At 28-1, the Fishers High School boys’ basketball team knows what it takes to win games.
Especially, against some of the top talent in Indiana. There were wins over the likes of Kokomo, Hamilton Southeastern, Westfield and Center Grove as the Tigers opened the season with 16 straight wins before suffering the lone loss to Carmel on Jan. 27.
And, there was a win against Ben Davis in the season opener. The same Ben Davis team Fishers will meet Saturday night for the Class 4A state championship. The Class 4A No. 1 Tigers (28-1) will face No. 9 defending state champion Ben Davis (23-5) in a game Fishers coach Garrett Winegar is looking forward to.
“We are extremely proud of this group and their unselfishness and focus throughout our season. To be able to make the State Finals and to give us the opportunity to continue to practice and go to work together, that is the best part. This group loves working and getting better, and we got to do that for two more weeks,” Winegar told Indiana Preps.
Winegar said he knew during fall workouts Fishers had a chance to make a run, pointing to how hard his team was working.
“We knew this fall during workouts, with how hard this group was working that we had a chance to be really good.
“There was an energy and focus in the gym that I haven’t seen many groups have in the fall,” Winegar said.
Fishers has gotten it done this season with nine players getting consistent minutes and the Tigers have had different players step up. For example, in the sectional final, it was Justin Kirby who paced Fishers, coming off the bench to lead the team in scoring, while Jason Gardner Jr. hit senior Parker Perdue with a beautiful pass for the game winning shot.
“Three guys who come off the bench for us. In the regional, it was Nathan Baker off the bench who gave us a spark with his defense, rebounding and energy,” Winegar said.
Leading the team in scoring this season has been senior forward Keenan Garner and junior guard JonAnthony Hall, both of whom were dealing with leg injuries during semi-state. Garner has been pouring in 15.6 points per game, and also leads the Tigers in rebounds and is second in assists. Hall averages 11.3 points.
Senior Taden Metzger has led Fishers in scoring several times in the tournament, including 18 points against Kokomo in the Regional. Freshmen Point Guard Cooper Zachary is the team’s leader in assists and runs the team like a seasoned veteran, according to Winegar. Millen McCartney rounds out the starting lineup and “has a knack for making big shots when we need them,” Winegar said.
While Fishers knocked off Ben Davis in the season opener, Winegar knows this time around it will be a vastly different game, as Ben Davis standout Mark Zachary IV is in the lineup.
Senior KJ Windham, who is headed to Northwestern when his high school career is over, leads Ben Davis with 16.3 points per game, followed by Zackery at 10.3 points per game.
“Ben Davis is an excellent program and they are the defending state champions. They are well coached. They expect to win and know how to win. They are elite in transition, getting to the rim and are one of the best defensive teams we play,” Winegar said.
As for what his message will be to the top ranked Tigers, he said, “Enjoy it. Be you. Play your game. Do your job and do what you have done to make us successful all season long. If everyone does that, we have a chance to be successful.”