The REPORTER
By playing Tiger tough, Fishers is in the state finals.
The Class 4A No. 1 Tigers triumphed in the Class 4A north boys basketball semi-state last Saturday, which took place at the Elkhart North Side Gymnasium. Fishers played two of northern Indiana’s best, beating Crown Point 48-37 in the semifinals and defeating Fort Wayne Wayne 69-61 in the championship game.
This is the Tigers’ first boys basketball appearance at state since the school was re-established in 2006. The original Fishers qualified for state in 1922.
“I’m just extremely happy for our players,” said Tigers coach Garrett Winegar. “They’ve worked so hard. They’ve been such a joy to coach. I’m happy for so many great people that I get to work for and with at Fishers for them to experience it. I’m just really grateful to be along for the ride and experience this with the Fishers community.”
Strong start
The Tigers got off to a strong start in their semifinal game. The Bulldogs scored the first four points of the game, but Fishers responded with a 27-8 spurt that lasted well into the second period. JonAnthony Hall made a 3-pointer to give the Tigers an 8-6 lead and they never trailed again. Taden Metzger had five points in the first quarter, which ended with Fishers up 15-7.
That lead continued to increase throughout the second quarter. Freshmen Cooper Zachary and Jason Gardner Jr. both hit 3s during that period, then layins by Metzger and Hall gave the Tigers a 27-12 advantage. Crown Point cut into that lead to finish the period, but Fishers was ahead 27-19 at the break.
The game slowed down in the third quarter, but the Tigers stayed on top, leading 35-26 going into the fourth. Keenan Garner stepped up with six points in the period, including a dunk in the final minute.
The Bulldogs didn’t go away, getting within 40-35 with three minutes left. But Metzger nailed a 3 late in the quarter – “a huge 3,” said Winegar – and free throws from Metzger and Zachary finished things up.
Metzger led the way with 15 points.
Perfect balance
Fishers has had incredible scoring balance throughout the season, and that manifested itself again in the Tigers’ championship game with Wayne. The Generals gave Fishers a tough battle in the first half before the Tigers pulled away in the second half.
Fishers led 16-15 after one quarter, with seven different players scoring. Garner became the eighth Tiger to score when he made a free throw to start the second quarter.
“Credit to our guys,” said Winegar. “Different matchups call for different guys playing more.”
Winegar said his team believes in each other, calling the players unselfish. “They really don’t care who gets the credit, they just want to win,” he said.
Wayne held the lead for the majority of the second quarter, going up by four on three different occasions. Fishers came back to tie the game at 36-36 by halftime, with Zachary scoring seven points, including a 3. Gardner Jr. followed that triple with a layin.
“The growth in those guys is what they were able to do on the defensive end,” said Winegar.
The Tigers opened the second half with a 10-0 run. Garner scored the first four points, JonAnthony Hall was good on a three-point play and Millen McCartney hit a triple.
After that, Fishers kept its lead around 10 points for the remainder of the game. Garner took over, scoring 11 points in the half. Free throws also helped in the fourth quarter; the Tigers were 10-of-12 as a team, with Gardner Jr. making all four of his. The freshman was 6-of-6 for the game.
Garner finished with 16 points, while Zachary and Hall both scored 11.
Fishers is 28-1 and plays No. 8 Ben Davis for the Class 4A state championship Saturday, March 30 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
SEMIFINAL GAME
FISHERS 48, CROWN POINT 37
Fishers FG FT TP PF
Taden Metzger 5 3-4 15 2
Millen McCartney 2 0-0 4 1
Cooper Zachary 1 2-2 5 0
JonAnthony Hall 3 0-0 7 3
Keenan Garner 4 0-0 8 3
Jason Gardner Jr. 2 2-4 7 3
Justin Kirby 1 0-0 2 0
Parker Perdue 0 0-2 0 0
Nathan Baker 0 0-0 0 0
Bryson Seymour 0 0-0 0 0
Logan Sigler 0 0-0 0 0
Torey Breland 0 0-0 0 0
Totals 18 7-12 48 12
Score by Quarters
Crown Point 7 12 7 11 – 37
Fishers 15 12 8 13 – 48
Fishers 3-pointers (5) Metzger 2, Zachary, Gardner Jr., Hall.
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
FISHERS 69, FORT WAYNE WAYNE 61
Fishers FG FT TP PF
Taden Metzger 2 0-0 6 1
Millen McCartney 2 0-0 6 1
Cooper Zachary 4 2-2 11 1
JonAnthony Hall 4 3-3 11 4
Keenan Garner 6 3-6 16 4
Jason Gardner Jr. 1 6-6 8 0
Justin Kirby 2 4-5 8 2
Parker Perdue 0 0-0 0 0
Nathan Baker 1 1-2 3 2
Totals 22 19-24 69 15
Score by Quarters
FW Wayne 15 21 9 16 – 61
Fishers 16 20 15 18 – 69
Fishers 3-pointers (6) Metzger 2, McCartney 2, Zachary, Garner.