In a battle of unbeatens, Fishers overcame a five point halftime deficit to hang out and defeat 2A #2 Shenandoah at home Friday night. The Tigers were playing without senior guard Alex Szilagyi, who came in averaging just under 20 points per game.

Shenandoah led for most of the first half despite leading scorer Andrew Bennett picking up a pair of fouls in the first quarter. The Raiders were able to hold Fishers at bay thanks to timely offense from Bennett, who hit a pair of threes in the second quarter, and Kaden McCullough, who scored a dozen in the first half.

 

Fishers got going out of the locker room thanks to increased defensive pressure in the third quarter. Shenandoah often struggled to find easy passes and open shot attempts, especially at the rim, as the bigger Fishers front line contested anything in the lane. The Tigers also got sophomore forward Jeff Simmons going, as he would hit his final seven field goal attempts after misfiring on his first three shots of the night.

 

A five point deficit at half would turn into a three point lead for Fishers heading into the final period. Andrew Bennett would try to carry Shenandoah’s comeback hopes, as he willed his way to the free throw line, making four in a row at one point. 

 

Jeff Simmons and Charlie Smith would convert at the line for Fishers to maintain their lead. Bennett would miss at the line, but the offensive rebound would come to Jakeb Kinsey, whose triple with 20 seconds left would cut their deficit to a single point. That’s as close as the Raiders would get, as a late turnover and rushed shot attempt inside the final 10 seconds would seal their fate.

 

 

Shenandoah   9  16  10  13  -  48

Fishers            8  12  18  12  -  50

 

Shenandoah; Kaden McCullough 20 points (8/12 FGs, 3/4 3Ps, 1/1 FTs); Andrew Bennett 11 points (2/8 FGs, 2/4 3Ps, 5/7 FTs), 4 asts; Jakeb Kinsey 8 points (2/7 FGs, 1/2 3Ps, 3/4 FTs); Kameron Graddy 8 points; Jackson Campbell 1 point (0/4 FGs, 1/2 FTs), 8 rebs

 

Fishers: Jeff Simmons 16 points (7/10 FGs, 2/5 FTs), 8 rebs, 2 stls, 2 blks; Charlie Smith 16 points (6/10 FGs, 1/1 3Ps, 3/4 FTs), 4 asts; Justin Long 7 points (3/6 FGs, 1/4 FTs), 3 asts; Isaac Farah 7 points (3/9 FGs, 1/3 3Ps); Geoffrey Brown 2 points; Drew Turner 2 points