In a three-day span this week, the Fishers girls basketball team went from thinking it wasn’t going to have a game this week to getting a big win over a tough opponent.
The Tigers found out on Tuesday that Mooresville was willing to come up and to the Tiger Den and play them two days later. Thus, on Thursday night, Fishers got a nice victory over the Pioneers by the score of 71-53, as well as have a Senior Night for its four seniors.
While it meant having to quickly get prepared, Tigers coach Lauren Votaw said the team was excited about getting to play.
“Honestly, you go from thinking you’re not going to have a game, you’re down a game to just excited that somebody’s willing to come play you,” said Votaw. “To then figure out that it’s a quality opponent like Mooresville, who every time is physical and well-coached and disciplined. And we got to celebrate our seniors.”
Although it was a battle in the first half, Fishers was able to outscore Mooresville in each of the four quarters. The Tigers led 12-10 after the first period, with senior Audra Emmerson scoring five points, including a 3-pointer.
Fishers led 30-27 at halftime. Senior Katie Burton added eight points, while Karina Scott made a 3-pointer and a pair of free throws. Freshman Joirdyn Smith came off the bench and drained a 3 as well.
The Class 4A No. 7 Tigers began to slowly take control in the third quarter. Katie Howard, Emmerson and Burton both hit triples during the period. In the last two minutes, the Smith twins took over, scoring three rebound baskets. Hailey Smith had two putbacks and Olivia Smith got one.
“First of all, we came out offensively and executed the first possession, which always helps,” said Votaw. “But we really talked at halftime about how we need to be better defensively. We have to continue to grow each night defensively. Mooresville did a great job. They did a good job of exploiting where we were weak and forcing us to get better and adjust defensively. And I think that finally, our kids down the stretch there in the late third to fourth quarters figured that out a little better.”
Fishers took control in the fourth period, using a 9-0 run that lasted well over three minutes to seal the game. Hailey Smith started the run with a three-point play, then Olivia Smith scored off a steal. Burton finished it up by making four free throws.
Burton was the leading scorer with 21 points, while Emmerson added 14. Both Hailey and Olivia Smith added nine points, with Hailey collecting 11 rebounds. Howard scored eight points, proving the depth of this Tigers team.
“When players feel the confidence from their teammates that they can go in and do that on any given night, that makes it a lot easier for them as players,” said Votaw.
Fishers is 5-1 and travels to Zionsville on Tuesday to begin Hoosier Crossroads Conference play.
FISHERS 71, MOORESVILLE 53
Fishers FG FT TP PF
Audra Emmerson 4-10 4-4 14 1
Katie Howard 3-6 0-0 8 0
Jordan Imes 0-0 0-0 0 1
Hailey Smith 3-5 3-3 9 3
Katie Burton 6-9 8-10 21 3
Karina Scott 1-4 0-0 3 0
Haley Gausepohl 0-0 0-0 0 0
Olivia Smith 4-7 1-2 9 3
Kaiya Walker 0-0 2-2 2 1
Joirdyn Smith 1-1 0-0 3 0
Kate Thomas 0-0 0-0 0 0
Emily Gausepohl 0-1 2-2 2 1
Totals 22-43 20-23 71 13
Score by Quarters
Mooresville 10 17 15 11 – 53
Fishers 12 18 20 21 – 71
Fishers 3-point shooting (7-17) Emmerson 2-5, Howard 2-5, Scott 1-3, Burton 1-3, J. Smith 1-1.
Fishers rebounds (25) H. Smith 11, O. Smith 4, Emmerson 3, Howard 3, Scott 2, Burton 2.