(Jalen Haralson via the IndyStar)

 

In another top ten 4A match-up, Fishers traveled to Fort Wayne to play Homestead as a part of the Homestead-Carroll Classic. Fishers played without Bryce Williams and Sean Millsaps, while Homestead missed Andrew Leeper.

 

Fishers executed well on the offensive end to start. The Tigers, led by Jeff Simmons and Charlie Smith, made six of their first eight shots of the game. Defensively, Fishers locked up Purdue signee Fletcher Loyer early on. He was only two of seven from the field in the first quarter. Behind that defense, Fishers took a 12-10 lead to the second period.

 

Fishers continued to push Loyer into tough shots in the second quarter, but the senior guard responded by finding Tucker Day for open layups a couple of times. 

 

Smith and Simmons were the go-to scorers all half for Fishers. The senior tandem scored 15 of Fishers' 23 first-half points. With Andrew Leeper out, Simmons maintained a steady advantage over the Homestead frontcourt.

 

Grady Swing buried a top-of-the-key three late in the first half to tie the game. Then, despite the hounding defensive attention, Loyer made two free throws with under 30 seconds left in half to put Homestead ahead 25-23. He tallied nine first-half points. 

 

To open the second half, Swing scored going to the bucket to stretch Homestead's lead to 27-23. However, Simmons answered right back on the other end, and it was a sign of things to come for the Miami of Ohio football signee. Simmons scored nine points as he dominated going to the basket and drawing fouls. 

 

Leading by four in the final third-quarter seconds, Aiden Zimmer took a pass from Josh Forbes to knock down a corner three-pointer just before the buzzer. Then, to begin the fourth, Smith hit a cutting Jalen Haralson for an easy basket. Fishers suddenly held a nine-point lead.

 

Homestead did not lie down after the Fishers spurt. Loyer scored twice, and Grant Leeper converted a putback on a Loyer miss to put the Spartans right back in the game. 

 

Both teams went cold in the middle of the fourth before Loyer scored with  90 seconds left to pull Homestead within 45-44. The steady duo of Smith and Simmons immediately answered as Simmons finished a feed from Smith. 

 

After a wild sequence of turnovers, Fishers fouled Swing with under 30 seconds to play in the game. He made two free throws to cut Fishers' lead to 47-46. 

 

Haralson, a star freshman, made both free throws on the other end to push the Tiger lead back to three points.

 

Down three, Loyer attacked the basket and drew a foul. He made both to pull within one point.

 

Smith made the first freebie before missing the second with the clock nearing its end. Loyer grabbed the defensive rebound with Homestead trailing by two and 12 seconds on the clock. 

 

It was not Loyer's day as he missed a pull-up three before corralling his miss, but his elbow jumper was also off the mark as the buzzer sounded.

 

Fishers won 50-48.

 

Simmons led Fishers with 17 points and six rebounds. Smith ended with 12 points, five rebounds, and four assists, while Haralson recorded 12 points. 

 

Loyer had a game-high 18 points but on 6-24 shooting. He also tallied six rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Ifeanyi Ezeakudo came off the bench for significant minutes and eight points. Swing added seven points.