North Putnam posted its second win in two weeks over county rival Cloverdale.

The Cougars, who defeated Cloverdale 49-39 to win the consolation game of the county tournament, downed the Clovers again on Tuesday, 40-36.

Emily Mann topped all scorers with 21 points for Cloverdale.

North Putnam (7-2, 1-0 WIC) hosts South Putnam Friday in a girls / boys doubleheader.

Cloverdale (0-7, 0-2 WIC) will host Edgewood on Friday.

South Putnam stopped a modest two-game losing streal and got back to .500 with a win over visiting Crawfordsville, 45-28.

South Putnam (4-4) plays at North Putnam on Friday.

A former DePauw basketball standout is going into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.

The Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame board of directors has announced their 61st induction class, to be honored in ceremonies on Wednesday, March 22, 2023.

Jack Hogan, “Broad Ripple’s Pocket Rocket”, graduated from Broad Ripple in 1963 where he averaged 12 points per game, going 21-6. His team defeated the likes of Warren Central, North Central, Cathedral, Tech, Danville, Southport and Connersville during the tournament run; eventually losing to state champion Muncie Central.  Hogan was named Outstanding Senior Athlete along with All-Sectional and All-Regional. 

Hogan was also a member of Broad Ripple’s baseball and cross country teams. 

Hogan went on to have a great career at DePauw University, where as a senior, he was named to Time Magazine’s best college players in the U.S. under 6 foot.  Named “Jack the Giant Killer”, Hogan led DePauw to victories against many Division I teams including Evansville, Indiana State and Butler. 

Hogan went on to be a standout tennis player, and was in real estate until his retirement in 2019.

Also in the 61st induction class:

James Blackmon Sr. was a 1983 McDonald’s All-American, averaging 32.6 points per game as a senior on the Marion squad who went 22-6, losing to Anderson in the afternoon game of the State Finals, where he scored 52 points.  Other accolades for Blackman Sr. included being a Parade All-American, Scholastic Coach All-American, USA Today All-American and named Runner-up to Steve Alford for Mr. Basketball.  He went to the University of Kentucky (1983-87) where he was named a Captain and Outstanding Senior his senior season.  He began his coaching career in 1995 as a JV Coach at Marion but later coached Ft. Wayne Bishop Luers to the 2A 2007 and 2008 State Champions and is currently the head coach at Marion High School where they were crowned 3A State Champions in 2016.  His career coaching record is 284-150, and since 2013, in addition to coaching, has been the High School Dean/Conflict Mediator at Marion High School. 

Richard Butt graduated from Huntington High School in 1954, then later graduated from Manchester in 1958 with a B.S. in Business, Ball State in 1963 with a Masters in Health and Physical Education, and St. Francis in 1966 with a Guidance License.  Beginning his coaching career in 1958, he spent one year as the Liberty Center JH coach before being promoted to head coach at Liberty Center from 1959-1964.  He amassed a 70-40 record at Liberty Center, leading them to a county title and the 1964 Sectional title with only 67 students. He later went on to lead Lakeland from 1964-1973 where he won 3 sectional titles.  In 1983, he was one of 5 Indiana coaches chosen by the International Sports Exchange to conduct basketball clinics in Africa – Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana and Niger. 

The late Henry Chapman, along with Charlie Lyons, were the first two African Americans to play varsity basketball at Ft. Wayne Northside.  Throughout his career at Ft. Wayne Northside, Chapman earned All City honors (3x), along with scoring 1,124 points in his career.  Chapman’s team played in the State Finals against Gary Roosevelt in the afternoon game, but lost 68-66.  It should be noted that he acquired frostbite on his shooting hand, as a result of changing a flat tire in sub-zero temperature the night before the game.  Chapman was the first Allen County player to exceed 1,000 points.  He also excelled in cross country and track.  During his time after high school Chapman barnstormed with and against the Harlem Globetrotters.  Chapman worked for International Harvester for 31 years, and in 2015 was inducted into the Inaugural Class of the Ft. Wayne North Side Athletic Hall of Fame.

The late John DeVoe banded together with several other prominent business men of the area to help purchase an ABA team, who would soon be named the Indiana Pacers.  DeVoe was the first President of the Indiana Pacers, as well.  He graduated from Park School in 1952 where, as a senior, his team went 18-4, he was team captain, and scored 73 points in a game that season.  DeVoe graduated from Princeton in 1956 with a B.A. in English literature and was a 3 year letter winner.  He was named Captain and MVP as a senior, before joining the Army Artillery in 1957 and the reserves until 1965.

The late Henry Ebershoff was a 1963 Lafayette Central Catholic graduate, who was a member of the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame’s Silver Anniversary team in 1988 recording seven games of scoring 30 or more points and holding the school record with 25 consecutive free throws made.  Ebershoff’s free throw percentage as a junior was 86.3%, which is also a school record.  He was a school MVP in both football and basketball, before graduating from Purdue in 1967 with a B.A. in physical education.  Playing for George King at Purdue, Ebershoff averaged 15 points per game as a senior, earning 2nd team All-Big Ten honors and averaging 4.6 assists per game. Until his passing, he owned and operated Lafayette Tent and Awning Company, beginning in 1969.

Brian Evans averaged 22.5 points his senior year in 1991 at Terre Haute South along with being named first team All-State, an Indiana All-Star and National Runner-up in AAU on Team Indiana.   In 1991, Evans and Terre Haute South went 23-4.   Evans was a member of the 1996 Silver Anniversary Team.  After graduating from Terre Haute South, Evans went to Indiana University where he scored 1,701 career points for Coach Bob Knight’s Hoosiers.  He was Big Ten Player of the Year in 1996 and third team All American by AP, NABC and UPI.   Evans was a first round pick of the Orlando Magic, #27 overall.  Evans played professionally in the NBA and overseas from 1996-2005.  Evans is currently the owner of Precision Medical Group along with co-founder of CareCycle. 

Oscar Evans, from Shortridge High School,was the first underclassman to play varsity basketball.  As a junior, he averaged 16 points per game, and his senior year averaged 24 points and 11 rebounds per game.  Before graduating from Shortridge in 1968, Evans was named 1st Team All Sectional, Regional, and All-State, along with being named 3rd Team All-State in baseball as well.  He led the Final 4 in scoring his senior season, along with being the high scorer in school history.  Evans went on to play at Vincennes from 1968-1970 where he averaged 27 points per game as a freshman, and 13 points and 12 assists per game as a sophomore.  During Evans’ sophomore season, Vincennes was the National Junior College Champions and Evans was rated by Sports Illustrated as one of the top 6 guards coming out of Junior College.  Evans graduated from Butler in 1972 with a degree in management.

Darrin Fitzgerald was the second leading scorer in the City of Indianapolis his senior year at Indianapolis Washington in 1983 averaging 22 points per game.  He was All-Metro, All-State Honorable Mention and team MVP.  Fitzgerald also was an All-State defensive back in football in 1982.  After his time at Indianapolis Washington, Fitzgerald went on to Butler where he graduated in 1987.  Fitzgerald holds Butler’s all time single game scoring record with 54 points and 12 three point field goals made, and is 3rd all time in career scoring.  Seventh all time in career assists, Fitzgerald is inducted into the Butler Athletic Hall of Fame, and later worked at Chrysler Corporation from 1989-2009.

Dennis Goins played for Coach Larry Angle and was a member of the 2004 Silver Anniversary Team.  Goins graduated from Rushville in 1979 where as a freshman, he started for the Lions’ state runner up team.  During his senior year, the Lions went 17-9 and Goins averaged 13 points, 9 assists, and 7 rebounds a game, earning All Sectional, Regional, All-Conference honors and was named an Indiana All-Star.  Goins’ 1,080 points is fourth all time in Rushville History and his 539 assists is first on the list.  He was also a four year starter on Rushville’s football team; where he was All-State his senior season.  He played at Vincennes from 1979-1981 and Southern Illinois from 1981-1983.  Goins was an award winning TV sports photographer covering numerous high profile events.  He is a current teacher at Ben Davis High School/Area 31 Career Center and Director of BDTV.

The late Ken Gunning graduated from Shelbyville in 1933 and was a 3 year letter winner in basketball, baseball, and track where he earned the Paul Cross Award (MVP) for basketball his senior season.  Gunning went on to Indiana University where he led the team in scoring his sophomore year with 8.4 points per game, 9.2 points per game his junior year, and 8.6 points his senior season.  Gunning was a senior captain along with being named 2nd Team All-American.  At Indiana, Gunning also lettered in baseball and track.  Gunning played for the Whiting Ciesar All-Americans, Moline Plow Boys, and the Indianapolis Kautskys.  He went on to coach at Western New Mexico, and Wichita State, before coaching at Connersville High School.  Gunning was inducted into the Western New Mexico Hall of Fame.

Kirk Manns, a 1986 graduate of North Judson High School, earned 4 letters in basketball, baseball, and football.  As a senior, Manns averaged 34.2 points per game, 9.4 rebounds per game, and 4.1 assists per game on the Blue Jays team that went 18-6.  He was All-State in both basketball and football, scoring 1,962 career points.  He was an Indiana All-Star and runner-up for Mr. Basketball, along with being named to the 2011 Silver Anniversary Team.  Manns played basketball at Michigan State University where he scored 1,212 career points, making 8 three point field goals twice in a game, and scored a career high of 40 points in a win over Purdue.  As a senior, he was named the Most Improved player.  After graduating from Michigan State in 1991, Manns was Assistant Coach at Western Michigan, before becoming a high school Principal and Athletic Director.  Manns is presently the Athletic Director at Seymour High School.

Eric Montross¸ a former Lawrence North Wildcat, North Carolina Tar Heel, and NBA player, is currently a commentator on the Tar Heel Sports Network.  Montross graduated from Lawrence North in 1990 where his junior year, he averaged 21.3 points per game on the State Championship team, where he was named MVP.  His senior year, Montross was an All-American on the Parade and McDonald’s All-American teams.  In addition, he was an Indiana All-Star, National Player of the Year, National Scholar-Athlete of the Year, and USA Today’s 1st Team All American.  Montross went on to North Carolina where his junior year, the Tar Heels were NCAA National Champions, a year where he averaged 15.8 points per game.  His senior year accolades included Naismith All-American, John R. Wooden All-American, and Academic All-American, just to name a few.  Montross played in the NBA from 1994-2003. He has been on the Tar Heel Sports Network since 2005.

Drake Morris was the 1977 Mr. Basketball Runner-Up, Hammond Times Player of the Year, 1st Team All-State, a McDonald’s All American and a member of the 2002 Silver Anniversary Team.  During his senior season, in which his team went 24-4, Morris averaged 25 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals per game.  He scored 51 points during that year against Hammond High School, and also had a game with 25 rebounds.  Morris went on to play at Purdue where in 1981, he was named All-Big Ten.  At Purdue, he scored 1,250 points and led his squad to the NIT Final game his senior season.  He played in Italy for 3 years averaging 35 points per game.  Morris is in the East Chicago Hall of Fame.  Morris has been a salesman, Director of Parks Services and owner of a cleaning company, and currently, he is a caseworker for the Lake County prosecutor.   

The late Jim Oler graduated from Economy High School in 1952 where he scored 1,260 career points, even with a shortened junior season due to an ankle injury.  He was an All-Sectional honoree, while winning the sportsmanship award and Wayne County Championship.  After leaving Economy, he went to Florida State where he received his bachelors and masters degrees, and played basketball. Oler held the Florida State record for 39 years for most career points (1,817), but is still second on that list.  He scored a career high 42 points and still holds the single season scoring record with 29.7 points per game. In addition, Oler has numerous free throw records that still stand at Florida State.  Oler went on to Coach McArthur High School and Brevard Community College, being inducted into the Florida Community College Hall of Fame.

The late Phil Snodgress of Kennard High School, was a three-sport athlete (basketball, baseball, and track), while graduating in 1954.  After graduation from Kennard, Snodgress, played baseball for four years at Ball State earning a bachelors and masters in education.  After Ball State, Snodgress went on to coach at Blue River Valley, Liberty, and Union County, before a 22-year stint in Greensburg.  Snodgress has a career record of 350-221 while earning accolades such as: 1974 IBCA Coach Of The Year, 1999 Virgil Sweet Service Award, and inducted in 2008 into the Union County Athletic Hall of Fame.  Overall, Snodgress has 11 Sectional and 1 Regional title.  After he retired, he was asked to coach an 8th grade team, and did so until 2005.

Brad Stevens is a 1995 graduate of Zionsville High School where he holds the school record in points (1,508), steals (157), and 3 point field goals made (138).  He averaged 26.8 points per game as a senior, while earning Star & News All-Metro, 3 time All-Conference, 1st Team Academic All-State, and 1995 Sectional MVP.  Stevens went on to DePauw University where he was a 3 time Academic All-American.  Stevens worked at Eli Lilly for one year before joining Thad Matta’s staff at Butler.  He was a Butler assistant coach until 2007, becoming Butler’s Head Coach.  Stevens coached the Bulldogs until the 2013-14 season (his record at Butler was 166-49), before becoming the Boston Celtics Head Coach.  Stevens remained the Head Coach of the Celtics before moving into the front office in 2021 – a position he still holds today.

Mike Lightfoot is the recipient of the 2023 Silver Medal Award for contributions to Indiana basketball other than as an Indiana high school player or Indiana high school coach. 30 years as head men’s basketball coach at Bethel College (1987-2017), he led the Pilots to 794 wins, his teams won three NAIA national championships, four NCCAA national championships, two national runner-up finishes, 10 Crossroads League regular season championships and eight Crossroads League tournament championships.  He won nine National Coach of the Year and six League Coach of the Year awards. Lightfoot coached the Pilots to 36 all-time No. 1 rankings, the most in NAIA Division II history, and holds the second-longest streak of being ranked in Division II poll history, a streak of 76 consecutive polls from 1992-2000.  Lightfoot was the quickest NAIA men’s coach to reach 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600 and 700 career wins. He was an all-state player at LaVille H.S., played at Bethel for Homer Drew and was nominated for the Pete Maravich Award his senior year. He coached at Mishawaka Marian H.S. from 1978-1987.  He is an inductee of the Bethel College, NCCAA, Marian H.S. and NAIA Halls of Fames. Mike graduated from LaVille High School in 1974.

The Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame’s 61st  Men’s Awards Banquet is planned for Wednesday, March 22, 2023.  The day’s events will include a reception at the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame museum in New Castle that afternoon with a banquet that evening at the Primo Banquet Hall in Indianapolis.

Reservations will soon be available online or through mail order in early 2023.  Call the Hall at 765-529-1891, visit www.hoopshall.com or email info@hoopshall.com for more information.

Now that the season has a little traction, a number of ladies are starting to find their footing and consistently piling up numbers as they help their teams to victories early in 2022-2023. There were several explosive performances this week, especially in District-2, but we have settled on the following three players as the Week-2 winners for the IBCA/Franciscan Health Player of the Week award, one from each of the IBCA’s three districts.

Hobart Senior Asia Donald, Greencastle Senior Gloria Brewer, and Jennings County Junior Juliann Woodard have been selected as honorees for Nov. 7-Nov. 12 in the recognition program coordinated by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association. Donald takes home honors in District-1, Brewer is the recipient in District-2, while Woodard is the winner in District-3.

It has been eight years since the Hobart Brickies posted a winning record, but they are off to a 4-0 start this season, in large part to Senior Asia Donald. Last Wednesday, Hobart travelled to Kouts, where they knocked off the Fillies by a 52-42 margin. In that game, the 5-9 guard did it all, scoring 34 points and grabbing 16 rebounds, while also handing out four assists and collecting two steals. Additionally, she was 8-10 from the charity stripe and recorded just one turnover in the effort.

Saturday, the Brickies were again on the road at Griffith, where they won by a comfortable margin to claim their fourth victory in as many tries. Donald, an Indiana State University commit, was a stellar 12-17 from the field, scoring 31 points in limited action, while also posting her second double-double of the week with 12 rebounds. A 2022 Indiana Junior All-Star, the Senior guard also picked off eight steals to add to her impressive stat line.

The Greencastle Tiger Cubs picked up a pair of Western Indiana Conference wins last week, with huge contributions from Senior Gloria Brewer. Tuesday night, the Tiger Cubs hosted a good Owen Valley program, knocking them off 56-42. Brewer used a 13-16 performance from the free throw line, along with three made 3-pointers, en route to a 32-point performance. The senior guard posted a double-double with her 14 rebounds, plus she added a pair of assists, three steals, and a blocked shot.

Friday night, Greencastle travelled to Brown County, where they escaped with a 64-53 success. Brewer filled the book with 46 points in the win. She made 14-30 shots from the field, she knocked down three more triples, and she was 15-19 from the line. In addition to that, the 5-7 guard managed to collect 22 caroms, plus she added an assist and a pair of steals for the Tiger Cubs, helping them to a 3-1 start on the year.

In Southern Indiana, Jennings County Junior Juliann Woodard had a strong outing in her only game of the week. In a 72-66 win against a talented Indianapolis Cathedral team, the 6-0 forward used an 11-12 shooting effort from the free throw line to help cap her 30-point performance for the Lady Panthers. Woodard also posted a double-double with 13 rebounds (5 offensive), she dished out two assists, stole two balls, and blocked a shot in the big non-conference win for Jennings County.

This is the 15^th season for the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association Player of the Week program, butjust the third season it is being presented by Franciscan Health, a corporate sponsor of the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association.

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 Monday following the IHSAA Girls State Finals.

Boys winners will be chosen starting in two weeks and through the Monday following the IHSAA Boys State Finals.

2022 - 23 Weekly Winners

Oct. 31-Nov. 5: District-1 girls: Nevaeh Foster, Mishawaka Marian. District-2 girls: Olivia Nickerson, Twin Lakes. District-3 girls: Kylee Edwards, Shelbyville.

Nov. 7-Nov. 12: District-1 girls: Asia Donald, Hobart. District-2 girls: Gloria Brewer, Greencastle. District-3 girls: Juliann Woodard, Jennings County.

As he enters his second season at the helm, Greencastle girl's basketball coach Doug Greenlee saw potential towards the end of last season with his team.

After opening 0-11, Greencastle won six games on the second half of the season, knocked off Frankfort in the sectional and ended the year on a high note. 

"I was happy that we made significant progress during the year. Seniors Raigan Chavez, Anna Zellers and Audrie Brennan will be missed," Greenlee told The Putnam County Post.

The Tiger Cubs, who are 0-1 on the season after losing to Southmont 40-37 in the season opener, spent the summer participating in the South Putnam summer league and holding open gyms, according to Greenlee. 

"Athletes are very busy in the summer playing other sports as well as basketball, therefore we did not have our full team together at any point in the summer. I had hoped we would be able to work as a team but that did not happen," Greenlee said. 

Leading the way for Greencastle this season will be senior Emma Hunter, who averaged 10.5 points per game. Also back is junior point guard Evie Briones, who averaged 7 points per game. Greenlee said junior Madi Plew and senior Stephanie Morales are also back, and he looks for big things out of junior Aleeyah Johnson and sophomore Ali Dobbs.  

"Gloria Brewer, a senior guard, is a new player to the team, who will have a significant impact on our success. Bailey Brown, a freshman, and Zoey Doan, a sophomore, round out the varsity line up and will provide depth in the frontcourt and backcourt," Greenlee said. 

With the season underway, Greencastle has lofty goals this season and Greenlee is thinking deep into the season.

"Our number one goal is to play in the semi-state, which will be held at McAnally Center Feb. 18, 2023. We also have a goal of winning the county on November 18 and 19, have a winning season and improve each game," Greenlee said. 

A season ago, South Putnam went 10-13 and the Eagles saw their season end in the sectional tournament at the hands of Parke Heritage. 

Gone are senior leaders Brie Miller and Lilly Vittetow, but head coach Brian Gardner is optimistic South Putnam will be able to take some strides this season, despite its youth. 

"Last season was a successful season where we had some success. We were led by two seniors in Brie Miller and Lilly Vittetow. Brie was able to accomplish over 1,000 points in her career, which was a huge accomplishment. As a team, we grew a lot and were able to be very competitive in the sectional," Gardner told The Putnam County Post. 

Gardner said his squad embraced a summer schedule that allowed them to get a jumpstart on the season.

"Having girls be able to see their roles start to be defined and be able to gain experience at the varsity level against varsity competition in the summer was great for our team," Gardner admitted. 

South Putnman will be leaning heavily on senior guard Kelsey Custis, junior guard Joselyn Pilcher, and sophomore guards Danae Cline and Chlara Pistelli. 

"Those four have had varsity experience and played last year for us. I expect them to have major roles. Also, sophomore Madison Gardner, Lillian Emmerich and Ariel Dooley will have to play roles. Senior Emmalyn Jeter will also be helping us out this year," Gardner said. 

South Putnam opens the season Friday against Cloverdale, and Gardner said it is imperative his team finds its way and grows as a group. 

"Players will be learning each other and we will play hard, and when the season gets to sectional time, we should be very competitive. Our goal, as is the case every year, is to play hard and compete every night," Gardner said. 

Coming into the 2022-23 girls basketball season, Cloverdale coach J.J. Wade knows his team may struggle early on, as was the case in the season opener on Nov. 1. as half of the players on the roster are freshmen. 

In the season opener, the Clovers fell 45-19 to Riverton Park, but Wade is confident his team will be able to improve on last year's 8-16 record, which featured Cloverdale losing eight games by single digits. 

"The seniors set the tone for the work ethic needed for us to continue to build a program and grow. Veronica Carter averaged a double-double at 13 points per game and 10 rebounds. She, along with teammate Audrie Fulkerson, were also named Academic All-State Honorable Mention, which showed their dedication to being a student first and athlete second," Wade told The Putnam County Post. 

To prepare for the rigors of the season, Cloverdale took part in 24 games during the offseason at various camps and shootouts, and Wade said attendance was good. 

"We knew we needed to do this as we have a 12 woman roster with six of them being freshmen. It was important to get them used to the speed and the physicality of a varsity game as opposed to middle school. They worked hard, we got better, but we have a long way to go to compete at the level we want to," said Wade, who is in his third season at the helm. 

Cloverdale will lean heavily on senior guards Andrea Nees and Kiersten Wade, who can also play forward, and junior guard/forward Emily Mann, who all have two years of varsity basketball under their belts and understand the game, as well as practice and coaching expectations, according to Wade. 

"We will lean on them to lead, teach, and mentor our younger student-athletes. Those three will also have to produce some scoring for us and set the tone for our effort in games and in practice. We believe in those three and their servant leadership. They understand what it means to be a part of a program and something bigger than themselves and have really done a great job of showing and teaching our younger group those principles," Wade said. 

With the season already underway, Wade said Cloverdale is focusing on fundamentals, shooting and learning to play defense the way they want to. 

"There probably will not be a day we won't do those things. Because we are so young and lack experience, we have to spend a lot more time teaching than the last few years. We are okay with that too, we are not playing the sectional today. We are taking things one step at a time and trying to concentrate on the things we can control. The biggest factor we can control is effort and they have really bought into that. We are trying to instill in them to play without fear, don't be afraid of mistakes. We purposely put them in situations in practice to make them get out of their comfort zones so they grow," Wade said. 

For Wade, mistakes will be part of the game, as long as the team grows and plays fearlessly. 

"We tell them effort to do it the right way, even if it is uncomfortable, is all we want to see. We will grow with mistakes made with full speed effort, but we will not grow if we do things the same way we always have because it is comfortable. We want that same mentality in games, home or away, regardless of score. Play fearlessly, move on after mistakes, there will be mistakes, just play the next play and don't let a mistake, score or anything else dictate our effort. Most of our drills are new to them, it may not look exactly like the coaching staff wants to see it right now, but it is not from lack of effort. We will get there. I know our coaching staff and the team believes that. We will install X and O type stuff all year and only try to give them so much at a time," Wade said. 

As a result of the youth and inexperience, Wade admits there may be less game planning for teams this season than in the past, and more of a dedicated effort on the Clovers to be successful, but he admits that could change depending on how the season progresses. 

"It is a journey and one they have committed to and are ready for. We are more concerned with learning and growing right now than anything. Regardless of what that opponent/challenge will be when we get there we expect to see a team on the floor that understands the game better, can play faster with less mistakes and continue to play with the effort we expect throughout the season. I would guess all season spectators may see moments of "young basketball," but I don't expect anyone to see moments with a lack of effort," Wade admitted.