Welage, Brown, McCoy, Maggard, Pickett, Rauck also cited as recipients for week of Jan. 19-24
Greensburg senior Ryan Welage averaged 45.0 points over two games and Indianapolis Howe senior Harris Brown netted 39.0 points over three games to headline this week's winners in the IBCA/Subway Player of the Week program.
Welage and Brown are joined by East Chicago Central junior Damien Jefferson, Garrett senior Justin McCoy, Fort Wayne Canterbury senior Darby Maggard, Twin Lakes senior Laurhen Pickett and Providence sophomore Claire Rauck as honorees for the week of Jan. 19-24 in the awards program overseen by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association.
Jefferson and McCoy are co-recipients for boys' District 1, while Brown is the boys' District 2 winner and Welage is the boys' District 3 honoree. Maggard, Pickett and Rauck are respective girls' recipients in District 1, District 2 and District 3.
The 6-9 Welage opened his week with 43 points and 17 rebounds as Greensburg (12-3) posted a 92-82 win at Madison. The San Jose State recruit followed with a school-record 47 points and 13 rebounds in a 68-31 victory over South Decatur. His outburst eclipsed the old school best of 45 points by Bob Barker set in 1967. For the two games, Welage sank 28-of-42 shots, 5-of-6 3-pointers and 29-of-33 free throws. This is Welage's third POW award of the season. He previously was cited Nov. 24-29 and Dec. 22-27.
Brown, a 5-11 guard, poured in 38 points with five rebounds, 10 assists and five steals as Indianapols Howe blasted Irvington Prep 104-53. The University of Evansville signee added 35 points with five rebounds, eight assists and six steals in a 98-58 triumph over Heritage Christian. He then produced a season-best 44 points with nine rebounds, five assists and five steals in an 86-79 win over Indianapolis Tech. For the three games, Brown converted 42-of-77 shots, 21-of-42 3-pointers and 12-of-16 free throws for the Hornets (12-2).
The 6-4 Jefferson averaged 26.5 points and 11.5 rebounds over two games for East Chicago Central (10-3). He opened with 26 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and five steals in a 76-62 victory over Hammond. The high-flying forward followed with 27 points and 11 rebounds as the Cardinals crushed Griffith 78-46 in front of a capacity crowd.
McCoy, a 6-2 senior guard, was ultra-efficient in leading Garrett to a 39-38 victory over Westview in its only game of the week. McCoy netted 28 points with seven rebounds as the Railroaders improved to 8-7. He sank 11-of-18 shots from the field, including 1-of-2 free throws, plus 5-of-5 free throws.
The 5-4 Maggard averaged 28.7 points and surpassed 2,000 career points in helping Canterbury post three victories. The Belmont recruit opened with 25 points, five assists and two steals in an 82-49 rout of Fort Wayne North. She followed with 31 points, 11 assists and four steals in an 86-38 blowout of Western Reserve (Ohio).
Maggard also tallied 25 points with seven assists and three steals in a 59-44 win over Lake Forest (Ill.) Academy as the Cavaliers improved to 16-0. The standout guard, who finished her week with 2,027 points, was 31-of-48 from the field, 14-of-22 on 3-pointers and 5-of-6 on free throws for the week. She previously was an IBCA Player of the Week for the weeks of Nov. 17-22 and Dec. 15-20.
Pickett averaged 29.5 points, 16.5 rebounds and 5.0 steals in helping Twin Lakes improve to 8-10. The 5-10 forward produced 31 points with 17 rebounds and six steals in a 70-41 thrashing of Frontier. She followed with 28 points, 16 rebounds and four steals as the Indians outlasted Northwestern 52-47. Over her two games, Pickett made 25-of-42 shots, 1-of-3 3-pointers and 8-of-13 free throws.
The 5-9 Rauck led Providence (15-4) to a pair of victories. The wing shooter tallied 18 points with four rebounds as the Pioneers defeated Rock Creek Academy 68-26. She then erupted for 29 points with 10 rebounds as Providence beat Austin 54-45. For two games, Rauck sank 15-of-29 shots, 11-of-16 3-pointers and 6-of-11 free throws.
This is the seventh season for the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association Player of the Week program and the third season it is presented by Subway Restaurants of Indiana, a banner sponsor of the IBCA. Subway, in its fifth 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. Girls winners will be chosen from now through the week following March 7. Boys winners will be chosen from now through the week following March 28.
Other nominees for Week 11 (2014-15)
District 1 boys -- Blake Berger, LaVille; Eugene German, Gary 21st Century; Jet Hammel, South Newton; Nick Mantis, Lowell; Sean McGee, Fort Wayne North; Elijah Miller, Culver Military; Chris Palombizio, Chesterton; Brian Patterson, Lake Station; Logan Primerano, Peru; Caleb Swanigan, Homestead; Chainey Zolman, Manchester.
District 1 girls -- Micaela Box, Bremen; Justene Charlesworth, LaCrosse; Camille Coleman, South Bend Washington; Claire Cromer, Wabash; Dana Evans, Gary West; Jordyn Frantz, NorthWood; Lauren Grewe, Mishawaka; Hunter Jusevitch, Lowell; Taylor Miller, Northridge; Riley Popplewell, South Central (Union Mills); GinSh'toya Sanders, Fort Wayne Wayne; Hunter Stevens, Plymouth; Deja Wimby, Fort Wayne Snider; Greta Winklejohn, Fort Wayne Dwenger; DeJour Young, Fort Wayne Concordia.
District 2 boys -- Pat Bacon, Lawrence North; Nai Carlisle, West Lafayette; Austin Compton, Frankton; Zach Gunn, Hamilton Southeastern; Tate Hall, Greenfield-Central; Brent Hawn, Delphi; Tre'Shon Heard, McCutcheon; Jimmy King, Roncalli; Skyler Kolli, International; Jordan Matthews, Kokomo; Jake Mlagan, Bethesda Christian; Bishop Smith, Warren Central; Thorin Stage, Hagerstown; Darian Stone, Taylor; C.J. Walker, Indianapolis Tech; K.J. Walton, Brownsburg; Cody Wright, North Vermillion.
District 2 girls -- Morgan Bear, Danville; Brie Boehler, Taylor; Kaylan Coffman, Benton Central; Lacey Garrett, Crawfordsville; Ae'Rianna Harris, Lawrence North; Tyasha Harris, Heritage Christian; Rachel McLimore, Covenant Christian; Jayla Scaife, Muncie Central; Kristen Spolyar, Lebanon; McKenzy Telfair, Cardinal Ritter; Aliyah Walker, Brownsburg; Macy Walker, Decatur Central; Madison Wise, Greenfield-Central; Erynn Young, Ben Davis.
District 3 boys -- Rasheide Bell, Evansville Central; Blaze Byrer, Bedford North Lawrence; Ranger Caffrey, Crawford County; Cam Creager, Eastern Greene; Joe Ferree, Lanesville; Nick Macon, Madison; Tom Purdie, Whiteland; Luke Smith, Monrovia; Josh Speidel, Columbus North; Gavin Stanifer, North Central (Farmersburg); Alex Stein, Evansville Reitz; Desean Summers, Evansville Bosse; Tyler Toopes, Pike Central; DeAnthony Warren, New Albany; Robert West, Evansville North.
District 3 girls -- Jenna Allen, Bedford North Lawrence; Paige Barrett, Scottsburg; Meredith Daunhauer, Evansville Mater Dei; Samantha Dewey, Triton Central; Taylor Drury, Eastern (Pekin); Kaitlynn Henning, Charlestown; Haleigh Hipsher, Vincennes Lincoln; Haley Huddleston, Henryville; Sierra Hudson, Shakamak; Brooke James, Princeton; Cheyenne Jones, Washington; Alexis Nall, Mt. Vernon (Posey); Ali Patberg, Columbus North; Maddie Raley, Gibson Southern; Kayla Sanford, North Posey; Kayana Traylor, Martinsville; Kennedy Williams, Terre Haute South.