Well, it has been a couple of weeks since we last updated the high school basketball Central Indiana Fab 15. There are plenty of changes to make since then. Here is a look as we head into the final month of the regular season and an unsung hero from each of the teams:
1: Fishers 18-0. Previous: 1.
Since last ranking: The Tigers have been challenged a couple of times in the past six games, including needed a second-half comeback to beat Avon 65-50 and a battle of a game on Saturday at Carmel, winning 53-50. Junior guard Cooper Zachary was outstanding over the weekend, shooting 15-for-21 from the 3-point line in two games and committing just one turnover to 10 assists. Up next is a home game against Westfield on Thursday. Fishers has played its last 13 games without junior Jason Gardner Jr.
Unsung hero: Senior guard Jean-Claude L’Homme might get lost in the shuffle a bit on a talented team but is an important piece of the puzzle. He had eight points and three rebounds on 3-for-4 shooting in the win over Carmel. L’Homme is averaging 4.5 points and 2.8 assists.
2: Plainfield 17-1. Previous: 6.
Since last ranking: Since winning the Hendricks County Tournament, the Quakers are 5-0 with wins over Carmel, Northview and Lawrence North included. Plainfield is averaging 70 points per game on 54% shooting. DePaul commit Noah Smith is averaging 20.0 points and 9.1 rebounds. The Quakers are at Terre Haute North on Thursday.
Unsung hero: Smith, junior Harper Baker-Lands (17.5 ppg, 2.8 assists) and senior Landon Gilliatt (9.2 ppg, 6.7 assists) are the go-to players for the Quakers. But the supporting cast, including senior guard Trey Barton, is also vital to the team’s success. Barton averages 6.4 points, 3.1 assists and 1.3 steals.
3: Mt. Vernon 16-2. Previous: 4.
Since last ranking: The Marauders are 5-0 since our last Fab 15, including wins over Avon (64-52) and Hamilton Southeastern (69-50). Luke Ertel is averaging 24.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 2.1 steals and junior Max Vise (13.6 ppg, 5.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists) is also a key to Mt. Vernon’s success. Up next is a home game vs. Noblesville on Thursday.
Unsung hero: Jack Guerre, a 6-4 senior, adds some much-needed size and versatility to the Marauders’ lineup. He scored in double figures in three of his past five games, including 18 points in a 76-56 win over West Lafayette Harrison over the weekend.
4: Lawrence North 15-2. Previous: 5.
Since last ranking: The Wildcats are 4-1 with four wins at the Marion County Tournament, including a 58-55 overtime win over Pike in the championship, followed by a three-point loss to Plainfield. Up next is a matchup at Carmel on Thursday.
Unsung hero: Seniors Brennan Miller (17.5 ppg, 10.6 rebounds) and Cam Webster (15.3 ppg, 4.9 assists) have been outstanding this season. One of the players to really raise his level this season has been senior Duke Karnes (9.0 ppg), who has a 47-to-12 assist-to-turnover ratio. He is shooting 41% from the 3-point line.
5: Pike 15-3. Previous: 2.
Since last ranking: Pike is 6-1 with the only loss coming in overtime to Lawrence North in the Marion County Tournament title game. The Red Devils knocked off Carmel 61-55 in overtime and beat Zionsville 64-52 among those six victories. Up next is a huge game against rival Ben Davis at home on Thursday in a potential sectional preview.
Unsung hero: There is a lot of talent here, including juniors Isaiah Hill and Jahari Miller and sophomore Landon Lampley. But I’ll go with senior guard T.J. Davis, who seemed to unlock some fire within Pike late in a loss to Fishers. Davis and Pike will need that fire with a tough schedule upcoming, including BD, Mt. Vernon and Lawrence North.
6. Carmel 11-3. Previous: 3.
Since last ranking: The Greyhounds are 2-3 but the losses came to Plainfield, Pike and Fishers by a combined 12 points. The wins were close, too: A 59-52 win overtime win over Columbus North and a 68-66 win over Ben Davis. It does not get much easier this week with a Thursday game against Lawrence North.
Unsung hero: Junior point guard Cash Daniels (14.6 ppg, 5.6 assists) and senior big man Evan Harrell (16.9 ppg, 8.0 rebounds) have been key to the Greyhounds’ success all season. But I don’t think Julian Vogt gets nearly enough credit. The senior came up big with 15 points on 3-for-6 shooting from 3 against Fishers. Vogt is averaging 8.9 points and shooting 50% from the 3-point line (34-for-67).
7: Cathedral 14-3. Previous: 8.
Since last ranking: The Irish are 6-0, including the championship of the City Tournament. There were challenges from Cardinal Ritter (67-54) and Scecina (65-58) in the semifinal and championship rounds. No games this week.
Unsung hero: Seniors Keaton Aldridge Jr. (17.7 ppg, 8.6 rebounds, 5.1 assists) and Julien Smith (17.1 ppg, 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists) are the top offensive players for the Irish, but 6-5 junior Braylon Pippins (9.1 ppg, 3.7 rebounds) adds athleticism and size.
8: Ben Davis 11-4. Previous: 7.
Since last ranking: The Giants are 2-2 in the last four games, losing a pair of two-point games to Lawrence Central and Carmel. There are significant tests ahead, including a game at Pike on Thursday. Ben Davis defeated Class 2A No. 5 Parke Heritage 50-41 on Saturday.
Unsung hero: Senior guard Taj Long had a great game against Carmel, going for 22 points on 7-for-9 shooting. In his past four games he is 7-for-17 from the 3-point line. The 6-foot Long adds a third scorer with seniors JaShawn Ladd (14.4 ppg) and Sherman Moss-Wright (12.9 ppg, 4.9 assists).
9: Brownsburg 9-7. Previous: 13.
Since last ranking: The Bulldogs are 2-1. After a loss to Fishers, Brownsburg knocked off Westfield (43-41) and Zionsville (51-44). Brownsburg plays West Lafayette on Thursday and Perry Meridian on Saturday afternoon before playing a makeup game against Carmel next week.
Unsung hero: Seniors Brandon Addison (10.7 ppg, 4.5 assists) and Chrishon Woodward (10.1 ppg, 4.5 rebounds) are the top scorers and key to Brownsburg’s success. The production of junior Chase Wilson (6.4 ppg, 2.7 rebounds) has been key on both ends of the court. He is also an efficient 3-point shooter (13-for-25).
10: Zionsville 10-8. Previous: 15.
Since last ranking: The Eagles are 4-2 with impressive wins over Noblesville, Parke Heritage and Hamilton Southeastern. The weekend went the opposite direction with losses to Brownsburg and Pike. A couple of tough tests this week at Avon on Thursday and vs. Bloomington North on Saturday afternoon.
Unsung hero: Junior Camden Moore (13.9 ppg, 4.9 rebounds), a Notre Dame baseball recruit, has enjoyed a breakout season and Rylon Gore (13.1 ppg, 2.7 rebounds) is shooting 39% from the 3-point line. Junior Nick Snively has provided a lift as a third scorer, averaging 6.3 points and 4.3 rebounds. He is shooting 35% from the 3-point line.
11: Pendleton Heights 12-3. Previous: 11.
Since last ranking: The Arabians were 4-0 until losing 76-72 to Hamilton Southeastern on Saturday. Pendleton Heights had an eight-game winning streak overall. Up next is Thursday at Yorktown.
Unsung hero: Cooper Sims (21.0 ppg, 2.7 rebounds) is certainly the player who makes the Arabians go. But Ashaan Singh, a 6-3 senior, is one of those players who plays with a high motor at all times. He is averaging 7.3 points and 6.7 rebounds.
12: Westfield 9-6. Previous: 12.
Since last ranking: The Shamrocks are 3-2 in their last five games, bouncing back from losses to HSE and Brownsburg with wins over Muncie Central, Avon and Mooresville. Up next is a potential sectional preview on Thursday at Fishers.
Unsung hero: Senior Brock Detamore (12.2 ppg, 4.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists) is second on the team in scoring, rebounding and steals and leads the team in assists. Drew Haffner (19.1 ppg) is a talented offensive player, but Detamore also plays an important role.
13: Whiteland 14-3. Previous: NR.
Since last ranking: Whiteland has won 11 consecutive games until losing 57-53 to Columbus North on Saturday. The Warriors have a pair of wins over Greenwood, a pair of wins over Franklin and a win over Shelbyville among their victories since late December.
Unsung hero: Can a team’s leading scorer fit this category? Joban Kalkat, a 6-3 junior, has ramped up his production considerably from a year ago, averaging 16.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.5 steals per game. He is shooting 37% from the 3-point line.
14: Shelbyville 14-4. Previous: 10.
Since last ranking: The Golden Bears are 3-2 in their last five games, losing to Pendleton Heights and Whiteland in back-to-back games. They did rebound with wins over Greenfield-Central, Speedway and Jennings County.
Unsung hero: Senior Brody Runnebohm (10.8 ppg, 2.9 rebounds, 50% 3-pointers) adds an outside shooting element on a senior-led team. Caden Claxton (16.5 ppg, 5.8 rebounds, 4.1 assists) and Mar Nicholson (14.1 ppg, 3.8 rebounds) are the top scorers.
15: Guerin Catholic 13-5. Previous: NR.
Since last ranking: The Golden Eagles are trending up with wins in seven of their last eight games, including a 48-39 win over Noblesville on Saturday. Guerin is at Culver Academy on Saturday afternoon.
Unsung hero: Junior point guard Hayden Rodgers is one of the top assist leaders in Central Indiana, averaging 7.1 per game. Many of those are to leading scorers Jake Grissom (18.9 ppg, 3.9 rebounds) and Carter Murans (11.0 ppg, 4.2 rebounds).
Dropped out: Noblesville (9), Decatur Central (14)
Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649. Get IndyStar’s high school coverage sent directly to your inbox with the High School Sports newsletter. And be sure to subscribe to our new IndyStarTV: Preps YouTube channel.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: A refreshed high school basketball Fab 15 going into final month of season
Reporting by Kyle Neddenriep, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
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