The 2019-20 season for the Fishers girls basketball team was a historic one, as the Tigers set a school record for wins and won a sectional title.
Fishers looks primed to make the 2020-21 season successful as well. The Tigers have four of their top six leading scorers back, including senior Katie Burton, who was named as a Junior All-Star last year.
“Graduation of Tamia Perryman and Lydia Stullken will leave a rebounding void, but the Tigers hope to use speed to offset their lack of size,” said Lauren Votaw, who returns for her fourth year as Fishers coach.
The Tigers went 23-2 last season, a mark that includes an undefeated Hoosier Crossroads Conference championship. Fishers then won the Westfield sectional, the second time in program history that the Tigers have claimed a sectional championship.
Burton made news in the off-season for two reasons. First, of course, was her placement on the Junior All-Star team. She also announced her commitment to St. John’s University, a Division I school in New York City that competes in the Big East conference.
The 5-foot-9 Burton averaged 15.4 points per game last season, and was a solid 3-point shooter, making 38 percent of her long-range attempts. She also averaged 4.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game.
Two other seniors are projected starters for Fishers. Audra Emmerson returns 7.2 points, 2.4 assists and 2.2 rebounds per contest. Both the 5-6 Emmerson and Burton are three-year varsity players. Votaw said the two will “look to provide valuable poise and experience to go along with the passion and energy of sophomore twins Hailey and Olivia Smith.”
The Smith twins, both standing 5-9, took to high school basketball right away as freshmen last year. Hailey averaged 7.1 points and 3.4 rebounds per game, in addition to shooting 52 percent from the field. Olivia contributed 4.6 points and 2.3 rebounds per contest.
Also returning is 5-6 senior Katie Howard; she helped out with 3.4 points per game and is a 34 percent 3-point shooter. Votaw called Howard “a very viable 3-point threat.”
Newcomers expected to contribute are 5-8 senior Jordan Imes, 5-9 junior Haley Gausepohl, 5-6 junior Emily Gausepohl, 5-8 junior Kaiya Walker and 5-4 sophomore Karina Scott.
The Tigers begin their season on Tuesday, hosting Warren Central at the Tiger Den in a 7:30 p.m. game.
FISHERS SCHEDULE
Nov. 3: Warren Central, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 7: at Center Grove Classic
– Ben Davis, 10 a.m.
– Center Grove, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 11: at Anderson, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 14: at Hamilton Southeastern Classic
– Columbus East, TBA
– Terre Haute South, TBA
Nov. 20: Westfield, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 24: at Zionsville, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 28: Warsaw, 2:30 p.m.
Dec. 2: at Hamilton Heights, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 5: Bishop Chatard, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 11: Noblesville, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 17: at Pendleton Heights, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 19: at Hamilton Southeastern, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 29: at Evansville Memorial, TBA
Jan. 2: Fort Wayne South Side, 1:30 p.m.
Jan. 6: at New Palestine, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 9: at North Central, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 15: at Brownsburg, 6 p.m.
Jan. 19: at Carmel, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 23: at Avon, 2:30 p.m.
Jan. 26: Lawrence North, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 29: Franklin Central, 6 p.m.