Fishers 64, Lawrence Central 61
Category: 2015-2016 High School Written by Jeff Schoenle
In a game featuring two teams with plenty of experience, a freshman delivered a strong performance Tuesday night in Fishers, as the Tigers knocked off 4A #7 Lawrence Central.
From the get go, the pace of the game picked up as each team looked to attack quickly on offense. Fishers looked early and often to establish UMass-Lowell signee Cameron Wolter inside, repeatedly feeding him in the first couple minutes. The 6'7" senior would respond with four early points on a pair of nifty post moves.
Lance Dollison came out aggressive as well, refusing to settle for jumper as he maneuvered his way to the basket. The two seniors combined for ten points in the first quarter.
Fishers would maintain the lead throughout the second quarter thanks to the play of Willie Jackson, a 5'10" freshman guard. Jackson used his quickness to score at the rim and draw fouls, where he converted seven of eight on the night. Each time Lawrence Central tried to pressure Jackson, he would find a way to navigate out of trouble.
After halftime, Fishers would come out in a box and one with Caleb Reitz shadowing Kyle Guy everywhere he went. The few times Guy was able to catch the ball, Reitz was there with another defender behind him ready to help.
Lawrence Central had to look elsewhere for scoring, and that came in the form of Tyrelle Walker. The athletic forward generated five steals on the night, and was a big factor in keeping the score close.
Cam Wolter would make sure that Fishers would hold the lead going into the fourth, as he went on a personal 6-0 run, capped by a 19 foot jumper, towards the end of the quarter.
The two sides would trade baskets at the beginning of the quarter, and Fishers would still hold an eight point lead with four minutes to go. From there, Lawrence Central would slowly claw their way back. Tyrelle Walker hit a three pointer, then Mekhi Biffle would work free in the lane for two. A Kyle Guy three pointer would cut the deficit to four with two and a half minutes left.
The game would be tied following a Tyrelle Walker steal and breakaway dunk, but he would foul out a few seconds later trying to generate a steal off of Zach Eaton. Eaton would miss both free throws however, giving the Bears a chance to take the lead. They would fail to score, and Willie Jackson would give Fishers the lead on a pair of free throws with just under a minute remaining.
Kyle Guy would even the score after hitting a spinning fadeaway on the baseline, but Fishers came right back inside to Cam Wolter, who scored to retake the lead. Mekhi Biffle would be fouled and get a chance to tie the game, but after hitting the first free throw his second attempt rattled out and fell to Andre Small.
Small would make both of his shots at the line, and Biffle would miss a three pointer to tie. The ball would be knocked out of bounds off of Fishers, but with only 0.1 on the clock. Lawrence Central could not get a shot off, giving Fishers a hard fought win.
Lawrence Central 9 14 15 23 - 61
Fishers 15 12 18 19 - 64
Lawrence Central: Kyle Guy 19 points (6/13 FGs, 3/7 3Ps); Tyrelle Walker 15 points (6/8 FGs), 5 rbs, 5 stls; Mekhi Biffle 11 pts, 5 asts; Daveon Bell 6 points (3/4 FGs); Ben Resner 6 points; Nash Griffin 2 points; KJ Davis 2 points
Fishers: Lance Dollison 20 points (8/12 FGs, 4/5 FTs), 3 stls; Cam Wolter 18 points (8/14 FGs), 9 points; Willie Jackson 15 points (4/4 FGs, 7/8 FTs); Caleb Reitz 5 points; Andre Small 2 points; Jamil Turner-Hall 2 points; Connor Washburn 2 points; Zach Eaton 4 asts