Norwell junior Vanessa Rosswurm, Lawrence North junior Ke’Adriah Butler and South Knox sophomore Kendal Hill each helped her team capture an Indiana high school state championship, so that trio headlines this week’s honorees in the IBCA/Franciscan Health Player of the Week program for 2024-25. Rosswurm, Butler and Hill are joined by South Bend Saint Joseph senior Chase Konieczny, Sheridan sophomore Trey Page, Evansville Memorial senior Luke Ellspermann and South Central (Elizabeth) senior Cole Thomas as winners for the week of Feb. 24-March 1 in the recognition program coordinated by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association.
Also, the Anderson boys’ team and the Borden 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 – Konieczny and Rosswurm for District 1, Page and Butler for District 2, and Ellspermann, Thomas and Hill 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.
Rosswurm posted a double-double in keying co-No. 9 Norwell to a 53-44 upset of No. 1-ranked and previously unbeaten Greensburg for the Class 3A state championship. The 5-10 guard totaled 17 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and three steals as the Knights finished their season at 23-6 and claimed the program’s first state crown. Rosswurm hit 6-of-20 field goals and 5-of-5 free throws in becoming a three-time Player of the Week honoree. She previously was recognized for the weeks of Nov. 25-30 and Feb. 10-15.
Butler captured Player of the Week accolades for the second consecutive week as she propelled unranked Lawrence North to a 65-59 stunner over No. 5 Warsaw for the Class 4A state title. The 5-8 guard dropped in 20 points while adding eight rebounds, two assists, two steals and one blocked shot as the Wildcats (19-8) added a second state trophy to join a previous one in 2020. For the game, Butler was 7-of-15 from the field, 2-of-5 on 3-pointers and 4-of-4 from the line.
Hill also produced a double-double as No. 1 South Knox defeated No. 2 Rensselaer Central 55-33 for the Class 2A state crown. The 5-7 guard tallied 18 points, 10 rebounds and four assists as the Spartans completed their season at 28-2 and won the program’s first state title. Hill converted 5-9 shot, including 2-of-5 from deep, and 6-of-7 free throws for her game-high scoring output.
Konieczny averaged 41.5 points, 11.5 rebounds, moved past 2,000 career points and become his school’s all-time leading scorer in leading the 3A No. 3 Saint Joseph boys (20-3) to two victories. First, the 6-4 guard scored 40 points with 13 rebounds, two assists, six steals and one block in a 93-62 decision over Plymouth. He followed with 43 points, 10 rebounds, one assist and two steals as the Huskies defeated Mishawaka 90-59. He was 14-of-23 on field goals, 2-of-7 on 3 pointers and 10-of-11 on free throws against Plymouth. He was 17-of-28, 6-of-13 and 3-5 against Mishawaka.
By week’s end, Konieczny pushed his career scoring total to 2,024 points – passing his brother, 2021 grad J.R., with 1,996 points – for the school record and trailing only the 2,273 points scored by 2023 Indiana Mr. Basketball Markus Burton of Penn for the Saint Joseph County record. Konieczny previously earned Player of the Week laurels Dec. 9-14.
Page scored 30 points with four rebounds, two assists and two steals in propelling Sheridan to victory in its only game of the week, a 67-45 triumph at Waldron. The 6-2 guard converted 9-of-15 shots, including 7-of-12 from deep, plus 5-of-6 freebies as the Blackhawks improved to 16-5.
Ellspermann and Thomas shared the District 3 boys’ award.
A 6-0 guard, Ellsperman averaged 27.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.0 assists in helping Evansville Memorial (16-6) to a 2-1 week. First, he totaled 28 points with six rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block in a 49-46 upset of 3A No. 14 Evansville Central. He followed with 26 points, seven rebounds, three assists and one steal in a 57-55 setback at Evansville North. He completed his week with 27 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, two steals and one block in as the Tigers defeated Washington 65-54. In the three games, Ellspermann was 33-of-52 on field goals, 8-of-18 on treys and 7-of-9 on free throws.
Thomas also became a second-time POW honoree for South Central (Elizabeth) after he poured in 45 points in an 83-81 victory at Eastern (Pekin), the Rebels’ only game of the week as they improved to 15-7. The 6-1 guard added five rebounds, one assist and three steals while sinking 14-of-24 field goals, 3-of-10 3-pointers and 14-of-18 charity tosses. Thomas previously was a Player of the Week for the week of Jan. 20-25.
Borden, ranked second in Class A, is the IBCA girls’ Team of the Week after posting a 49-40 victory over No. 6 Lafayette Central Catholic for the Class A state championship. Junior Riley Rarick scored 16 points, junior Ava Wheeler netted 13 points and junior A.J. Ballad tallied nine points as coach Matt Vick’s Braves completed their season at 23-5. Wheeler also provided team bests of nine rebounds and six assists,while Mallad contributed five steals.
Anderson, ranked No. 5 in Class 4A, is IBCA boys’ Team of the Week after it posted a 55-52 victory at 4A No. 16 Fort Wayne Wayne in its only game of the week. Senior Damien King led the Indians with 23 points and 12 rebounds. Senior Javon Warfield added 15 points and freshman Don Bowling III provided 13 points as coach Donnie Bowling’s team improved to 21-2 and clinched the North Central Conference championship at 5-0.
This is the 17th season for the IBCA Player of the Week program and the fifth season the awards are being presented by Franciscan Health Sports Medicine, an IBCA corporate partner. This is the first season for the IBCA Team of the Week program. The Team of the Week program is presented by Ballogy, another IBCA corporate partner.
Winners are chosen each week in the Player of the Week program from each of the IHSAA’s three districts, and one Team of the Week is selected from the entire state. Former Martinsville boys’ coach Kip Staggs oversees the selection of boys’ honorees. Former Brownsburg girls’ coach Debbie Smiley oversees the selection of girls’ honorees.
Coaches may nominate players and teams via buttons on the IBCA website (in.nhsbca.org). Coaches must be a current-year member for their players and/or team to be selected for a weekly award. Boys’ winners are chosen from now through the Monday following the IHSAA boys’ State Finals. The girls’ portion of the recognition program is now complete for 2024-25.
2024-25 IBCA weekly honorees
Nov. 4-9 – District 1 girls: Laniah Davis, Marquette Catholic. District 2 girls: McKenzie Koch, Eastern Hancock. District 3 girls: Brynn Owens, Austin. Team of the Week (girls): Center Grove.
Nov. 11-16 – District 1 girls: Lillian Barnes, Valparaiso. District 2 girls: Jacklynn Hosier, Alexandria. District 3 girls: Brooklynn Renn, Silver Creek. Team of the Week (girls): South Knox.
Nov. 18-23 – District 1 girls: Addison Baxter, Columbia City. District 2 girls: Maya Makalusky, Hamilton Southeastern. District 3 girls: Jalyn Davidson, North Central (Farmersburg). Team of the Week (girls): Warsaw.
Nov. 25-30 – District 1 boys: Gavin Betten, Manchester. District 1 girls: Vanessa Rosswurm, Norwell. District 2 boys: Josiah Love, Wes-Del. District 2 girls: Avery Gordon, Brownsburg. District 3 boys: Michael Cooper, Jeffersonville. District 3 girls: Mollie Ernstes, Jennings County. Team of the Week (boys): Vincennes Lincoln. Team of the Week (girls): Evansville North.
Dec. 2-7 – District 1 boys: Anthony Murphy, Michigan City. District 1 girls: Laniah Davis, Marquette Catholic. District 2 boys: Braylon Mullins, Greenfield-Central. District 2 girls: Aniah Smith, Avon. District 3 boys: Keaton Lawson, Columbus East. District 3 girls: Maddy Shirley, Evansville Central. Team of the Week (boys): Warsaw. Team of the Week (girls): Lawrence Central.
Dec. 9-14 – District 1 boys: Chase Konieczny, South Bend Saint Joseph. District 1 girls: Ashley Cox, DeKalb. District 2 boys: Gavin Saunders, Hamilton Heights. District 2 girls: Jaylah Lampley, Lawrence Central. District 3 boys: Mar Nicholson, Shelbyville. District 3 girls: Gabby Spink, Gibson Southern. Team of the Week (boys): Lawrence North. Team of the Week (girls): Columbia City.
Dec. 16-21 – District 1 boys: Dillon Stewart, Tri-Township. District 1 girls: Emily Bleke, Bellmont. District 2 boys: Azavier Robinson, Lawrence North. District 2 girls: Laniah Wills, Lapel. District 3 boys: Blake Neill, Bloomfield. District 3 girls: Emma Schoen, Silver Creek. Team of the Week (boys): Silver Creek. Team of the Week (girls): North Central (Farmersburg).
Dec. 23-28 – District 1 boys: Steven Reynolds III, South Bend Washington. District 1 girls: Lily Scholl, Northridge. District 2 boys: Bryson Cardinal, Guerin Catholic. District 2 girls: Meredith Tippner, Noblesville. District 3 boys: Cole Henry, South Ripley, and Blaine Ward, South Ripley. District 3 girls: Ellie Richardson, Scottsburg. Team of the Week (boys): Fishers. Team of the Week (girls): Hamilton Southeastern.
Dec. 30-Jan. 4 – District 1 boys: Josiah Ball, Maconaquah. District 1 girls: Kira Reynolds, South Bend Washington. District 2 boys: Kelby Harwood, North Montgomery. District 2 girls: Avery Gordon Brownsburg. District 3 boys: Michael Cooper, Jeffersonville. District 3 girls: Maddy Shirley, Evansville Central. Team of the Week (boys): Ben Davis. Team of the Week (girls): Bellmont.
Jan. 6-11 – District 1 boys: Ethan Zahn, Huntington North. District 1 girls: Lillian Barnes, Valparaiso. District 2 boys: Zion Bellamy, Kokomo. District 2 girls: Kenzie Koch, Eastern Hancock. District 3 boys: Eli Sego, Triton Central. District 3 girls: Claire Larrison, Greensburg. Team of the Week (boys): Fort Wayne Bishop Luers. Team of the Week (girls): Lanesville.
Jan. 13-18 – District 1 boys: Brad Rhode, Hanover Central. District 1 girls: Addison Baxter, Columbia City. District 2 boys: Braylon Mullins, Greenfield-Central. District 2 girls: Kenzie Garner, Sheridan. District 3 boys: Benjamin Kahler, Southwestern (Shelby). District 3 girls: Ella Bobe, South Knox. Team of the Week (boys): Avon. Team of the Week (girls): Silver Creek.
Jan. 20-25 – District 1 boys: Lucas Kleckner, Kouts. District 1 girls: Brooke Winchester, Warsaw. District 2 boys: Jace Tonagel, Oak Hill. District 2 girls: Lillie Graves, McCutcheon. District 3 boys: Cole Thomas, South Central (Elizabeth). District 3 girls: Ava Wheeler, Borden. Team of the Week (boys): Penn. Team of the Week (girls): Homestead.
Jan. 27-Feb. 1 – District 1 boys: Drew Bowers, Rochester. District 1 girls: Kila Foster, Bremen. District 2 boys: Julius Gizzi, New Palestine. District 2 girls: Jacklynn Hosier, Alexandria. District 3 boys: Cam Craig, Switzerland County. District 3 girls: Shelby Allen, Lanesville. Team of the Week (boys): Avon. Team of the Week (girls): Greensburg.
Feb. 3-8 – District 1 boys: Collin Czarnecki, LaVille. District 1 girls: Jordan Steele, Highland. District 2 boys: Gavin Saunders, Hamilton Heights. District 2 girls: Kenzie Garner, Sheridan. District 3 boys: Tate Whitehead, Southridge. District 3 girls: Shelby Seay, North Central (Farmersburg). Team of the Week (boys): Portage. Team of the Week (girls): Corydon Central.
Feb. 10-15 – District 1 boys: Dikembe Shaw, Crown Point. District 1 girls: Vanessa Rosswurm, Norwell. District 2 boys: Luke Ertel, Mt. Vernon (Fortville). District 2 girls: Kennedy Holman, Hamilton Southeastern. District 3 boys: Tre Singleton, Jeffersonville. District 3 girls: Gabby Spink, Gibson Southern. Team of the Week (boys): Lawrence Central. Team of the Week (girls): Roncalli.
Feb. 17-22 – District 1 boys: Trace Maller, Adams Central, and Josh Malloy, Munster. District 1 girls: Joslyn Bricker, Warsaw. District 2 boys: Braylon Mullins, Greenfield-Central. District 2 girls: Ke’Adriah Butler, Lawrence North. District 3 boys: Dane Sprigler, Silver Creek. District 3 girls: Ella Bobe, South Knox. Team of the Week (boys): Jeffersonville. Team of the Week (girls): Rensselaer Central.
Feb. 24-March 1 – District 1 boys: Chase Konieczny, South Bend Saint Joseph. District 1 girls: Vanessa Rosswurm, Norwell. District 2 boys: Trey Page, Sheridan. District 2 girls: Ke’Adriah Butler, Lawrence North. District 3 boys: Luke Ellspermann, Evansville Memorial, and Cole Thomas, South Central (Elizabeth). District 3 girls: Kendal Hill, South Knox. Team of the Week (boys): Anderson. Team of the Week (girls): Borden.
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