Indiana
Shots, blocks & boards: Vote for IHSAA girls basketball players of the week (Dec. 26-30)
IHSAA girls basketball: Greensburg defeats Roncalli 60-55
Greensburg defeats Roncalli 60-55 on Friday, December 29, 2023.
Clark Wade/IndyStar
IndyStar will be recognizing the top basketball players in Indiana with our players of the week poll.
Scroll to the bottom of the article to vote. Voting is open until noon Friday. You can vote once per hour.
Congratulations to Evansville Reitz’s Norah Miller on being voted Player of the Week for Dec. 11-16! Miller finished with 27 points on 12-of-22 shooting in a win over North Posey. She rounded out her line with 10 rebounds, five assists and seven steals.
Congratulations to Zionsville’s Allie Caldwell and Carroll (Flora)’s Alli Harness on being selected Players of the Week for Dec. 18-23!
Player of the Week winners will be honored at IndyStar’s Indiana Sports Awards this spring.
Insider: Wrapping up the Twin Lakes Holiday Tournament
Here are this week’s nominees.
Addison Bowsman, Twin Lakes
The junior matched a school record with 46 points on 13-of-25 shooting (5-for-6 from 3) in an overtime loss to Bishop Chatard last Thursday afternoon. Bowsman rounded out her line with five rebounds, five assists and three steals before fouling out in the extra session. She finished the three-game Twin Lakes Holiday Tournament with 99 points, 36 field goals, 18 rebounds, 21 assists and 10 steals.
Addison Davis, Danville
The junior scored a triple-double vs. Frankfort, logging 18 points, 16 rebounds and 12 steals (plus seven assists and a block). She hit 9-of-18 shots from the field.
Aijia Elliott, Kokomo
The senior blocked six shots and scored 18 points in a one-point loss to Batesville at a tournament in Scottsburg. She logged 14 points, seven rebounds and three steals the day before vs. Borden, then tallied eight points and nine rebounds against Eastern.
Myah Epps, Homestead
Epps racked up 30 points to lift the Spartans to a 61-50 win over Pike on Wednesday.
Kennedy Fuelling, Norwell
Fuelling put up 22 points in a loss to Fort Wayne Snider, then poured in a team-high 32 points to help the Knights erase a six-point deficit and knock off Valparaiso.
Ashley Fulton, Southwestern
Fulton racked up 61 points, 14 rebounds, 18 assists and 10 assists over four games for the Rebels. Her week was highlighted by a 20-point, six-assist performance vs. Class 2A No. 11 Brownstown Central (Southwestern lost by a point).
Kenzie Garner, Sheridan
Garner scored 26 points on 12-of-14 shooting with 10 rebounds, four assists and five steals in a win over Beech Grove. She picked up 14 points, nine rebounds and three assists in a loss to Alexandria-Monroe.
Becca Gerdt, Valparaiso
Gerdt shined in game one of the Noblesville Holiday Tournament vs. the host Millers, recording 24 points on 10-of-17 shooting with 15 rebounds, three assists and a steal. She went for 13 points, seven rebounds, two assists and three steals in the nightcap vs. Norwell.
Insider: Wrapping up the Noblesville Holiday Tournament
Charlee Gibson, Blue River Valley
The junior matched her season-high with 23 points (8-of-12 shooting) on Dec. 29 vs. Blackford, then reset it a day later with 32 points vs. Southwestern (Shelbyville). She went 12-for-20 from the field vs. the Spartans with six 3-pointers, and rounded out her line with eight rebounds and five steals.
Kennedy Holman, Hamilton Southeastern
Holman enjoyed a career day vs. North Central, finishing with 11-for-18 from the field for 26 points. The sophomore also dished out five assists and picked up four steals. Holman recorded 16 points, six rebounds, six assists and four steals vs. Decatur Central.
Jayla Keithley, Morristown
After being held to six points against Milan, Keithley scored 17 points in back-to-back games. She added eight rebounds, three assists and a steal vs. Cambridge City Lincoln, and seven rebounds, three assists and four steals against Scecina.
Olivia Nickerson, Twin Lakes
Nickerson drilled six 3-pointers to surpass Oregon-Davis’ Aubrey Minix as the state’s all-time leader for 3-pointers made with 364. The Bethel-bound senior pushed her total to 368 with four threes over two games Thursday, with her 20-point effort vs. Chatard making her Twin Lakes’ all-time leading scorer. Nickerson totaled 70 points in three games.
Mia Robbennolt, Bloomington North
Robbennolt cleared 1,000 career points amidst a strong showing at the Lebanon tournament. She registered 24 points (9-for-15 shooting), seven rebounds, three assists, five steals and a block vs. Lowell, notched a double-double against Mooresville (13 points, 10 rebounds) and collected 11 points, eight rebounds, and four steals vs. Perry Meridian.
Kyndra Sheets, Columbia City
The senior Huntington commit poured in 13 points in the Hall of Fame Classic opener vs. Indian Creek, then scored 12 points (plus three assists and two steals) against Jennings County.
Insider: What we learned from the girls Hall of Fame Classic
Ruby White, Eastern Hancock
The senior shined against 4A foe Elkhart, picking up 14 points, four rebounds, four assists, two steals and four blocks in a 60-49 victory.
Ava Wilson, Shelbyville
Wilson cleared 1,000 career points by scoring a career-high 34 points in a win over Madison at the North Decatur tournament. She notched 24 points later in the day against Edgewood. Wilson is one of seven 1,000-point scorers in program history.
Reagan Wilson, Noblesville
Wilson scored 29 points and registered five steals against Valparaiso, then went for 30 points on 10-of-19 shooting in a win over Fort Wayne Snider.
Juliann Woodard, Jennings County
Woodard finished with 21 points, 22 rebounds, six assists, five blocks and a couple steals vs. Lake Central at the Hall of Fame Classic, then logged 18 points and 12 rebounds in the championship game vs. Columbia City.
Sara Zarse, Tri-County
Zarse lifted the Class A Cavaliers to victory over 4A’s Mt. Vernon, registering 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting with eight rebounds and two steals. She posted six points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals against 4A’s McCutcheon in the semifinals, and 15 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals vs. 3A’s Twin Lakes in the third-place game.
Follow Brian Haenchen on Twitter at @Brian_Haenchen.
Indiana
Severe storm risk into tonight through early Wednesday morning
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — We are monitoring the potential for severe weather into early Wednesday morning.
Tornado Watch in effect until EDT midnight March 10, 2026, for Benton, Newton, and Jasper counties.
Tuesday night: Please make sure you have your safety plan on standby into tonight through pre-dawn Wednesday morning. There is now a level 4/5 severe risk in northwest Indiana. Much of central Indiana remains in a level 2/5 risk.
The risk for significant tornadoes (EF2+) and very large hail (2″+) is greatest north of I-70 with any discrete cell(s) that maintain their-selves into mainly northern Indiana. There is also potential for a max expected intensity of an EF-3+ tornado within much (if not all) of the level 3 & 4 risk zone.
This does not mean that every storm will produce a tornado of that magnitude. It is simply highlighting area of highest concern for the possibility of such occurrence.
Now, given a modestly unstable environment into the pre-dawn hours Wednesday with stronger wind flow aloft, all hazards will remain possible into central Indiana. The significant severe threat here is much lower.
Overall, you need to have multiple ways of being able to get alerts tonight. Do not be scared, be prepared and you will be ok.
Wednesday: Beyond sunrise Wednesday, we will continue to track more in the way of showers and storms. The main area of the strong-severe storm risk looks to shift mainly southeast of Indy with damaging winds the primary concern through the morning into afternoon hours.
Rainfall amounts through Wednesday may amount to 1-2″ with locally higher amounts.
Highs to occur earlier in the day with numbers in the mid to upper 60s. Non-thunderstorm winds will also be quite breezy with gusts up to 30-35 MPH.
Thursday: Be prepared for quite a temperature shift into Thursday. We will start the day off with temperatures in the low 30 with 20s wind chills. Yeah, that will not feel great considering our recent stretch of more mild days. Highs will only get into the upper 40s.
7-Day Forecast: We look to warm back up into this weekend, but it will come with more active weather and breezy winds. Friday will feature highs in the mid to upper 50s with wind gusts up to 25-30 MPH. Highs look to tick back into the low 60s Sunday with more chances for rain. Then, temperatures really take a tumble into next Monday with highs only in the 30s and a chance for a rain/snow mix.
Indiana
Future of Chicago’s Soldier Field Uncertain as Bears Eye Move to Indiana
Change could be coming to Chicago’s Soldier Field, a historic landmark initially designed as a memorial for American soldiers who died in combat. Opened in 1924, and home to the NFL’s Chicago Bears since 1971, the 102 year old venue’s future is uncertain as the team is exploring a new stadium, possibility across the Illinois state line in Hammond, Indiana.
“The fact that they’re even considering coming to Hammond versus keeping it in their own state says a lot about what we’re going to try to do to tell everyone Indiana is a place move your business,” said Governor Mike Braun (R-Indiana), in a televised news conference Monday, monitored by Military.com. The governor’s remarks addressed a range of issues related to the end of the state’s legislative session.
“We’re proud that we’ve put together a package to attract $2 Billion worth of investment from the Chicago Bears,” said the governor of Senate Bill 27, which he signed last week. “They’re now looking at Indiana as a place to actually bring that franchise.”
With a seating capacity of more than 100,000 spectators. Soldier Field is used not only for Bears games, but as a site for many other sporting events and exhibitions, including numerous Army-Navy games. But without an anchor sports team like the Bears, the stadium will likely be used less and Chicago could see less tax revenue.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson telling reporters Monday, the Bears were offered an opportunity to build a new stadium inside the city limits, as a way to stay in Illinois.
“We had an entire press conference, with a proposal on the lakefront two years ago,” Mayor Johnson said in a news conference. “How do you have an entire proposal with the Bears, with the city of Chicago, with labor, with the notion that somehow the greatest, the most fruitful, economic viable prime real estate anywhere in the state, anywhere in the region is somehow not suited?”
There’s another proposed site on the table. Illinois lawmakers in the House have advanced House Bill 910, which would lock in property tax rates at the former Arlington Racetrack, in Arlington Heights about 30 miles from Soldier Field. The Bears already own the land, but the bill is still in its early stages and already has some critics.
“It would shift [tax] liability directly onto homeowners and small businesses,” said Brian Costin, deputy state director of the Illinois chapter of Americans for Prosperity, in a statement to Military.com. “It could double or triple the effective property tax rates over the next few decades.”
For now, the Bears have not made a commitment to move to Indiana or stay in Illinois.
The Bears said in a statement, “Indiana has taken important steps over the last few months, and we are grateful for the leadership reflected by Governor Braun signing SB 27 establishing the framework for a stadium development in Northwest Indiana. We continue to work on the necessary due diligence and appreciate the .”ongoing engagement with Indiana state and local leaders.”
The team also addressed Illinois efforts to keep the team from leaving Soldier Field or Illinois altogether.
“We recognize and appreciate the advancement of mega project legislation by the Illinois House Revenue and Finance Committee,” said the statement from the Bears. “We look forward to continued engagement as the lawmakers determine the legislative path forward.”
In Indiana, Governor Braun hopes the better deal will be for the Bears to abandon Soldier Field for new digs across the Illinois border, in Hammond.
“We’ve identified a promising site near Wolf Lake in Hammond and established a broad framework for negotiating a final deal,” Braun said in a statement obtained by Military.com. “We have built a strong relationship with the Bears organization that will serve as the foundation for a public-private partnership, leading to the construction of a world-class stadium and a win for taxpayers.”
Indiana
Indiana Pacers Slide as 2026 NBA Draft Lottery Odds Rise
The Indiana Pacers are making a real argument to be the worst team in the NBA this season.
The Pacers could become the first team in the Eastern Conference to reach 50 losses this season if they don’t beat the Sacramento Kings tomorrow night. Power rankings across the internet have the Pacers and Kings as the bottom two teams in the league.
NBA.com, John Schuhmann (30, no change)
“With the Jazz beating the Wizards on Thursday and the Nets’ incredible comeback in Detroit over the weekend, the Pacers are the only team without a win (they’re 0-9) since the All-Star break. Seven of those nine losses have come against other teams with losing records,” Schuhmann wrote.
“The Pacers and Kings are now tied for the fewest wins (15), and they’ll meet for the second (and final) time on Tuesday, with the Pacers having won the first meeting (Dec. 8) behind 28 points and 12 assists from Nembhard. That’s the end of the Pacers’ four-game trip, and they’ll then return home and begin their only stretch of five games in seven days.”
The Athletic, Law Murray (30, no change)
“The Pacers are the only team in the league without a win since the All-Star break, so they’re comfortably nestled at the bottom of these rankings. Indiana was only regular bad for the third quarter of the season overall, though the interior defense has been slammed like brakes,” Murray wrote.
“If they don’t win Tuesday in Sacramento in the Tyrese Haliburton trade bowl, then they’ll have to go and upset a team that is trying to secure wins for the rest of the March schedule.”
Clutch Points, Brett Siegel (29, down 1)
“As soon as Tyrese Haliburton went down with his Achilles injury, everyone knew that the Indiana Pacers would be taking a step back. The decision for this to be a gap year and completely tank was made after several impactful players, like Obi Toppin, Aaron Nesmith, and Andrew Nembhard, all went down with injuries,” Siegel wrote.
“After all, a team that found success through its depth is nothing when all of its key talents are injured.
“The Pacers own the second-worst record in the NBA right now, giving them a real shot at getting the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Remember, Indiana will keep their selection this season if it falls inside the top four, which have a 52.1 percent chance of happening.”
Overview
It’s hard to argue the Pacers not being in this position because they’ve only won 15 games so far this season. On top of that, their last victory came on February 11, which was the final game before the All-Star break.
This isn’t exactly a bad thing for the Pacers, however, because they need that first-round pick to return to them in the draft. If they get the wrong shake in the lottery, the Pacers could be forced to give up their first-round pick in this year’s draft to the Los Angeles Clippers as part of the Ivica Zubac trade.
The Pacers should use the rest of the season to figure out who fits in their system and develop their young players in hopes of some of them cracking the rotation for next season and beyond.
-
Wisconsin1 week agoSetting sail on iceboats across a frozen lake in Wisconsin
-
Massachusetts1 week agoMassachusetts man awaits word from family in Iran after attacks
-
Pennsylvania6 days agoPa. man found guilty of raping teen girl who he took to Mexico
-
Detroit, MI5 days agoU.S. Postal Service could run out of money within a year
-
Miami, FL6 days agoCity of Miami celebrates reopening of Flagler Street as part of beautification project
-
Sports6 days agoKeith Olbermann under fire for calling Lou Holtz a ‘scumbag’ after legendary coach’s death
-
Virginia7 days agoGiants will hold 2026 training camp in West Virginia
-
Culture1 week agoTry This Quiz on the Real Locations in These Magical and Mysterious Novels