What to know about this weekend's inaugural North girls basketball showcase

Kyle Sokeland, Evansville Courier & Press
·4 min read

EVANSVILLE — A need arose on the schedule. What came about could become a yearly mainstay.

The inaugural North Basketball Showcase takes place this weekend. A seven-game event featuring some of the best girls basketball teams in Southwest Indiana against quality competition from across the state. There are currently six players committed to play Division I basketball with several others receiving scholarship offers.

The genesis began when the River City Showcase ceased after four years. An NCAA rule change wouldn't allow the University of Southern Indiana to host it this winter as a Division I member. There were talks of moving it to Oakland City before organizers ended the event.

Many of the girls teams involved still wanted to play. Tyler Choate offered North as a host and put together a schedule featuring both quality competition and talent. He hopes it could compare to the Bosse Winter Classic on the boys' side in the future. North also hosts Henderson County in a previously scheduled boys game.

North Head Coach Tyler Choate gives direction during a timeout as the North Lady Huskies play the Silver Creek Lady Dragons during the United Fidelity Bank River City Showcase at the University of Southern Indiana’s Screaming Eagles Arena in Evansville, Ind., Saturday morning, Dec. 4, 2021.
North Head Coach Tyler Choate gives direction during a timeout as the North Lady Huskies play the Silver Creek Lady Dragons during the United Fidelity Bank River City Showcase at the University of Southern Indiana’s Screaming Eagles Arena in Evansville, Ind., Saturday morning, Dec. 4, 2021.

"It kind of started last year at the River City Showcase getting girls teams involved," said Choate, the Huskies' athletics director and girls basketball coach. "We wanted to continue that with Evansville Sports Corporation. But with USI going Division I, there was some scheduling conflicts. Once that went away, I reached out to the schools that had committed already to see if they wanted to come to North instead.

"It's to give, No. 1, Southern Indiana girls a chance to play against schools that aren't from Southern Indiana. Two, give fans of girls basketball a chance to see really good players and teams."

A look at some of the teams and players to be featured in the North Showcase. Admission is $8 for each day.

Top games to watch

La Lumiere vs. No. 9 Memorial: The top team in the event against the top team in the city. La Lumiere, a prep school in La Porte, is full of talent but headlined by former Noblesville star and Connecticut recruit Ashlynn Shade. Memorial has won its first five games by an average of 26 points.

Memorial’s Avery Kelley (32) drives the ball as the Memorial Lady Tigers play the Gibson Southern Lady Titans during the Class 3A girls basketball sectional championship game at Gibson Southern High School Tuesday night, Feb. 8, 2022.
Memorial’s Avery Kelley (32) drives the ball as the Memorial Lady Tigers play the Gibson Southern Lady Titans during the Class 3A girls basketball sectional championship game at Gibson Southern High School Tuesday night, Feb. 8, 2022.

No. 8 Gibson Southern vs. No. 5 Bedford North Lawrence: Both will be a threat to make a deep postseason run in their respective class. BNL has a pair of Division I players in Chloe Spreen and Karsyn Norman. The Titans are averaging 66.6 points despite point guard Gabby Spink (multiple mid-major offers) yet to play with a foot injury.

No. 7 Fishers vs. La Lumiere: Fishers is one of the top teams in the Indianapolis area. Won its first six games before losses to No. 2 Zionsville and Fort Wayne Snider last week. Centerpieces of the roster are Hailey and Olivia Smith, twin sisters headed to Ball State.

North vs. No. 12 Lawrence North: The host Huskies have the best matchup in terms of local teams. Lawrence North, the 2020 state champ, is led by Ohio recruit Monica Williams. Should be a good battle between her and North forward Amiyah Buchanan.

Noblesville High School junior Ashlynn Shade (12) during the second half of an IHSAA Girls’ Basketball Class 4A State Championship game against Franklin Community High School, Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Noblesville won 76-52.
Noblesville High School junior Ashlynn Shade (12) during the second half of an IHSAA Girls’ Basketball Class 4A State Championship game against Franklin Community High School, Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Noblesville won 76-52.

Here are 15 players to watch

Chloe Spreen, Bedford North Lawrence, Jr. (21.6 ppg, 6.0 rpg); Karsyn Norman, Bedford North Lawrence, Sr. (16.9 ppg, 4.0 apg, Butler); Alexis Tucker, Gibson Southern, Sr. (19.0 ppg, 8.2 rpg); Chloey Graham, Gibson Southern, Jr. (15.8 ppg); Avery Kelley, Memorial, Jr. (16.8 ppg); Emily Mattingly, Memorial, Sr. (15.4 ppg, 4.2 spg); Sophie Johnson, Memorial, Jr. (15.4 ppg, 9.8 rpg); Ashlynn Shade, La Lumiere, Sr. (Connecticut); Gabi Hoover, La Lumiere, Sr.; Devyn Barton, Castle, Sr. (9.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 3.3 spg); Hailey Smith, Fishers, Sr. (13.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg, Ball State); Olivia Smith, Fishers, Sr. (9.3 ppg, Ball State); Amiyah Buchanan, North, Sr. (18.2 ppg, 10.6 rpg, SEMO); Jalyn Shelby, North, Sr. (17.4 ppg, 6.6 rpg); Monica Williams, Lawrence North, Sr. (16.2 ppg, Ohio).

Full schedule for the North Showcase

All times CT

Friday

  • Bedford North Lawrence vs Gibson Southern, 5 p.m.

  • La Lumiere vs Memorial, 6:30 p.m.

Saturday

  • Castle vs Fishers, 10 a.m.

  • North vs Lawrence North, 11:40 a.m.

  • Lawrence North vs Castle, 3:30 p.m.

  • Fishers vs La Lumiere, 5 p.m.

  • North vs Henderson County (boys), 6:40 p.m.

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: High school basketball: What to know about Evansville North showcase