Fishers girls get big wins at Huntington North semi-state
By RICHIE HALL
sports@readthereporter.com
HUNTINGTON – The Fishers girls basketball team is headed to state for the first time in school history.
The Tigers punched their ticket to the Class 4A state title game with big wins at the Huntington North semi-state last Saturday. Fishers beat Fort Wayne Snider in the morning semi-final 67-66, then powered past Lake Central in the championship with a superb defensive effort, 41-24.
The Tigers will play Bedford North Lawrence in the 4A championship Saturday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, with tip off scheduled for 8:15 p.m.
FAST-PACED DEFENSE
The Fishers-Snider game was played at a fast pace throughout. It was also more of a defensive game then the score indicated, as both teams were aggressive on defense, constantly forcing turnovers and stepping into passing lanes to create steals and deflections.
“That’s why we condition,” said Tigers coach Lauren Votaw. “That’s why we work so hard, so that when games are like that, we can handle it. I was really proud of them, because it was fast-paced for a while and they hung in there.”
The Panthers led for the majority of the first half, going up 10-4 midway through the first quarter, then leading 13-7 with 1:09 left in the period after Ciara Sims made a three-point play. Joirdyn Smith answered that with a 3-pointer. Sims made a layin with under a minute left, then Alycia Triplett hit two free throws to keep Fishers within 15-12 going into the second quarter.
A layin by Hailey Smith gave the Tigers an 18-17 lead, but Jordyn Poole scored two quick points from a layin, then another basket off a steal. Poole made a late steal that turned into a basket for Zy’Ann Phinezy, and Snider had its largest lead at 29-22. Olivia Smith scored a last-second basket to make the halftime score 29-24.
Joirdyn Smith opened the second half with five straight points, a floater and a triple, and the game was tied at 29-29. The two teams traded the lead for the next minute, but a 6-0 run put Fishers up 38-33. Hailey Smith made back-to-back layins, and the Tigers never trailed again.
“I think that we really focused on going into attack mode against their press,” said Votaw. “I think in the first half we were being passive and really settling for that cross-court path that Poole kept picking off. And so, then at halftime we talked about, ‘Why not you? Why not you attack?’ We did that, and I think that put us back into our more aggressive mentality.”
In fact, Fishers added to its lead, going up 46-38 with another 6-0 stretch. Poole’s basket finished the third quarter and got the Panthers within 46-40, then two putbacks by Tia Phinezy cut the lead to 46-44. But the Tigers used their balance to control most the fourth period.
Fishers led by 10 twice during the quarter: Olivia Smith’s layin gave the Tigers a 62-52 lead, then Talia Harris made two free throws with 1:19 left, and Fishers held a 64-54 advantage. The Panthers finished the game with a 12-3 run, but the Tigers were able to hold on.
Hailey Smith scored 15 points for Fishers, followed by Joirdyn Smith with 12 and Olivia Smith with 10. Harris had nine points, then Triplett and Thomas both scored eight. Thomas played a good game, making several tough plays.
“She was phenomenal,” said Votaw. “Kate does the little things on and off the court, and tonight that really showed through.”
Allison Scheu completed the scoring with five points.
Fishers’ Kate Thomas (right) had solid games for the Tigers during the semi-state. Also pictured is Olivia Smith (31), who scored 10 points in Fishers’ win over Snider. (Kent Graham)
FINAL SURPRISE
Fishers met up with a surprising Lake Central team in the championship game. The Indians upset South Bend Washington in the second semi-final game by the score of 62-57. The Panthers were the unquestioned No. 1 team in Class 4A and were unbeaten coming into the semi-state at 26-0.
The Tigers were in control of the game from the start, leading 12-6 after one quarter with five different players scoring. Fishers dominated the second period, not allowing Lake Central any points in the quarter. The Tigers scored 10 points in that period, including seven from Hailey Smith, and thus led 22-6 at halftime.
In the second half, Fishers maintained its advantage. The Tigers led 32-17 after three quarters, then outscored the Indians 9-7 in the fourth. Eight different Fishers players scored, with Hailey Smith contributing 13 points.
Harris had seven points, followed by Joirdyn Smith and Triplett with six each. Olivia Smith added four, Thomas and Scheu each scored two, and Morgan Roberts made a fourth-quarter free throw.
The Tigers are 26-2, extending their record for most wins in a season.
Reporter photos by Kent Graham