Springs Valley Community High School

After an incredibly successful season on the court, a pair of Blackhawks have been honored for their work in the classroom as well. On Wednesday, the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association announced its Academic All-State teams and Springs Valley girls’ basketball players Brynne Buchanan and Bella Shipman were among those listed as honorable mentions. The IBCA considers both academic and athletic prowess in its selections, with factors such as grade-point average, academic class rank, and SAT and ACT scores being looked at in the classroom and scoring, rebounding, and assist averages being determining factors on the floor. The baseline criteria for consideration include having a 3.5 GPA or higher on a 4.0 scale, being ranked in the upper 25 percent of one’s class, and either an SAT score of 1100 on the reading and math sections or an ACT composite score of 24. On top of being a team captain this season, Buchanan was outstanding on the court. The All-Patoka Lake Athletic Conference honoree averaged 6.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 2.1 steals per game overall and those numbers only grew in conference play. She was the leading scorer in Springs Valley’s title-clinching win over Paoli, putting up 17 points to put the Blackhawks past the Rams. Shipman was in the starting lineup for much of the season, providing a steady hand on the perimeter offensively and playing good defense on the other end. She turned the ball over just 12 times in 23 games and also contributed well on the boards for her size, grabbing 2.1 rebounds per game. This is Buchanan’s second Academic All-State honor this year as she also received the Academic All-State Gold Award from the Indiana High School Volleyball Coaches Association back in October for having a weighted GPA over 3.75.