Tigers boys fend off Royals to win Mudsock

By RICHARD TORRES

For The Reporter

FISHERS – For 29 minutes on Friday, Dec. 19, the Hamilton Southeastern defense held Cooper Zachary scoreless.

The same couldn’t be said for the final three.

“They did a very good job of taking me away,” Zachary said. “Once I hit my first shot, I knew we had to win this game, so I had to step up in big ways, and I feel like I did.”

With the Tigers trailing 55-53 in the fourth quarter, Zachary buried his first shot – a 3-pointer – marking the night’s 13^th and last lead change in a back-and-forth Mudsock rivalry installment that wasn’t settled until the final 32 seconds.

“It did not feel good. I’m not going to lie, but, I mean, I released it, and I didn’t think about it. I just shot it. When that happens, it tends to fall,” Zachary remarked on his clutch 3-pointer.

Zachary was shadowed by HSE senior Maverick Young throughout, but his first points initiated a 9-0 run capped by two of the standout’s six converted free throws down the stretch to fend off a potential Royals’ comeback.

“It was a rough night. Obviously, they did a nice job guarding, but we found a way to win. (Cooper) is one of the toughest players I’ve ever coached, and we’ve got to do a better job being able to get him shots when they’re going to guard him like that,” Fishers coach Garrett Winegar said.

“We’ve got to screen better, and that’s something we’re constantly working on, but it’s just taking longer than I’d like to figure it out.”

The Tigers solved the issue after a trio of ties in the second half, including a 46-46 deadlock to start the fourth quarter.

Down 6-0 to start the game and later 16-8 in the first quarter, the Tigers (5-0, 2-0 HCC) converted 10 of 10 free throws in the last 2:09 to push the program’s winning streak against Hoosier Crossroads Conference rival HSE to seven consecutive games.

The Royals (2-3, 1-1 HCC) carried the advantage until Fishers senior Kai McGrew, who finished with a game-high 26 points and eight rebounds, drilled one of his four 3-pointers with 1:31 remaining in the first half to put the Tigers ahead 25-24.

With Fishers trailing 30-28, McGrew struck again with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer that gave the Tigers a 31-30 lead at halftime.

“He gave us a lot of momentum. Kai has been tremendous for us. Obviously, he’s a player that we need, and he’s going out there and showing it every night,” Zachary said. “Whether that’s getting rebounds, dunking or hitting shots, he does everything for us.”

Fishers junior Jason Gardner Jr. poured in 20 points on 7 of 16 shooting with three assists, while Zachary had nine points – all in the fourth quarter – and senior Torey Breland added seven.

“I feel like we are a little bit doubted because we lost six seniors. Everyone’s really writing us off. We’re the No. 1 team in the state, but everyone thinks they can really get us,” Zachary said. “But we know how good we are. We know what we can do, and we’ve got to go out there and prove it.”

After a pair of 3-pointers by HSE senior Luke Weemer and sophomore Varschon Clark cut Fishers’ lead 62-61 with 48 seconds remaining, Zachary and McGrew stepped up and cemented the game from the foul line.

Zachary went 4-for-4 and McGrew hit the game’s final two free throws for a 6-0 run in the last 32 seconds.

Weemer posted a team-high 20 points for HSE, followed by 16 points and eight rebounds by senior Landon Osswald. Clark added 12 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two blocks.

“I do not think we’re playing great, but we’re finding ways to beat good teams. I think HSE is a very good team. I think coach (Bobby) Allen’s an excellent coach. They’re just going through the phase of learning how to win,” said Winegar, who became Fishers’ winningest boys coach with a 113-24 record in six years. “That’s a team that nobody’s going to want to see in the tournament.”