Frankton guard Key averages 45 points to earn IBCA weekly honor
From the IBCA
Kelsey Key averaged 45 points and seven rebounds over two games, making the Frankton senior the first player to collect IBCA/Subway Player of the Week accolades two times in 2012-13.
The 5-8 senior guard was joined as a recipient in the weekly honors program by South Bend St. Joseph sophomore Michelle Weaver, Scottsburg junior Jillian Romero, Mishawaka Marian senior Demetrius Jackson, Brebeuf Jesuit junior P.J. Thompson and Jeffersonville senior Darryl Baker.
All were selected for performances the week of Nov. 26-Dec. 1.
Key, a Northern Kentucky University recruit who is averaging 34.8 points in six games, was chosen in girls’ District 2 for the second consecutive week after leading Frankton (4-2) to a pair of big victories.
She opened her week with a career-high 46 points on 16-of-27 shooting, including 7-of-12 from 3-point range, and 7-of-7 free throws in a 79-13 rout of Liberty Christian. Key followed with 44 points on 20-of-35 shooting, including 2-of-8 3-pointers, plus 2-of-2 free throws in a 74-31 win over Alexandria. She added eight rebounds in the first game and six in the second. Both scoring outbursts were shy of Frankton’s school record of 53 points by Kelli Carter set against Daleville in the 1999-2000 season.
The 5-6 Weaver was the girls’ District 1 honoree after she averaged 27.5 points in two games for South Bend St. Joseph (4-1). Weaver started her week with 26 points on 10-of-13 shooting from the field and 6-of-10 from the line in a 64-49 victory over St. Joseph (Mich.). She followed with 29 points to lead the Indians to a 56-27 decision over Elkhart Central.
Romero was cited in girls’ District 3 after leading Scottsburg (5-1) to two wins. First, the 5-10 junior guard scored 12 points — including a game-winning jumper with seven seconds to go — in a 43-41 triumph over Corydon Central. Romero followed with a season-high 27 points in an 84-46 victory over Charlestown.
Jackson, Thompson and Baker were the respective boys’ winners for Districts 1, 2 and 3.
The 6-2 Jackson averaged 35.0 points and seven rebounds as Mishawaka Marian split their first two games of the season. In the Knights’ opener, Jackson dropped in 31 points and grabbed seven rebounds in a 69-68 loss to New Prairie. The next night, the Notre Dame signee poured in 39 points and pulled down seven more boards in a 79-74 win over Fort Wayne Luers — a duel where Luers’ ace James Blackmon Jr. tallied 38 points.
Thompson tallied 38 points, including two game-winning free throws with five seconds remaining, to lead Brebeuf Jesuit (2-1) to a 60-59 upset of highly-touted Indianapolis Tech. For the game, the 5-10 guard sank 10-of-16 shots, including 1-of-5 3-pointers, and 17-of-20 free throws. He also added five rebounds, one assist and one steal.
The 6-2 Baker also produced 38 points — including a buzzer-beating jumper with 2.2 second remaining — in propelling Jeffersonville to a 65-64 victory over Evansville Bosse in the Red Devils’ season opener. Baker added eight rebounds while sinking 18-of-29 shots from the floor, 2-of-7 3-pointers, en route to his career-high barrage.
This is the fifth season for the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association Player of the Week program and the first season it is presented by Subway Restaurants of Indiana, a primary sponsor of the IBCA. Subway, in its third season as an IBCA sponsor, encourages athletes to “play hard and eat fresh.”
Player of the Week winners are chosen each week from each of the IHSAA’s three districts. Girls winners will be chosen from now through the week following March 2. Boys winners be selected from now through the week following March 23.
Other nominees for Week 4 (2012-13)
District 1 boys — V.J. Beachem, New Haven; Drew Benedict, Columbia City; James Blackmon Jr., Fort Wayne Luers; Nick Davidson, Andrean; Hyron Edwards, East Chicago Central; Trent Elliott, Culver; Tyler Jenkins, Fremont; Tre’Veon Johnson, South Bend Washington; Jacob Heller, Prairie Heights; D.J. McCall, Fort Wayne Concordia; Markese McGuire, Elkhart Memorial; Cody Nelson, Kouts; Trent VanHorn, Fort Wayne Canterbury; Jonathon Wilkinson, Kouts; Arnas Zabarauskas, Howe School.
District 1 girls — Jesse Averone, Oregon-Davis; Nickole Finch, Wheeler; Victoria Gaines, Merrillville; Tia Garnett, Elkhart Central; Taylor Hatfield, Triton; Whitney Jennings, Logansport; KiLee Knafel, Wawasee; Brianna Leuck, Morgan Township; Nicki Monahan, Portage; Khadijah Moore, Elkhart Memorial; Tiara Murphy, South Bend Washington; Toni Murphy, Michigan City; Taylor Parmley, Mishawaka; Rachel Rinehart, Angola; Kayla Shaffer, Culver; Jena Yates, East Noble.
District 2 boys — Nathaniel Acree, McCutcheon; Trevon Bluiett, Park Tudor; Aaron Brennan, Guerin Catholic; Justin Brent, Speedway; Michael Clements, Roncalli; Drake Cooksey, Southmont; Devin Davis, Warren Central; J.C. Faubion, Lutheran; Eron Gordon, North Central; Anthony Johnson, Decatur Central; Aaron Korn, Frankton; Michael Morris, New Palestine; John Padgett, Perry Meridian; Tayler Persons, Kokomo; Jordan Pickett, Pike; Josh Rutland, Scecina; Tony Wills, Ben Davis.
District 2 girls — Hannah Best, Eastern Hancock; Hannah Gardner, Bishop Chatard; Asia Green, North Central; Emily Harrison, Western Boone; Erica Moore, Mt. Vernon (Fortville); Allison Nash, Speedway; Cameron Onken, Lafayette Central Catholic; Taya Reimer, Hamilton Southeastern; Mikale Rogers, Lawrence North; Brandyce Sallee, Cascade; Dakota Weatherford, Hamilton Heights; Cali Wetli, Southmont; Paige Yando, Riverton Parke.
District 3 boys — Brandon Auker, Evansville Memorial; Tyler Brough, Eastern Greene; Logan Cesinger, Clay City; Gene Hodge, Crothersville; Jacob Johnson, Mooresville; Davonte King, Christian Academy; Brian Koch, Mt. Vernon (Posey); Bryce Lienhoop, Columbus East; JaQuan Lyle, Evansville Bosse; Avory Mickens, Vincennes Lincoln; Chase Ritch, Switzerland County; Jaelen Sanford, Evansville Reitz; Chaz Schneider, Brownstown Central; Blake Simmons, Castle; Troy Vorheis, Center Grove.
District 3 girls — Riley Achenbach, Shelbyville; Dejianna Butler, Evansville Bosse; Sarah Corbin, Mooresville; Olivia Crozier, Madison; Nicole Dodd, Northeast Dubois; Eve Galbraith, Switzerland County; Brooke Hinton, Floyd Central; Ally Lehman, Indian Creek; Allie McCool, East Central; Jenna Meyer, North Decatur; Maura Muensterman, Evansville Mater Dei; Tori Packwood, West Washington; Jacey Ritzert, Mt. Vernon (Posey); Rhagen Smith, Sullivan; Brianna Volz, Jac-Cen-Del; Jackie Young, Princeton.
