Hamilton County Reporter

The Fishers girls basketball team found itself on the wrong side of a comeback
Thursday night, as Pendleton Heights erased a double-digit deficit to beat the
Tigers in overtime, 57-56 at the Tiger Den.

Fishers led 16-4 after the first quarter and 34-22 at halftime. Toni Grace scored
nine points in the first period, while Ali Gerka hit a pair of 3-pointers, one in each
quarter, on her way to eight points. Kenedi London also scored eight in the first half.
The Arabians trailed 45-35 after three quarters, but outscored the Tigers 17-7 in
the fourth to force overtime. Grace made a driving layin to push Fishers in front
54-52 to begin the period, after which Pendleton used free throws to go ahead
55-54.

Grace again stepped up making a basket with 16 seconds left to get the
Tigers up 56-55. But a layin by the Arabians’ Lauren Landes with four
seconds to go clinched the game.

“Pendleton Heights knows how to win close games,” said Fishers coach Lauren
Vail. Thursday’s victory was the fourth one-point win for the Arabians’ this
season.

“This is their third win in overtime,” said Vail. “Those kids know how to win
down the stretch. They’re resilient. They hit big shots, they hit free throws.”

Grace led the Tigers with 16 points, while Gerka scored 13, totaling three
3-pointers in the game. Kenedi London added eight points.

“I told our kids, ‘We’re back in the gym tomorrow morning at 6 a.m.,'” said Vail.
“We have no option but to regroup. We got a big game coming up on Saturday
night and we just got to come in tomorrow morning and get back after it.”