Fishers beat Hamilton Heights 41-33 in a hard-fought, all-county game Wednesday at the Tiger Den.
The Class 4A No. 5 Tigers led 10-6 after the first quarter, with Audra Emmerson scoring five of Fishers’ points. Freshman Olivia Smith stepped up in the second period, adding another five points and helping the Tigers to a 23-12 halftime lead. Meanwhile, the Huskies’ Bayleigh Runner hit a 3-pointer in each of the first two quarters.
The third period was a low-scoring one, but Fishers was still in front, 31-19, at the end of that quarter. Emmerson added two more 3s, while Runner scored five points. The Huskies made a run in the fourth period, at one point getting the lead below five. But the Tigers finished the game solidly from the free-throw line, making 10 of 14 attempts.
“The free-throw line was our friend,” said Fishers coach Lauren Votaw. She was happy with the win, and “especially a win in that fashion,“ she said.
“Hamilton Heights did a great job,” said Votaw. “They had an excellent game plan coming in and Runner was who she is. The kid’s phenomenal. She was big-time when they needed her to be big-time and other kids hit shots.”
Emmerson led the Tigers with 17 points, including three 3-pointers.
“She worked really hard in the off-season, especially on that 3-point shot,” said Votaw. “I thought she was very steady tonight, consistency. She kept her cool under pressure and also was shooting it really well.”
Katie Burton had seven rebounds to go with her six points.
Runner drained five 3-pointers, finishing with 19 points. She also collected six rebounds. Jillian Osswald added seven points, and she and MyKayla Moran both pulled three rebounds.
“I’m super proud of our locker room, super proud of our girls,” said Heights coach Keegan Cherry.
We had a game plan coming in and I thought we executed that really well. We’re in position to win the ball game late.”
The coach was also pleased that his team limited its turnovers, with only eight for the game.
“Our guard play was fantastic in controlling turnovers,” said Cherry.
Fishers is still perfect at 10-0 for the season and will play Saturday afternoon at Bishop Chatard. The Huskies are 4-4 and host Norwell, also on Saturday afternoon.
FISHERS 41, HAMILTON HEIGHTS 33
Heights FG FT TP PF
Jillian Osswald 2-13 2-4 7 1
Bayleigh Runner 6-9 2-5 19 4
Payton Dissett 1-4 0-0 3 3
Sydney Runyan 0-2 0-0 0 2
MyKayla Moran 2-5 0-0 4 3
Chloe Henderson 0-0 0-0 0 2
Kaylee Rhoton 0-0 0-0 0 4
Hailey Champion 0-0 0-0 0 0
Totals 11-33 4-9 33 19
Heights 3-point shooting (7-16) Runner 5-5, Osswald 1-6, Dissett 1-3, Runyan 0-1, Moran 0-1.
Heights rebounds (16) Runner 6, Osswald 3, Moran 3, Dissett 2, Runyan 2.
Fishers FG FT TP PF
Audra Emmerson 4-8 6-9 17 1
Kaitlyn Feagan 1-4 0-0 3 0
Tamia Perryman 1-4 1-3 3 2
Lydia Stullken 2-4 1-2 5 2
Katie Burton 1-8 4-4 6 2
Katie Howard 0-3 0-0 0 0
Hailey Smith 0-1 2-2 2 1
Olivia Smith 2-3 1-1 5 3
Totals 11-35 15-21 41 11
Fishers 3-point shooting (4-16) Emmerson 3-5, Feagan 1-4, Howard 0-3, Burton 0-3, H. Smith 0-1.
Fishers rebounds (21) Burton 7, Stullken 4, Feagan 2, Howard 2, H. Smith 2, O. Smith 2, Emmerson 1, Perryman 1.
Score by Quarters
Heights 6 6 7 14 – 33
Fishers 10 13 8 10 – 41
Fishers’ Tamia Perryman (22) and Audra Emmerson (5) guard Hamilton Heights’ Jillian Osswald during the Tigers-Huskies game Wednesday night at the Tiger Den. Fishers won 41-33. (Richie Hall)