By CRAIG ADKINS
For The Reporter
NOBLESVILLE – Friday night’s second semifinal at Class 4A Sectional 8 ended up a closer outcome than the first game. The No. 1 Fishers Tigers and Hamilton Southeastern Royals duked it out once again in the postseason.
The Tigers found ways late in the game to make moves to outlast the Royals to move on to tonight’s title game, 54-44.
The top three ranked teams in Class 4A are in the Sectional 8 field and that becomes a motivational factor.
“We heard all week it was 1-2-3 and I think we were kind of an afterthought,” said Hamilton Southeastern head coach John Ashworth.” Our kids were pretty motivated by that and wanted to make sure that people respect our program as well.”
It would be HSE that jumped out first. After Keenan Garner tied it 2-2, the Royals got four straight from Braeden Totton to make it 6-2.
The Tigers went on a 13-4 run to end the first to lead 15-10.
It would be a game of runs and Fishers knew that it would take everything the Tigers had to outlast HSE to get the win.
The first half was tight, which left little room for error. Fishers held a narrow lead at halftime of 26-23.
Fishers coach Garrett Winegar calls out directions to his team. (Joshua Herd)
“This is how the game always is in a lot of sports,” said Fishers head coach Garrett Winegar. “It was really about maintaining our composure through runs. We didn’t expect it to be a big blowout or anything,” Winegar continued.
The pace was patient and methodical for both teams in the third. Southeastern would tie it 33-33 for the second time of the game.
Justin Kirby dropped in a layup to account for the score at the end of the third, 35-34.
HSE was down early in the fourth 37-36, but that just fueled Fishers to get more aggressive down the stretch.
“I thought we battled. It was an up-and-down game and we figured out ways to stay in it. They just made a few plays in the middle of the fourth quarter that extended their lead and that was the game,” Ashworth stated.
“We knew it would be a close game. So, we just maintained our composure throughout. When they made runs, we made runs. With a crowd like this, whoever can get back to level the fastest, we felt would have an advantage,” continued Winegar.
Slowly, but surely, the Tigers were able to lengthen their lead and keep the Royals at enough of a distance.
In the final minutes, it became a free throw game. Fishers would keep the lead above three, but wound up a double-digit victor, 54-44.
Rebounding became a big factor that helped Fishers secure the semifinal win.
“I think Keenan (Garner) had 15 rebounds. I thought he really dominated on the glass and that was a big focus,” stated Winegar.
Hamilton Southeastern finishes its season at 15-10. The Royals were led by Donovan Hamilton’s 15 and 10 from Totton. Michael Griffith also added eight before fouling out.
The Tigers were paced by a balanced attack. Kirby led with 12 off of the bench. Garner had 10 to go with great defense and rebounding. Cooper Zachary (9), JonAnthony Hall (8) and Millen McCartney (6) were all pivotal in helping stave off the Royals.
Fishers (24-1) will now play second-ranked Noblesville (22-2) for the Class 4A Sectional 8 championship tonight at 7 p.m.
FISHERS 54, HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN 44
Southeastern FG FT TP PF
Donovan Hamilton 6 1-2 15 1
Nathaniel Orr 1 0-0 2 2
Braeden Totten 3 4-4 10 1
Michael Griffith 4 0-0 8 5
Kameron Anthony 2 0-1 4 4
Jack Jacobs 0 0-0 0 0
Deion Miles 2 1-2 5 3
Maverick Young 0 0-0 0 1
Lucas Weemer 0 0-0 0 0
Kian Kelly 0 0-0 0 0
Totals 18 6-9 44 17
Southeastern 3-pointers (2) Hamilton 2.
Fishers FG FT TP PF
Taden Metzger 1 0-0 3 0
Millen McCartney 2 0-0 6 0
Cooper Zachary 3 0-2 9 3
JonAnthony Hall 4 2-4 10 1
Keenan Garner 2 4-8 8 2
Justin Kirby 5 1-3 12 0
Parker Perdue 0 2-2 2 0
Nathan Baker 1 2-2 4 1
Jason Gardner Jr. 0 0-0 0 0
Bryson Seymour 0 0-0 0 0
Logan Sigler 0 0-0 0 0
Totals 18 11-21 54 7
Fishers 3-pointers (7) Zachary 3, McCartney 2, Metzger, Kirby.
Score by Quarters
Southeastern 10 13 11 10 – 44
Fishers 15 11 9 19 – 54