The Fishers girls basketball team found itself on the wrong side of a comeback Thursday night, as Pendleton Heights erased a double-digit deficit to beat the Tigers in overtime, 57-56 at the Tiger Den.
Fishers led 16-4 after the first quarter and 34-22 at halftime. Toni Grace scored nine points in the first period, while Ali Gerka hit a pair of 3-pointers, one in each quarter, on her way to eight points. Kenedi London also scored eight in the first half.
The Arabians trailed 45-35 after three quarters, but outscored the Tigers 17-7 in the fourth to force overtime. Grace made a driving layin to push Fishers in front 54-52 to begin the period, after which Pendleton used free throws to go ahead 55-54.
Grace again stepped up making a basket with 16 seconds left to get the Tigers up 56-55. But a layin by the Arabians’ Lauren Landes with four seconds to go clinched the game.
“Pendleton Heights knows how to win close games,” said Fishers coach Lauren Vail. Thursday’s victory was the fourth one-point win for the Arabians’ this season.
“This is their third win in overtime,” said Vail. “Those kids know how to win down the stretch. They’re resilient. They hit big shots, they hit free throws.”
Grace led the Tigers with 16 points, while Gerka scored 13, totaling three 3-pointers in the game. Kenedi London added eight points.
Fishers is now 7-5, and has no time to dwell on this loss. The Tigers will host Class 4A No. 6 Hamilton Southeastern Saturday in the annual Mudsock game.
“I told our kids, ‘We’re back in the gym tomorrow morning at 6 a.m.,'” said Vail. “We have no option but to regroup. We got a big game coming up on Saturday night and we just got to come in tomorrow morning and get back after it.”
Fishers’ Tamia Perryman takes a shot during the Tigers’ Thursday game with Pendleton Heights at the Tiger Den. (Richie Hall)