If the alliteration in the title wasn’t enough, the ‘Small School Semi-State Stars’ were on full display Saturday afternoon, as they helped position their teams one step away from hoisting the State Championship trophy in their respective classes.

All-in-all, eight teams advanced to Gainbridge Fieldhouse, and we’d like to take this time to congratulate Ben Davis, Bethesda Christian, Brownstown Central, Fishers, Fort Wayne Canterbury, Scottsburg, South Bend St. Joseph, and Wapahani for this program-changing accomplishment.

We will now take time to honor three individuals from those teams for their accomplishments this past weekend. Fort Wayne Canterbury Senior Devon Lewis, Wapahani Senior Isaac Andrews, and Brownstown Central Senior Jack Benter have all been selected as Players of the Week in their respective districts for Mar. 11-Mar. 16 in the recognition program sponsored by Franciscan Health and coordinated by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association.

Lewis collects honors for District-1, Andrews is the representative for District-2, and Benter is the recipient for District-3.

Fort Wayne Canterbury is making their first trip to the State Finals, and they seem to be peaking at the right time. Following a 2-7 start to the season, the Cavaliers are now 18-9, riding an eight-game winning streak heading into March 30th’s action. A big reason for their success has been Senior Devon Lewis, and he came up big for them Saturday in the Semi-State. With a 60-51 overtime win against Elkhart Christian, followed by a narrow 56-53 victory against Liberty Christian in the evening finale, the 5-10 point guard was much-needed.

On the day, Lewis scored 38 points, including 3-7 from long range, and 9-11 from the charity stripe. The playmaker also added a consistent 7 rebounds, 7 assists, and 7 steals, as the Cavaliers are now set to take on Bethesda Christian in the Class A title game at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 30.

Wapahani is also celebrating its first State Finals appearance, plus they have now won two consecutive Regionals…the first two in program history. Following a comfortable 48-28 victory against a good North Judson-San Pierre team, and a 60-49 overtime win against a historically good Blackhawk Christian team, the Raiders seek their first Class AA State Championship.

Senior Isaac Andrews has cemented himself as one of the best Raiders ever in program history, and he continued adding to his legacy Saturday with a 29-point performance against Blackhawk Christian that included him scoring 11 of his team’s overtime points. Additionally, on the day, the 6-1 guard finished with 46 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists, and 3 steals, plus he buried 9 of 14 shots from 3-point range. Wapahani will face off against Brownstown Central at approximately 12:45 p.m. on March 30 for the Class AA title.

Speaking of Brownstown Central, they come in riding an 18-game winning streak, with nine of those victories coming against bigger schools. They find themselves making their third Class AA State Finals appearance (2004, 2009), though they seek their first crown.

Additionally, the Braves boast their own star carrying plenty of accolades in Senior Jack Benter. In a nail-biting, 50-49 win against Park Tudor, the 6-6 wing was limited on his touches, but he still nearly posted a triple-double, scoring 12 points, handing out 10 assists, and collecting 9 rebounds.

In the evening game, a 66-56 triumph against Parke Heritage, he let loose, pouring in 38 points on 11-20 shooting. He was 5-9 from deep, and he made 11 of 13 on his free tosses as well. Benter again managed to contribute in other ways, dishing out 8 assists and pulling in 6 caroms. The senior wing has signed to play at Purdue University next season.

This is the 16th season for the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association Player of the Week program, and the fourth 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 were chosen each week of their season, through the end of the IHSAA Girls State Finals. Boys’ winners will be chosen one more time, through the Monday following the IHSAA Boys State Finals.

Weekly Winners

Mar. 11-Mar. 16

District-1: Devon Lewis, Fort Wayne Canterbury

District-2 boys: Isaac Andrews, Wapahani

District-3 boys: Jack Benter, Brownstown Central