Brooks’ Hot Shooting Headlines Week-20 of the IBCA/Franciscan Health Player of the Week Awards
We’re coming to the conclusion of the season, where only four teams in the entire state will wake up Sunday morning with thoughts of a victory on their mind. When talking about sports, we often live in the past. We will reminisce about a game or a season, replay highlights over and over again in our minds and through conversation, and sometimes wish we could go back in time and change an item or two. For the Week-20 IBCA/Franciscan Health Players of the Week, they are perfectly happy living in the present, enjoying their Semi-State wins, and enjoying the anticipation leading them to Indianapolis this Saturday.
Mishawaka Marian Senior Richard Brooks, Cathedral Junior Jaron Tibbs, and North Daviess Junior Jaylen Mullen have been selected as winners for Mar. 14-Mar. 19 in the recognition program coordinated by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association. Brooks earned the honor for District-1, Tibbs is the recipient for District-2, and Mullen takes home the award in District-3.
Saturday evening, Mishawaka Marian took on Leo at Elkhart’s historic North Side Gymnasium. The #14 Knights used a strong shooting performance from Senior Richard Brooks to knock off the Lions, 74-63, and advance to the Class 3A State Finals. Brooks was 6-8 from behind the arc and a near-perfect 7-8 from the free throw line, pouring in 29 points in the program-changing win, as it’s the first time Marian will make an appearance in the State Finals. The 6-3 wing also pulled down six rebounds and handed out three assists in success, plus the Knights look to extend their 12-game winning streak this weekend.
The Fighting Irish of #6 Cathedral High School will be making their third appearance (1998, 2013) in the State Championship game, after they won a hard-fought game against #17 Bloomington North, 61-55. Junior Jaron Tibbs has been consistently impactful all season, and his double-double on Saturday certainly helped the Irish continue their strong postseason run. In six postseason victories, they have now beaten five ranked opponents. In Saturday’s contest, Tibbs, a 6-5 wing, scored 15 points on a solid 6-10 from the floor. He collected 12 caroms, dished out four assists, and stole the ball twice as well.
North Daviess Junior Jaylen Mullen helped the Cougars to their first State Finals appearance, as they took care of a worthy Jac-Cen-Del squad, 60-47. In the game, Mullen affected more than half of their offensive output, scoring 16 points and delivering eight assists to open teammates. The 5-11 floor general also rebounded his position well, pulling down five boards, plus he managed to block a shot in the team’s big victory. Now sitting at 26 wins, it is the most in program history for the Cougars.
This is the 14th season for the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association Player of the Week program, but just the second 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 the Monday following the IHSAA Girls State Finals. Boys’ winners will be chosen through next Monday, following the IHSAA Boys State Finals.
Other Top Nominees for Week-20 (2021-22)
District-1 Boys: Caedmon Bontrager, Leo; Connor Essegian, Central Noble; Logan Gard, Central Noble; Travis Grayson, Chesterton; Kaleo Kakalia, Mishawaka Marian; Conner Lemmon, Central Noble; Jackson McGee, Leo; Chris Mullen, Chesterton; Eric Price Jr., Gary 21st Century; Justin Sims, Chesterton; Deaglan Sullivan, Mishawaka Marian; Ashton Williamson, Gary 21st Century.
District-2 Boys: Jeremiah Alexander, Beech Grove; Anthony Ball, Beech Grove; Clark Barrett, Lafayette Central Catholic; Reis Beard, Kokomo; Flory Bidunga, Kokomo; Xavier Booker, Cathedral; Tayshawn Comer, Cathedral; Jaleel Edwards, Beech Grove; Alex Hardebeck, Lafayette Central Catholic; Chris Huerta, Carroll (Flora); Jake Skinner, Carroll (Flora); Landon O’Neal, Eastern Hancock; Clark Obermiller, Lafayette Central Catholic; Jacob Spaulding, Eastern Hancock.
District-3 Boys: Max Beatty, Our Lady of Providence; Wyatt Day, Jac-Cen-Del; Marco Fitch, Bloomington North; Jackson Hills, Sullivan; Casey Kaelin, Our Lady of Providence; Randy Kelley, Sullivan; Nick Klaiber, Bloomington North; Tyler Simmons, Our Lady of Providence; Caleb Simon, Jac-Cen-Del; Brendan Stickles, North Daviess; Logan Wilson, North Daviess.
