HANCOCK COUNTY — After historic seasons at their schools, they’ll finish it up by competing at a historic venue.
Greenfield-Central’s Dylan Moles and head coach Luke Meredith and New Palestine basketball players Isabella Gizzi and Ian Stephens will play in Saturday’s 18th Annual Hoosier Gym Classic All-Star Game at Knightstown’s historic Hoosier Gym, home of the “Hoosiers” Hickory Huskers.
The girls-boys doubleheader features some of the state’s top high school basketball talent. The girls game begins at 12 p.m. with the boys game to follow.
In each game, like in the 1986 movie “Hoosiers,” one team of stars will wear uniforms of the Hickory Huskers. The other squad will be the Terhune Tigers.
Gizzi will play for Hickory in the girls game. Meredith and Moles will wear Hickory colors for the boys contest. Stephens will play for Terhune.
A special day for all, but a little extra special for Meredith and Moles.
The fourth-year head coach at Greenfield-Central will get one final time to coach his standout Moles.
“I’ve never coached there and it’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” Meredith said. “I’m excited. It’s an honor for them to ask me (to coach). I think it’s going to be a bittersweet moment for me, being able to coach and be on the floor with Dylan one more time. That’s pretty cool.”
Moles has signed to play at Marian University next year, where he’ll join one of the top NAIA programs, which includes Gizzi’s older brother, Maximus Gizzi.
“I’m looking forward to (the all-star game),” Moles said. “Coach (Meredith) is one of the best people I’ve ever met in my life, not only as a coach, but as a person and mentor. I wish I could play another four years with him. I know the other guys (at Greenfield-Central) are looking forward to getting to play under him and have a great year with him. I’m looking forward to just one last game with him.”
Moles and Meredith helped lead the Cougars to the winningest season in program history. Greenfield-Central had an 18-game winning streak, and finished the year 21-2. They lost early in the season to New Palestine and won the next 18 before a heart-breaking loss to Anderson in a quarterfinal round game of the Muncie Central Sectional
Moles became a 1,000-point scorer and the school’s all-time leader in 3-point field goals. He averaged 20 points and 5.1 assists per game.
Stephens was part of a historic season, too. The Dragons won their first 15 games, a school-record for victories to start a season. They finished winning 23 contests, also a Dragon record. New Palestine picked up a Hoosier Heritage Conference title, as well as, a Muncie Central Sectional championship. They spent much of the season ranked among the top 10 teams in the state. They finished 23-3, losing in the regional championship game to Brownsburg.
A 6-foot, 6-inch forward, Stephens is uncommitted on his college choice. He averaged 15 points per game and 7.8 rebounds. He shot 59 percent from the floor.
Gizzi, a guard who is headed to the NAIA’s University of Saint Francis in Fort Wayne, finished off her career as not only the school’s all-time leading scorer for girls’ basketball, but the all-time leader for all New Pal hoops.
In her senior season, Gizzi averaged 23.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.6 steals per game. She finished with 1,676 points, passing her mom, and coach, Sarah (Haynes) Gizzi, as the girls’ all-time leader. She later surpassed her brother, Maximus as the overall leader in points.
Meredith will be helped on the sideline by his Greenfield-Central junior varsity coach, Will Bolden. Along with Moles, some of the other stars on the Hickory team are, Anderson’s Ahmere Carson, Ben Davis’s Sheridan Sharp and Zane Doughty, Carmel’s Sam Orme, Valparaiso’s Mason Jones, Linton-Stockton’s Joey Hart and Heritage Christian’s Myles Colvin.
Stephens will play with a trio of Cathedral stars in Xavier Booker, Jaron Tibbs and Jake Davis, along with Mr. Basketball Markus Burton of Penn High School, and a fellow HHC competitor in New Castle’s Gavin Welch.
The Terhune team is coached by Wapahani’s Matt Luce.
Gizzi will play for the Huskers along with a few familiar names, too, including Tri’s Bailey Parham, Fishers’ Hailey Smith and Olivia Smith and East Central’s Josie Trabel. They will be coached by Noblesville’s Donna Buckley.
The Terhune squad will be coached by Forest Park’s Tony Hasenour and will include, Ben Davis’s Cristen Carter, Shelbyville’s Kylee Edwards and Triton Central’s Lizzie Graham.
Tickets are $25 for both games, only 450 available, and only available online at www.thehoosiergym.com
