The Fishers girls basketball team took on a tough New Palestine team Wednesday at the Tiger Den, and held off the Dragons 56-50.
New Pal gave Class 4A No. 4 Fishers a good battle, but a fourth quarter run got the Tigers out of trouble and kept them undefeated for the season at 16-0.
“We have talked about the fact that we are going to get everybody’s best game,” said Fishers coach Lauren Votaw. “We’re going to get everybody’s best game plan, we’re going to get their best game when they face us.”
“What we’re getting out of it is hopefully learning where we still need to get better,” said Votaw. “We talk a lot about ‘Good, better, best. Never let it rest until your good is your better and your better is your best.’”
The Dragons led the Tigers 13-10 after the first quarter, but a 20-point second period put Fishers ahead 30-28 at halftime. Katie Howard helped out with three 3-pointers in the first half.
New Palestine held a 40-38 lead after three quarters. The game remained close until midway through the fourth, when Fishers went on a 7-0 run to take a 51-43 lead. Audra Emmerson hit a 3-pointer, Olivia Smith made a layin and Katie Burton hit two free throws. While New Pal continued to fight until the end, the late run gave the Tigers the separation they needed.
Burton led Fishers with 16 points, while Emmerson scored 10.
Votaw said one thing the Tigers take from these close games is confidence. “We found a way,” she said.
Fishers will host North Central, which is tied for 10th in the 4A rankings, on Saturday.
FISHERS 56, NEW PALESTINE 50
Fishers FG FT TP PF
Audra Emmerson 2 4-6 10 3
Kaitlynn Feagan 1 0-1 2 3
Tamia Perryman 2 2-5 6 3
Lydia Stullken 1 0-0 2 4
Katie Burton 6 3-5 16 3
Katie Howard 3 0-0 9 0
Hailey Smith 3 1-1 7 0
Olivia Smith 2 0-0 4 2
Charlotte Gaffin 0 0-0 0 0
Totals 20 10-18 56 18
Score by Quarters
New Palestine 13 15 12 10 – 50
Fishers 10 20 8 18 – 56
Fishers 3-pointers (6) Howard 3, Emmerson 2, Burton 1.