South Central (Elizabeth) senior Cole Thomas tied a school record with 52 points in a game while Oak Hill sophomore Jace Tonagel set a school record with 17 assists in a game, and that guard duo headlines this week’s honorees in the IBCA/Franciscan Health Player of the Week program for 2024-25.
Thomas, Tonagel, Kouts junior Lucas Kleckner, Warsaw senior Brooke Winchester, McCutcheon sophomore Lillie Graves and Borden junior Ava Wheeler each has been selected as a winner for the week of Jan. 20-25 in the recognition program coordinated by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association.
Also, the Penn boys’ team and the Homestead girls’ team each has been cited as an IBCA/Ballogy Team of the Week in another part of this season’s IBCA recognition program.
Players of the Week are chosen by IHSAA district – Kleckner and Winchester for District 1, Tonagel and Graves for District 2, and Thomas and Wheeler 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 program. Players and teams are recognized based on all performances in a Monday through Saturday week.
Thomas averaged 50.5 points and 5.0 rebounds in a 1-1 week for the South Central boys. He poured in 52 points – hitting 16-of-24 shots, 6-of-10 3-pointers and 14-of-15 free throws – while adding four rebounds, one assist and three steals in a 78-69 at Mitchell. The 6-1 guard followed with 49 points with six rebounds, two assists and one steal in an 87-82 overtime loss to Southwestern (Hanover). Thomas was 13-of-21 on field goals, 8-of-10 on 3s and 15-of-16 on free throws in the latter game as the Rebels fell to 8-5. For the week, he was 29-of-45, 14-of-20 and 29-of-31. His 52 points against Mitchell tied a school record established by Craig Schoen against Graceland Christian on Dec. 17, 1999.
Tonagel tallied norms of 18.5 points, 10.0 rebounds and 11.0 assists in two games for the Oak Hill boys (10-3). The 5-8 guard opened with 16 points, eight rebounds, a school-record 17 assists and three steals in a 72-33 runaway at Southwood. His assist total broke the previous Golden Eagles’ single-game mark of 16 set by Jeff Pearson in 1977. Tonagel followed with 21 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and four steals in a 59-38 triumph at Alexandria. For the week, he sank 13-of-22 from the field, 6-of-12 3-pointers and 10-of-10 free throws.
Kleckner averaged 27.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists in helping the Class A No. 8 Kouts boys improve to 12-2 by winning the championship of the Porter County Conference Tournament. Kleckner sat out a 77-60 victory over Boone Grove in the first round, then totaled 18 points, two rebounds and five assists in a 74-61 semifinal decision over Westville. The 5-8 guard provided 37 points, six rebounds and six assists as the Mustangs knocked off 1A No. 7 Washington Township 87-64 for the crown. Kleckner was 11-of-17 on field goals, 7-of-10 from distance and 8-of-10 on free throws in the title contest. In his two games, he was 16-of-28 from the field, 9-of-16 from deep and 14-of-18 on freebies.
Winchester posted averages of 24.3 points and 15.3 rebounds in producing three double-doubles for the Class 4A No. 3 Warsaw girls. The 6-0 forward scored 24 points with 21 rebounds and one steal in a 67-55 loss to 4A No. 5 Homestead. The Ball State recruit followed with 27 points, 15 rebounds and one steal in a 70-25 triumph over Tippecanoe Valley. She completed her week with 22 points, 10 rebounds, one assist, two steals and one block as the Tigers (21-1) clinched the Northern Lakes Conference championship with a 79-27 decision over Concord. For the week, Winchester converted 23-of-38 from the field, 10-of-14 from distance and 17-of-20 from the line.
Graves tallied norms of 39.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 5.5 steals in two victories for the 4A No. 15 McCutcheon girls. The 6-1 guard unloaded for a career-high 43 points – on 17-of-17 shooting plus 9-of-12 free throws – with five rebounds, one assist, two steals and one block in a 69-62 victory over 3A No. 7 Danville. She followed with 35 points, three rebounds, seven assists and nine steals as the Mavericks topped Western 66-21 to improve to 20-3. For two games, Graves was 31-of-39 on field goals, including one 3-pointer, and 15-of-18 on free tosses.
Wheeler averaged 23.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 4.3 steals as the 1A No. 3 Borden girls improved to 15-5 with three victories. The 5-11 wing scored 28 points with 12 rebounds, one assist, two steals and four blocks in a 60-41 decision over South Central (Elizabeth). She followed with 27 points, five rebounds, three assists, eight steals and one block in a 72-42 triumph at Henryville. Wheeler then provided 14 points, seven rebounds, two assists, three steals and the game-winning basket as the Braves edged 2A No. 8 Lanesville 34-33 in overtime in the completion of a suspended game. For the three games, she was 26-of-46 from the floor, 7-of-15 from distance and 10-of-22 from the line.
The Penn boys improved to 9-6 overall by prevailing in two games against ranked opponents. Senior Alexander Hawthorne scored 21 points, sophomore Peyton Miamba added 18 points and freshman Caleb Coolman provided 17 points as coach Barak Coolman’s crew defeated 3A No. 1 South Bend Saint Joseph 76-72. Then against 4A No. 12 Fort Wayne Wayne, Caleb Coolman totaled 32 points while junior Lucas Obermeyer tallied nine points and Hawthorne and Miamba each had eight points as the Kingsmen prevailed 67-66.
The Homestead girls, then ranked No. 5 in 4A, went 3-0 for the week to move to 21-2 for the season. Junior Gabby Helsom scored 25 points and classmate Myah Epps added 19 points as the Spartans defeated then-4A No. 3 and previously unbeaten Warsaw 67-55. Junior Whitney Ankenbruck tallied 17 points, Helsom 16 points, junior Carley Moellering 12 points and Epps 10 points as Homestead topped Fort Wayne North 76-35. And Helsom totaled 21 points, Ankenbruck 16 points and Epps 13 points as the Spartans beat Carmel 61-56. Helsom surpassed 1,000 points against Fort Wayne North and finished her week with a career total of 1,030 points.
Thomas, Tonagel, Kouts junior Lucas Kleckner, Warsaw senior Brooke Winchester, McCutcheon sophomore Lillie Graves and Borden junior Ava Wheeler each has been selected as a winner for the week of Jan. 20-25 in the recognition program coordinated by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association.
Also, the Penn boys’ team and the Homestead girls’ team each has been cited as an IBCA/Ballogy Team of the Week in another part of this season’s IBCA recognition program.
Players of the Week are chosen by IHSAA district – Kleckner and Winchester for District 1, Tonagel and Graves for District 2, and Thomas and Wheeler 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 program. Players and teams are recognized based on all performances in a Monday through Saturday week.
Thomas averaged 50.5 points and 5.0 rebounds in a 1-1 week for the South Central boys. He poured in 52 points – hitting 16-of-24 shots, 6-of-10 3-pointers and 14-of-15 free throws – while adding four rebounds, one assist and three steals in a 78-69 at Mitchell. The 6-1 guard followed with 49 points with six rebounds, two assists and one steal in an 87-82 overtime loss to Southwestern (Hanover). Thomas was 13-of-21 on field goals, 8-of-10 on 3s and 15-of-16 on free throws in the latter game as the Rebels fell to 8-5. For the week, he was 29-of-45, 14-of-20 and 29-of-31. His 52 points against Mitchell tied a school record established by Craig Schoen against Graceland Christian on Dec. 17, 1999.
Tonagel tallied norms of 18.5 points, 10.0 rebounds and 11.0 assists in two games for the Oak Hill boys (10-3). The 5-8 guard opened with 16 points, eight rebounds, a school-record 17 assists and three steals in a 72-33 runaway at Southwood. His assist total broke the previous Golden Eagles’ single-game mark of 16 set by Jeff Pearson in 1977. Tonagel followed with 21 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and four steals in a 59-38 triumph at Alexandria. For the week, he sank 13-of-22 from the field, 6-of-12 3-pointers and 10-of-10 free throws.
Kleckner averaged 27.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists in helping the Class A No. 8 Kouts boys improve to 12-2 by winning the championship of the Porter County Conference Tournament. Kleckner sat out a 77-60 victory over Boone Grove in the first round, then totaled 18 points, two rebounds and five assists in a 74-61 semifinal decision over Westville. The 5-8 guard provided 37 points, six rebounds and six assists as the Mustangs knocked off 1A No. 7 Washington Township 87-64 for the crown. Kleckner was 11-of-17 on field goals, 7-of-10 from distance and 8-of-10 on free throws in the title contest. In his two games, he was 16-of-28 from the field, 9-of-16 from deep and 14-of-18 on freebies.
Winchester posted averages of 24.3 points and 15.3 rebounds in producing three double-doubles for the Class 4A No. 3 Warsaw girls. The 6-0 forward scored 24 points with 21 rebounds and one steal in a 67-55 loss to 4A No. 5 Homestead. The Ball State recruit followed with 27 points, 15 rebounds and one steal in a 70-25 triumph over Tippecanoe Valley. She completed her week with 22 points, 10 rebounds, one assist, two steals and one block as the Tigers (21-1) clinched the Northern Lakes Conference championship with a 79-27 decision over Concord. For the week, Winchester converted 23-of-38 from the field, 10-of-14 from distance and 17-of-20 from the line.
Graves tallied norms of 39.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 5.5 steals in two victories for the 4A No. 15 McCutcheon girls. The 6-1 guard unloaded for a career-high 43 points – on 17-of-17 shooting plus 9-of-12 free throws – with five rebounds, one assist, two steals and one block in a 69-62 victory over 3A No. 7 Danville. She followed with 35 points, three rebounds, seven assists and nine steals as the Mavericks topped Western 66-21 to improve to 20-3. For two games, Graves was 31-of-39 on field goals, including one 3-pointer, and 15-of-18 on free tosses.
Wheeler averaged 23.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 4.3 steals as the 1A No. 3 Borden girls improved to 15-5 with three victories. The 5-11 wing scored 28 points with 12 rebounds, one assist, two steals and four blocks in a 60-41 decision over South Central (Elizabeth). She followed with 27 points, five rebounds, three assists, eight steals and one block in a 72-42 triumph at Henryville. Wheeler then provided 14 points, seven rebounds, two assists, three steals and the game-winning basket as the Braves edged 2A No. 8 Lanesville 34-33 in overtime in the completion of a suspended game. For the three games, she was 26-of-46 from the floor, 7-of-15 from distance and 10-of-22 from the line.
The Penn boys improved to 9-6 overall by prevailing in two games against ranked opponents. Senior Alexander Hawthorne scored 21 points, sophomore Peyton Miamba added 18 points and freshman Caleb Coolman provided 17 points as coach Barak Coolman’s crew defeated 3A No. 1 South Bend Saint Joseph 76-72. Then against 4A No. 12 Fort Wayne Wayne, Caleb Coolman totaled 32 points while junior Lucas Obermeyer tallied nine points and Hawthorne and Miamba each had eight points as the Kingsmen prevailed 67-66.
The Homestead girls, then ranked No. 5 in 4A, went 3-0 for the week to move to 21-2 for the season. Junior Gabby Helsom scored 25 points and classmate Myah Epps added 19 points as the Spartans defeated then-4A No. 3 and previously unbeaten Warsaw 67-55. Junior Whitney Ankenbruck tallied 17 points, Helsom 16 points, junior Carley Moellering 12 points and Epps 10 points as Homestead topped Fort Wayne North 76-35. And Helsom totaled 21 points, Ankenbruck 16 points and Epps 13 points as the Spartans beat Carmel 61-56. Helsom surpassed 1,000 points against Fort Wayne North and finished her week with a career total of 1,030 points.
