By RICHIE HALL
Reporter Sports Editor
Fishers has been re-established for over a decade now, but every once in a while, the Tigers accomplish something for the first time.
On Saturday, the Tigers’ boys basketball team got a first victory over Carmel at the Greyhounds’ Eric Clark Activity Center. Josiah Matthews made a steal with five seconds to go and raced down the court to make an easy layin as time expired. With that, Fishers had the win, 49-47, the only time in the game the Tigers held the lead.
“We hit some shots that went our way tonight, we executed pretty well,” said Tigers coach Matt Moore. “You play to the last possession, anything can happen and Josiah made a great play.”
“After Willie (Jackson) got that nice defensive stop, I looked up at the clock,” said Matthews. “I knew I had enough time to finish at the rim.”
It was a remarkable comeback win for the Tigers. Carmel led 12-0 four minutes into the fourth quarter, with Andrew Jackson scoring eight points, including two 3-pointers, during the run. But Fishers scored the last six points of the period, including baskets off steals by Matthews and Jeremy Szilagyi.
The ‘Hounds worked their way back to a 26-15 lead late in the second quarter before Fishers scored eight unanswered points to cut the Carmel lead to 26-23 at halftime. Willie Jackson started the run by making three consecutive foul shots after being fouled while attempting a 3-pointer. Hicks then added a layin, and Matthews drained a 3.
Fishers tied the game up at 30-30 late in the third after Hicks made a 3-pointer. Carmel worked its way back up to 34-34 by the period’s end, thanks to foul shots by Luke Heady and Jackson.
A 3-pointer by Owens put Carmel up 39-33. Brendhan Russom cut that lead to four with a basket, but two free throws from John Michael Mulloy kept the ‘Hounds ahead 41-35. After that, Fishers ended the game on a 14-6 run. Szilagyi helped out with a pair of 3s.
“He’s a guy that we just need to keep hunting shots,” said Moore. “He’s put in a lot of work. He’s earned the right to take those shots. We got to do a great job of getting him in position to make them and he made a big one there late to give us a chance.”
Matthews finished the game with 15 points, while Szilagyi and Russom each scored 12.
As for Carmel, Mulloy scored 18 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Jackson scored 12 points and Heady made five rebounds.
“We competed,” said ‘Hounds coach Ryan Osborn. “We made some mistakes late. We had two starters out tonight. We’re a little bit banged up in just about every position and ultimately didn’t take care of the ball like we should. When we did take care of the ball, we got shots. We shot at a pretty high percentage. But to have, I think, 16 or 17 turnovers in a game like this puts you on your heels a little bit.”
Fishers is now 2-3 for the season, and travels to Hamilton Southeastern on Friday for the Mudsock game. Carmel is 3-2, and hosts North Central on Friday in a Metropolitan Conference game.
