(Cooper Zachary and Justin Kirby at the 2024 FORUM Tipoff Class. Picture by James Cocherell)

 

Undefeated Fishers pulled away from Crown Point in the second and third quarters to advance to the 2025 IHSAA boys basketball 4A state final by the score of 73-48. Jason Gardner Jr. slashed his way to 18 points, leading the Tigers. Fishers now has a 43-game winning streak, dating back to last season.

 

Crown Point entered Saturday night's semi-state final at Elkhart as heavy underdogs against No. 1 Fishers. After scoring 16 points in the first half of the morning game against Homestead, the Bulldogs came out swinging to score the first six points of the game. Fishers answered back, but Crown Point showed that it was not going to be a formality. 

 

Junior guard Mason Darrell attacked from the tip to score four of the first six Crown Point points. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, Darrell's aggressiveness led to first-half foul trouble. He had two fouls early in the opening quarter.

 

After recording 21 points and seven rebounds in the morning game, Miami of Ohio signee Justin Kirby came off the bench to give Fishers a boost in the night game. In both games, Kirby looked to get to the basket on every catch, succeeding at a high level.

 

Kirby scored ten first-half points.

 

The game was tied after the first quarter, but Fishers shut down Crown Point in the second. The Bulldogs managed just six points, as Darrell and Dikembe Shaw had two fouls.

 

Fishers had problems passing and handling the ball against Crown Point's size and length. However, when the Tigers took care of the ball, they found an open shot and converted them. Cooper Zachary and Millen McCartney's three-point shooting in the second period propelled Fishers to a nine-point halftime lead.

 

Fishers put its foot down in the third behind two more threes from McCartney, and Gardner finishing around the rim. 

 

Fishers finished nine of 15 from three-point range to notch a 73.4 effective field goal percentage for the game. Any effective field goal percentage over 53 is an excellent mark. 

 

Darrell continued to score well for Crown Point before fouling out. He scored 23 points in only 17 minutes of playing time. The Bulldogs could not get anyone else in an offensive rhythm.

 

Shaw scored ten points on eight shots but struggled with turnovers throughout the game.

 

Fishers tallied 12 steals, with Zachary grabbing five and McCartney three. 

 

Kingston Rhodes started hot for Crown Point but could not find open looks as the game progressed. 

 

Gardner led Fishers with 18 points, five assists, and three rebounds.

 

Kirby had 16 points and six rebounds in the win, and McCartney added 14.

 

Zachary finished with nine points, seven assists, five steals, and four rebounds.

 

JonAnthony Hall, limited by early fouls, had seven points, three rebounds, and two steals.

 

Fishers looks to complete its undefeated season against Jeffersonville on March 29 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.