-10 from the field, 3-4 from deep, while also making five free throws, scoring a total of 24 points. Shade posted a double-double with her 12 rebounds, plus she dished out four assists and nabbed four steals in the opening night win. She also scored her 1000th point in the game.
In Friday’s Semifinal, Shade was equal to the task, as she posted another double-double in Noblesville’s 72-62 victory over the Zionsville Eagles. Shade scored 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in the contest, plus she handed out three assists and collected six big thefts. The next night was a dogfight, as the Millers had to battle the Carmel Greyhounds, escaping with a 68-62 success to win the title. The Sophomore guard stepped up big-time, scoring 36 points on 10-17 shooting, with 4-8 shots coming from downtown, plus she was also a near-perfect 12-13 from the charity stripe. Shade also managed to grab five rebounds, hand out four assists, and collect three steals in the big win.
McCutcheon Senior Leyton McGovern helped the Mavericks to a pair of big wins last week in a couple of different fashions. Thursday, they hosted the previously Top-10 ranked Lafayette Jefferson Bronchos, winning 79-71. McGovern did a little of everything in that contest, scoring 24 points, grabbing 11 rebounds for the double-double, plus he managed to hand out eight assists and steal the ball twice.
Saturday, the Mavericks had another tough North Central Conference battle, this time at Richmond. The Red Devils were game, extending the contest to two overtimes, before McCutcheon finally won, 68-66. McGovern, a 6-3 Senior guard, did it inside and out, knocking down five 3-pointers, while also collecting an impressive 19 rebounds in the 40-minute win. He scored 32 of their 68 points, plus he found teammates for scores on four other occasions.
Brownstown Central Senior Katherine Benter was on point all week, leading the Lady Braves to their second consecutive Sectional title, with each victory coming by double-figures. Brownstown took on Owen Valley Wednesday to open their postseason play, winning by a 62-38 margin. Benter, a 5-9 do-everything wing, scored half of the Braves’ points (31), while also collecting five rebounds, hitting teammates for three more baskets, and picking off six steals.
In Friday’s Sectional Semifinal, Benter was huge offensively, as the Lady Braves had a tough time putting away the host Edgewood Mustangs, finally winning 43-32. The Senior scored an impressive 31 of their 43 points this time, plus she found seven caroms along the way. Saturday in the Finals, the Braves took on a worthy Brown County team, yet they still managed a comfortable 59-35 outcome. Benter scored 14 points in the triumph, plus she grabbed another eight rebounds, and handed out four more assists.
With the girls having completed Sectional play and looking ahead to this weekend’s Regional rounds, three young ladies who helped their respective teams to titles Saturday night are honored below as the Week-14 girls’ winners. Add to that three boys who put together outstanding weeks, and six total players have been selected as the IBCA/Franciscan Health Players of the Week for Week-14.
Lakeland Senior Bailey Hartsough, Noblesville Sophomore Ashlynn Shade, Brownstown Central Senior Katherine Benter, Rensselaer Central Senior Joshua Fleming, McCutcheon Senior Leyton McGovern, and South Decatur Senior Lane Lauderbaugh are the recipients for Feb. 1-Feb. 6 in the recognition program coordinated by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association. Hartsough is the girls’ winner, and Fleming is the boys’ winner in District-1. Shade and McGovern are the girls’ and boys’ recipients, respectively, in District-2. Benter is the girls’ honoree, while Lauderbaugh is the boys’ honoree in District-3.
With a 46-33 win over 2020 Class 3A State Champion NorthWood Saturday evening, Lakeland won its first Sectional title in 24 years. Senior Bailey Hartsough was huge for the Lakers throughout the week, performing at a high level each night. In a 62-56 win Tuesday against Central Noble, the 5-10 wing was 7-12 from the field and 14-19 from the free throw line, scoring 28 points in total. Additionally, Hartsough grabbed an impressive 19 rebounds, plus she handed out three assists and collected five steals in the triumph.
Friday, in the Semifinals, Hartsough helped Lakeland to a hard-fought, 49-47 victory over West Noble. The Senior wing scored 19 points, snagged eight rebounds, plus she added a pair of assists, a pair of steals, and a pair of blocked shots in the close contest. Saturday, in the title game against NorthWood, Hartsough scored 14 points, grabbed six caroms, handed out a team-high seven assists, and collected two steals. The multisport star is headed to Western Carolina University next year to play volleyball.
Rensselaer Central Senior Joshua Fleming helped the Bombers even out their record last week with a pair of nice outings. Thursday, the Bombers headed to Faith Christian, escaping with a narrow 65-62 win. The 6-0 guard was everywhere, scoring 32 points, grabbing a dozen rebounds, and handing out seven assists in the victory. Fleming made 12-23 shots from the floor, 7-10 from the line, plus he knocked down a 3-pointer.
Saturday, Rensselaer Central headed to Delphi and had a much easier time, knocking off the Oracles 65-41. In this win, Fleming again put together a balanced attack, affecting the game at both ends of the floor. He scored 24 points, grabbed six rebounds, handed out five assists, and collected four steals. The Senior guard has scored 20 or more points nine times already this season.
Noblesville Sophomore Ashlynn Shade has made quite an imprint on the program during her first two seasons, and Saturday night she helped deliver the Millers’ first Sectional crown since 2015. Shade started her week Tuesday, leading the Millers to a 57-48 win against Hamilton Southeastern. In that contest, the 5-11 guard was a stellar 8-10 from the field, 3-4 from deep, while also making five free throws, scoring a total of 24 points. Shade posted a double-double with her 12 rebounds, plus she dished out four assists and nabbed four steals in the opening night win. She also scored her 1000th point in the game.
In Friday’s Semifinal, Shade was equal to the task, as she posted another double-double in Noblesville’s 72-62 victory over the Zionsville Eagles. Shade scored 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in the contest, plus she handed out three assists and collected six big thefts. The next night was a dogfight, as the Millers had to battle the Carmel Greyhounds, escaping with a 68-62 success to win the title. The Sophomore guard stepped up big-time, scoring 36 points on 10-17 shooting, with 4-8 shots coming from downtown, plus she was also a near-perfect 12-13 from the charity stripe. Shade also managed to grab five rebounds, hand out four assists, and collect three steals in the big win.
McCutcheon Senior Leyton McGovern helped the Mavericks to a pair of big wins last week in a couple of different fashions. Thursday, they hosted the previously Top-10 ranked Lafayette Jefferson Bronchos, winning 79-71. McGovern did a little of everything in that contest, scoring 24 points, grabbing 11 rebounds for the double-double, plus he managed to hand out eight assists and steal the ball twice.
Saturday, the Mavericks had another tough North Central Conference battle, this time at Richmond. The Red Devils were game, extending the contest to two overtimes, before McCutcheon finally won, 68-66. McGovern, a 6-3 Senior guard, did it inside and out, knocking down five 3-pointers, while also collecting an impressive 19 rebounds in the 40-minute win. He scored 32 of their 68 points, plus he found teammates for scores on four other occasions.
Brownstown Central Senior Katherine Benter was on point all week, leading the Lady Braves to their second consecutive Sectional title, with each victory coming by double-figures. Brownstown took on Owen Valley Wednesday to open their postseason play, winning by a 62-38 margin. Benter, a 5-9 do-everything wing, scored half of the Braves’ points (31), while also collecting five rebounds, hitting teammates for three more baskets, and picking off six steals.
In Friday’s Sectional Semifinal, Benter was huge offensively, as the Lady Braves had a tough time putting away the host Edgewood Mustangs, finally winning 43-32. The Senior scored an impressive 31 of their 43 points this time, plus she found seven caroms along the way. Saturday in the Finals, the Braves took on a worthy Brown County team, yet they still managed a comfortable 59-35 outcome. Benter scored 14 points in the triumph, plus she grabbed another eight rebounds, and handed out four more assists.
