Tigers like to run, and the Fishers boys basketball team ran its way to a Friday night win.
The Tigers beat Avon 62-53 in a Hoosier Crossroads Conference game at the Tiger Den. It was Military Appreciation Night, and the Fishers team wore special uniforms honoring the Indiana National Guard.
The Orioles kept close with the Tigers early, until Fishers broke away in the later stages of the first quarter for a 15-9 lead. Alex Szilagyi scored seven points, with Jeffrey Simmons adding six. The Tigers then jumped ahead 30-18 by halftime, with Josiah Matthews scoring five.
In the second half, Fishers led from anywhere between nine and 18 points. Avon made some mini-runs throughout the half, but the Tigers were always able to respond with a big baskets or free throws when they needed them.
“We spent a lot of time this week defensively trying to focus on what we need to do to get better, just in terms of guarding the ball, being in help-side, being in gaps,” said Fishers coach Matt Moore. “I thought our coaches did a great job of being consistent weekly in practice about what we were going to expect tonight. I thought our guys for the most part did a good job through the first three quarters of living inside of that. They made their runs, but I think we made some good individual adjustments in terms of how we’re guarding. When we get stops, we can score in transition. We didn’t score at a high rate tonight, but we get stops and we can push the ball down the floor, we’re going to get easy buckets.”
Fishers had balanced scoring, with four players in double figures. Matthews and Simmons led the way with 14 points; Simmons went 6-of-6 from the free throw line, while Matthews made a pair of 3-pointers.
Szilagyi added 11 points, while Willie Jackson scored 10.
The Tigers are 3-1 in the conference and 11-5 overall. Fishers is now off until next Saturday, Jan. 26, when it hosts Franklin Central in another HCC contest.
Fishers 62, Avon 53
Fishers FG FT TP PF
Josiah Matthews 6 0-0 14 2
Willie Jackson 4 2-3 10 4
Alex Szilagyi 5 0-0 11 2
Terry Hicks 2 0-0 4 0
Jeffrey Simmons 4 6-6 14 2
Emmanuel Davis 0 0-1 0 2
Luke Hernandez 0 0-0 0 0
Dominic Castellani 0 0-0 0 0
Justin Long 4 0-0 8 0
Zach Webb 0 0-0 0 1
Julian Hazel 0 0-0 0 1
Roman Molden 0 1-2 1 0
Totals 25 9-12 62 14
Score by Quarters
Avon 9 9 17 18 – 53
Fishers 15 15 21 11 – 62
Fishers 3-pointers (3) Matthews 2, Szilagyi 1.
Fishers’ Terry Hicks (32) directs the offense during the Tigers’ game with Avon Friday at the Tiger Den. Fishers beat the Orioles 62-53. Also pictured for the Tigers is Jeffrey Simmons (33). (Richie Hall)