With over 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds over the course of his illustrious career, Manchester senior Gavin Betten has accomplished just about everything during his four years as a varsity starter. His final accomplishment, and perhaps the biggest, came in the final game of his career, when he led the Squires to their first ever state championship.
When you put it all together, he’s a shoo in to be the Times-Union Player of the Year for the second season in a row.
Betten’s senior season was his best yet, as he led Manchester in every major category. His points (25.4), field goal percentage (64%) rebounds (12), assists (4.2) steals (3.3) and blockers (2.9) were all team-highs on a Squire team that went undefeated in 2A on its way to defeating University 59-54 for a state championship last weekend.
“It’s awesome to go out with a title, but honestly the emotions have been a little sad because I won’t be able to play for Coach Henson and with my teammates anymore,” Betten said after a few days of everything sinking in. “But there’s no better way to end your career than on top.”
His coach, Eli Henson, couldn’t stress enough how proud he was of Gavin and the rest of the group for their accomplishment.
“Of course I want to win, but seeing them have that joy was what it’s all about for me,” Henson said. “For them to be able to achieve what they did this year and not have to face the disappointment of losing, you can’t ask for much more.”
While the statistics have gotten better and the win total has gone up in each of his four years on varsity, Betten says that the area he feels most improved is one that isn’t visible on any stat sheet or record book.
“For me, it’s my basketball IQ. I understand how to flow with the game a lot better and create shots for not just myself but my teammates as well,” he said. “I think that was a big factor for us. My maturity too, I feel like that’s the main reason we won this year was because we had so many seniors that had matured with this program and were ready to get after it.”
With seven seniors graduating, next year’s Manchester team is going to look a lot different. But according to Coach Henson, the impact made by Betten and the rest of the group is already being felt.
“The biggest thing that Gavin has taught our younger players is what hard work looks like. Not only that, but also that success can come from that hard work,” the Squire boss said. “I know this year was great with the postseason run, but we won 18 games in each of the last two years, and we found out what we needed to do. In order to have that success, this is how hard we have to go. They’ve instilled what success looks like and how to achieve that.”
Betten’s success is no accident. Sure he has the physical traits and abilities, but more than anything, he has a profound love of the game.
“Basketball is my whole life. It’s kind of crazy what an orange ball can do for you,” Betten said. “It’s gotten my college paid for, it’s really a special sport to me. Something I really enjoy and have a passion for.”

    Senior Gavin Betten moves in for a shot while working under the basket during the semi-state championship against Gary 21st Century...Nieter

Local fans who have enjoyed watching Betten play for the last four years will still be able to do so, as the aforementioned college is Grace, where the senior committed to before the season began. He’s looking forward to staying in the area, and he plans on studying mechanical engineering.
“The culture at Grace is different. I’m close with a lot of the guys on the roster and have competed against them,” Betten said. “I really enjoy Coach Moore and his assistants, they make me feel like I’m family. I think it’s the right choice for me.”
Henson believes that Betten is going to have a great college career.
“A lot of people don’t realize how good of a shooter he is. I know during the season he’s going to have most of his success around the rim, but he can shoot and put the ball on the floor and make plays,” he said, “His ability to score from anywhere is going to translate incredibly well.”
Betten is also a member of the Manchester golf team, as well as a former member of the baseball team as well. He likes to spend his free time playing video games, pickleball and disc golf with his friends.
The Times-Union would like to congratulate Betten on a phenomenal career and wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors.
Times-Union All-Area Team
Gavin Betten (POTY, Manchester Sr.)
Not much else can be said about Betten, as the senior ends his illustrious career as a state champion and a snub of the Indiana All-Star team. He’ll go down as one of if not the best players in Wabash County history as well as an all-timer for the Times-Union area. Betten will definitely be a player to watch as he continues his career locally at Grace College.
Ethan Hendrix (Manchester Sr.)
While a lot of the attention goes to Betten, Manchester doesn’t take home a state championship this season without the play of Hendrix by his side. The point guard was masterful all season long, averaging 18 points, four assists and three steals. He also came up clutch with some massive free throws in both the semi-state and state title games. He’ll join his teammate at Grace next season as well, keeping one of the best duos in recent memory alive.
Brandt Martin (Warsaw Sr.)
Betten’s biggest competition for Player of the Year honors, Martin wrapped up his fantastic career at Warsaw with his best season yet. He led an incredibly deep Tiger team in scoring (16.4 a night) and rebounding, while also playing incredibly tough defense. He was a major reason why the team barely lost a step when fellow senior all-area member Luke Bricker went down with injury, and will be remembered as one of the great players to put on the orange and black.
Luke Bricker (Warsaw Sr.)
The aforementioned Bricker was putting together a fantastic season before a knee injury suffered in February prematurely ended his final campaign. He was averaging 14.3 points before he went down, shooting an absurd 56% on twos, 48.8% behind the three point line and 90% at the charity stripe. Once he recovers, he will be another big piece of the incoming freshman class at Grace. With his length and ability, he will have the chance to put together a great college career.
Robbie Finlinson (Warsaw Sr.)
Another sharpshooting member of a great Warsaw team, Finlinson came up clutch in some big moments all season long with some big shots. A 45% shooter from deep, as well as 57% shooting twos, the senior was the third Tiger player to average double digits scoring (11.4). He was another player that stepped up big time in the absence of Bricker. Also a member of the golf team, Finlinson is a talented multisport athlete who put together a great career at Warsaw.
Carson Gould (Warsaw Sr.)
Gould is not the type of player that’s going to wow you with his scoring numbers, but make no mistake, he’s still incredibly capable of putting the ball in the hoop. He’s also the best passer in Kosciusko County by a wide margin, totalling over 150 assists this season. Described by Tiger coach Matt Moore himself as the engine that made the team go, Gould was a crucial piece to Warsaw’s success in recent years, and figures to be a point guard that will do great things at Taylor University.
Ian Cooksey (Tippecanoe Valley Sr.)
Leading the Valley team that won the first ever Indiana Northern State Conference title in scoring, Cooksey had his best year yet as a senior. Averaging 14.4 points a game, 1.8 steals and 3.7 rebounds, the senior wing was able to score inside the paint and outside the arch, making him a deadly bucket-getter all season long.
Stephen Akase (Tippecanoe Valley Jr.)
Akase, who made the team last year as a sophomore, got even better in his first year as an upperclassman, just nearly missing out on averaging a double-double with 13 points and 8.2 rebounds a night. Couple that with his high efficiency (60% shooting) and great defense around the rim, and you have an extremely talented two-way player. If he keeps improving at this rate, he’ll be a lock for next year’s team as well as a potential challenger for the Player of the Year.
Gage Riffle (Triton Jr.)
One of the top shooters in Kosciusko County, Riffle has the type of shot that you expect to go in every time you see him let one fly. More times than not, they did this season as the junior broke onto the scene, leading the regional champion Trojans in scoring. The junior also played some great defense this season, and was a big part of a unit that gave up the fewest points per game in the state.
Micah Martin (Lakeland Christian Sr.)
One of the top scorers in the county, Martin’s 18.7 points a game were second in the area only to Betten’s 25.4. A good chunk of Martin’s points came from beyond the three point line this season, as he is a tremendous shooter. He was also the unquestioned leader of the Cougars, and was a force to be reckoned with that made his presence known each time he took the court.