West Side senior Dana Evans was named the Indiana player of the year Thursday by the USA Today, but the Louisville recruit didn’t earn the right to wear the No. 1 uniform as the state’s Miss Basketball?
“I competed against girls last summer who were college and won a gold medal competing for my country,” Evans said of playing with the U.S. 18-under national team. “The McDonald’s All-American and Jordan Brand Classic teams, which chose 24 girls each, are national teams.
“This is just the state of Indiana. I think deep down inside, everybody knows who deserves to be Miss Basketball.”
Homestead’s Karissa McLaughlin, a Purdue recruit, was named Miss Basketball in Thursday night’s Indiana Sports Awards banquet at Butler.
“I did everything I could to be Miss Basketball,” Evans said. “It was my dream, and I truly feel I deserved to win. Unfortunately, I think a lot of people in Indiana have painted me as a girl with an attitude.
“I’m misunderstood. A lot of people only know me on the court. They know the feisty Dana, who wants to win and will do anything to win. Unfortunately, they don’t know how I interact with people and the kind of person I really am.”
Even so, Evans immediately changed gears upon hearing the news.
“When they announced it, I just looked up to God because I knew that it wasn’t my blessing,” Evans said. “I know God has something in store for me, but it wasn’t to win Miss Basketball. He’s got something bigger and better for me.”
Evans received 91 votes from the 388 ballots submitted by state coaches and media.
McLaughlin, Indiana’s Gatorade Player of the Year, averaged 25.9 points in leading Homestead to the Class 4A state championship. She received 155 votes.
Greenfield-Central’s Madison Wise, an Iowa State commit, totaled 62 votes.
“Unfortunately, Dana got slapped in the face with reality that life isn’t always fair, and it wasn’t fair (Thursday),” West Side coach Rod Fisher said. “It was all out of my hands and it was all out of Dana’s hands.
“We did everything we could to promote her and she did everything she could, on and off the floor.”
Evans ranks fifth in state history with 2,832 points.
A breathtaking talent, Evans averaged 35.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 4.8 steals as a senior. The lightning-quick guard led West Side to back-to-back Class 4A sectional titles and three in the last four years.
Evans looked to shrug off the Indiana Miss Basketball snub.
“I’m not sad,” she said. “I’m just disappointed because I have no control over the state we live in. This is just really going to motivate me moving forward.”
Fisher questioned Evans receiving only 91 votes.
“It’s an injustice to her,” he said. “The system is flawed in multiple ways. Some players get votes sight unseen. People vote for players they played against or who are located closer to them. To see her actually play, that’s the key.”
Fisher pointed out Evans was ranked by ESPN as the No. 2 point guard in the nation, made Team USA, and also was picked as a McDonald’s All-American and a Jordan Brand All-Star.
“They all chose her over McLaughlin,” Fisher said. “Miss Basketball is an individual award, so if you go by what she accomplished, it’s hands down. Dana’s accomplished more than any female from Northwest Indiana ever has.”
Evans is anxious to turn the page and begin the next chapter in her life.
“I’m excited because at that level, you’ll get what you deserve and nothing will be taken away from you,” she said of college. “You’ll still have to work for it and earn it, but it’s going to be fair.”
John O’Malley is a freelance writer for the Post-Tribune.
