Bennington, Sibande pace IBCA Player of the Week honorees
Senior standouts joined by FW North’s Butz and Crawford County’s Nickelson as recipients
Twin Lakes’ Bryce Bennington and Indianapolis Attucks’ Nike Sibande each shined throughout the Class 3A state championship game, and the senior standouts are two of four players earning honors as an IBCA/Subway Player of the Week.
Bennington and Sibande are joined by Fort Wayne North senior Jaylen Butz and Crawford County senior Tyrell Nickelson as recipients for March 20-25 in the recognition program coordinated by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association.
Butz is the winner for District 1. Bennington and Sibande are co-recipients for District 2. Nickelson collected accolades for District 3.
The 6-2 Bennington poured in a game-high 32 points with three rebounds and one blocked shot, but it was not enough as Twin Lakes dropped a 73-71 decision to Attucks on a last-second rebound basket by Tigers junior Jamal Harris. Bennington converted 12-of-18 field goals, 4-of-8 3-pointers and 4-of-8 free throws en route to his big game for the Indians (25-4).
Sibande was outstanding for Attucks (25-4), scoring 23 points with eight rebounds, two assists and two steals. The 6-4 guard sank 7-of-12 shots, 4-of-5 3-pointers and 5-of-5 free throws as the Tigers claimed the school’s fourth state championship and first since 1959.
The 6-10 Butz produced 11 points, a game-high 12 rebounds, two assists, one block and two steals as Fort Wayne North (27-3) fell just short in the Class 4A championship game, falling 55-52 to Ben Davis. A DePaul University recruit, Butz was 4-of-6 from the field and 3-of-5 from the line to share team-high scoring honors.
Nickelson scored a team-best 14 points with four rebounds, one assist and three steals as Crawford County (22-7) lost 60-32 to Frankton in the Class 2A title game. The 6-2 guard made 4-of-7 field goals, 2-of-4 3-pointers and 4-of-4 free throws for the Wolfpack.
This is the ninth season for the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association Player of the Week program and the fifth season it is presented by Subway Restaurants of Indiana, a banner sponsor of the IBCA. Subway, in its sixth season as an IBCA sponsor, encourages athletes to "train hard and eat fresh."
Player of the Week winners are chosen each week from each of the IHSAA's three districts. This is the final week for boys’ winners. The girls’ season is complete.
Senior standouts joined by FW North’s Butz and Crawford County’s Nickelson as recipients
Twin Lakes’ Bryce Bennington and Indianapolis Attucks’ Nike Sibande each shined throughout the Class 3A state championship game, and the senior standouts are two of four players earning honors as an IBCA/Subway Player of the Week.
Bennington and Sibande are joined by Fort Wayne North senior Jaylen Butz and Crawford County senior Tyrell Nickelson as recipients for March 20-25 in the recognition program coordinated by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association.
Butz is the winner for District 1. Bennington and Sibande are co-recipients for District 2. Nickelson collected accolades for District 3.
The 6-2 Bennington poured in a game-high 32 points with three rebounds and one blocked shot, but it was not enough as Twin Lakes dropped a 73-71 decision to Attucks on a last-second rebound basket by Tigers junior Jamal Harris. Bennington converted 12-of-18 field goals, 4-of-8 3-pointers and 4-of-8 free throws en route to his big game for the Indians (25-4).
Sibande was outstanding for Attucks (25-4), scoring 23 points with eight rebounds, two assists and two steals. The 6-4 guard sank 7-of-12 shots, 4-of-5 3-pointers and 5-of-5 free throws as the Tigers claimed the school’s fourth state championship and first since 1959.
The 6-10 Butz produced 11 points, a game-high 12 rebounds, two assists, one block and two steals as Fort Wayne North (27-3) fell just short in the Class 4A championship game, falling 55-52 to Ben Davis. A DePaul University recruit, Butz was 4-of-6 from the field and 3-of-5 from the line to share team-high scoring honors.
Nickelson scored a team-best 14 points with four rebounds, one assist and three steals as Crawford County (22-7) lost 60-32 to Frankton in the Class 2A title game. The 6-2 guard made 4-of-7 field goals, 2-of-4 3-pointers and 4-of-4 free throws for the Wolfpack.
This is the ninth season for the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association Player of the Week program and the fifth season it is presented by Subway Restaurants of Indiana, a banner sponsor of the IBCA. Subway, in its sixth season as an IBCA sponsor, encourages athletes to "train hard and eat fresh."
Player of the Week winners are chosen each week from each of the IHSAA's three districts. This is the final week for boys’ winners. The girls’ season is complete.
