State Finals Preview: Class 4A

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><em>The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='203662' first='Karina' last='Scott'] (2023) of Fishers High School.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And here we are...it's the end of the road for the eight teams remaining in the IHSAA state tournament, with the four finals games just hours away. I went back and looked at the preseason articles I put together identifying a Top-10 team list for each classification, along with a short list of other teams to "keep an eye on". Of the eight state finalists, six were ranked in those Top-10s, five in the Top-3 of their respective classes, and the other two schools were among the "keep an eye on" teams. In Class 4A, Fishers began the season as our #2 team heading into the season, while Bedford North Lawrence was #3. They both fell behind only South Bend Washington. So, to see both of these teams at this point is not a huge shock.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="#FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">Fishers (26-2) vs. Bedford North Lawrence (26-3)</font></strong><br><em>approximately 8:15 p.m. ET, Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Fishers:</strong> The Lady Tigers arrive here following a Saturday in which they handled their business against both Fort Wayne Snider and Lake Central. The Snider game came down to the end, with the Tigers winning, 67-66. Lake Central, however, finished with a 41-24 margin and felt wider than that at times. The Tigers have now won 20 games in a row against one of the toughest schedules in the state, but they have never faced Bedford North Lawrence at any point in the school's existence (<em>the school has only had IHSAA eligible teams since the 2006-2007 season</em>). This group is specifically known for their in-your-face pressure defense, their plethora of talented guards, and their ability to really put the clamps down and limit opponents to tough shots possession after possession. As this season has worn on, they have played with greater patience offensively, and they are working for much easier baskets around the paint. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='59775' first='Hailey' last='Smith'] and twin sister [player_tooltip player_id='59776' first='Olivia' last='Smith'] have quite the reputation for their defensive prowess, and they are equally effective attacking the basket. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='176168' first='Talia' last='Harris'] looks much stronger this season, has handled the ball well, and has made some big shots this postseason. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='177355' first='Joirdyn' last='Smith'] is kind of their perimeter shooting weapon, finding open space on the wings and in the long corners. Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='148149' first='Alycia' last='Triplett'] and Junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='372346' first='Kate' last='Thomas'] provide a little size up front, plus they both work hard and defend, rebound, and take advantage of easy opportunities and "scraps" baskets. The Tigers are deeper than that, and they just keep coming. They are battle-tested and will be ready for Saturday's nightcap.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bedford North Lawrence:</strong> The Lady Stars are a model of success. Over the past 12 seasons, they have won 12 Sectional titles, 5 Regional titles, 3 Semi-State titles, and 2 State titles. They have posted 21 wins or more in 11 of those 12 seasons, with the "off" year being 19 wins. They have flexed their muscle in the South and been the dominant team in Class 4A South of Indianapolis for quite some time. They are currently on a 12-game winning streak, with their last loss coming December 29th in double overtime to Noblesville. In fact, Noblesville has handed them two of their three losses, and the Millers took Fishers to double overtime in the Sectional #8 Semi-Final. Bedford is much more reliant upon their starting unit to play big minutes and produce a lot more. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='59766' first='Karsyn' last='Norman'] and Junior [player_tooltip player_id='176409' first='Chloe' last='Spreen'] lead the way for the Stars. Norman is a traditional lead guard who commands an offense. She plays with her head up scanning the floor, she finds open teammates, but she also does a nice job of knocking down shots, and with some range. Spreen is highly skilled as well, she can handle the ball and create offense, but she's much better as a smooth wing scorer who plays at a high level. She can attack or shoot it outside, plus she's an effortful defender. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='574554' first='Mallory' last='Pride'] has really stepped up in her final season. She has length, a wiry-strong frame, and she has North/South speed. She does a nice job of getting downhill, but she can also play in the mid-post, and she'll aggressively rebound inside. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='177308' first='Madisyn' last='Bailey'] adds the element of another ball-handler, she possesses good strength and physicality, and she does a lot of the "little things" that don't necessarily show up on the stat sheet.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> This is shaping up to be a fantastic game, possibly the best of the four tomorrow. Fishers will bring the pressure, and Bedford is about as capable as anyone to handle it. I think Bedford will need to stay out of foul trouble, fight through fatigue a little more, plus they rely on making more jump-shots down the stretch than Fishers does. At times this postseason, Fishers has been more of a second half team, and they are more than capable of sustaining their energy for 32 minutes. My gut tells me this game will see the Stars take an early lead, possibly by as much as six points. But after halftime, the Tigers will claw back, exchange leads multiple times late in the third quarter and early in the fourth quarter, but the Tigers will take control over the last four or five minutes, ultimately outlasting Bedford. This game can legitimately go either way and no one should be surprised if either team wins, but I will take Fishers over Bedford North Lawrence, 53-46.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch:</strong><br>Bedford N. Lawrence - [player_tooltip player_id='176409' first='Chloe' last='Spreen'], 2024 - 19.0p, 5.4r, 3.3a, 2.7s<br>Bedford N. Lawrence - [player_tooltip player_id='59766' first='Karsyn' last='Norman'], 2023 - 16.0p, 4.2r, 4.2a, 2.4s<br>Bedford N. Lawrence - [player_tooltip player_id='574554' first='Mallory' last='Pride'], 2023 - 10.8p, 6.9r<br>Bedford N. Lawrence - [player_tooltip player_id='177308' first='Madisyn' last='Bailey'], 2024 - 7.6p, 4.1r, 3.4a, 2.8s<br>Bedford N. Lawrence - <strong>Emma Brown</strong>, 2023 - 4.7p<br>Bedford N. Lawrence - <strong>Katie Baumgart</strong>, 2023 - 1.4p<br>Fishers - [player_tooltip player_id='59775' first='Hailey' last='Smith'], 2023 - 12.1p, 6.9r, 2.6a, 2.0s<br>Fishers - [player_tooltip player_id='59776' first='Olivia' last='Smith'], 2023 - 10.6p, 3.9r, 2.5a<br>Fishers - [player_tooltip player_id='176168' first='Talia' last='Harris'], 2024 - 9.3p, 4.1r, 2.1a, 2.2s<br>Fishers - [player_tooltip player_id='148149' first='Alycia' last='Triplett'], 2023 - 7.2p, 5.1r<br>Fishers - [player_tooltip player_id='177355' first='Joirdyn' last='Smith'], 2024 - 7.2p<br>Fishers - [player_tooltip player_id='177358' first='Kate' last='Thomas'], 2024 - 4.0p, 3.4r<br>Fishers - [player_tooltip player_id='295771' first='Allison' last='Scheu'], 2025 - 2.9p<br>Fishers - [player_tooltip player_id='203662' first='Karina' last='Scott'], 2023 - 2.7p</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->