Hamilton County Reporter

Westfield Police have arrested a 13-year-old boy in connection with a shooting that occurred Thursday evening in Westfield.

Police reports indicate the incident occurred just before 5:30 p.m. in the 1200 block of Scarlet Street located on the city’s west side.

The victim, a 14-year-old boy, was transported to an Indianapolis hospital and is reported to be in stable condition.

The suspect, whose name has not been released, was taken to the Hamilton County Juvenile Detention Center on charges of aggravated battery and possession of a handgun without a license.

Police have not released a motive, but indicate the suspect and victim did know each other.

Brandi Ruiz, a nearby resident, told news gathering partner WISH-TV that her family moved to the apartments in August. She said there have been issues surrounding crime. Her son, who is also 14, said people have tried to jump him after he gets off the school bus.

Ruiz described the area. “A lot of kids running around here. They’re out of control. The parents aren’t watching their kids. I try to keep my kids inside so they’re not a part of it,” she said.

by

Richie Hall

Sports Editor

Hamilton County Reporter

Hamilton Southeastern had to grind its way to the title game at its own sectional Friday night.

The Class 4A No. 1 Royals got past their biggest rival, a fired-up Fishers team, 36-27 in the second semi-final game of Sectional 8. Southeastern improved to 22-1 with the win and will take on Carmel at 7 p.m. tonight for the championship.

It wasn’t easy. Although the Royals never trailed in the game, the Tigers tied it up five different times, including three times in the third quarter, which ended at 24-24. But Southeastern outscored Fishers 12-3 in the fourth period, thanks to solid defense and perfect free throw shooting.

Despite the close game and tense situation, Royals coach Chris Huppenthal trusted his team would pull it out.

“When they were coming down there towards the end, and you just saw Tayah Irvin get in her stance, and she was ready,” said Huppenthal. “I’ve said this all year about our kids and to Tayah Irvin. Everything starts and ends with her defense. We had talked at some point in the year, and we said ‘At some point, our defense is going to have to win us a game.’ It won us a game tonight. Our kids just played outstanding defense.”

Southeastern senior Malea Jackson scored the first two points of the game on a layin, which Fishers junior Tamia Perryman answered with a rebound basket. Junior Sydney Parrish made two free throws to put HSE up 4-2, then sophomore Katie Burton tied it up again with a layin. That set the tone for the game.

Parrish scored four more points in the first quarter, which ended with the Royals ahead 8-4. The Tigers cut it to 10-9 midway through the second when senior Skylar Fulton made a 3-pointer, but a quick 6-0 run put Southeastern ahead 16-9. Senior Amaya Hamilton made a hook shot, then Parrish added two more baskets.

Cierra Tolbert hit two free throws with two seconds left, and that kept the Tigers within 16-11 at halftime.

“You got to give them a lot of credit,” said Huppenthal. “This is a rivalry game. We knew it wasn’t going to be easy. They left their hearts out on the floor. (Fishers coach) Lauren Vail, she had those kids well-prepared. They came out with a belief to them. It was a great basketball game.”

The Royals led 20-14 midway through the third, but the Tigers quickly tied it up by nailing back-to-back 3s, from sophomore Audra Emmerson and Burton. Parrish put HSE back on top with a layin, but a Fishers steal led to a Burton basket, tying the game again.

Hamilton made two free throws with 36 seconds left to get HSE ahead 24-22. The Tigers answered again, as Burton’s floater knotted the game going into the fourth quarter.

The Royals ramped up their defense, and got timely baskets early, with Hamilton making two layins to get her team up 28-24. Those would be the last baskets, but Southeastern got it done from the free throw line, going 8 of 8 in the quarter. Parrish hit the first two foul shots to get the Royals up 30-24.

Sophomore Katie Howard hit a long 3-pointer with under two minutes left to keep the Tigers within 30-27, but Southeastern wouldn’t allow its rival another point. Junior Jackie Maulucci went 4 of 4 from the line in the game’s final 1:10, with Jackson making both her attempts.

Parrish led all scorers with 18 points, also pulling eight rebounds and getting three blocked shots. Maulucci had five rebounds.

Burton had nine points for Fishers, Fulton drained two 3-pointers for six points, and Perryman collected eight rebounds.

“Our kids played exceptionally hard,” said Vail. “And they did all year. We knew that we were playing our best basketball coming down the stretch. Obviously Hamilton Southeastern is a very talented basketball team. I thought that our kids went out and played really, really hard.”

The Tigers finished their season 15-10.

“I thought, really, we did a lot of great things,” said Vail. “We won some that I didn’t have on paper that we’d win, we lost some that I didn’t have on paper that we’d lose. But man, the growth that these kids showed, especially in the way that they came together as far as learning how to be teammates, learning how to play hard for one another and growing in how they understand the game, is all stuff that we’re most definitely going to build on for next year.”

Scott Fadness, his wife Aunna and the latest addition to their family, Hudson, all braved the snowy Friday morning to allow the incumbent mayor to officially file his paperwork to become a candidate for another term in office as Fishers first and only mayor.

In a campaign news release announcing his filing, Fadness touted the city’s growth, economic development, city service improvements and low tax rate during his tenure in office.

“We’ve made great strides as a city. Our signature initiatives have been the result of collaboration with community leaders, nonprofit leaders, neighborhood activists and residents across Fishers,” Fadness said. “Recently being named the ‘Best Place to Live in America’ reflects our thoughtful planning and hard work.”

Fadness also points to his mental health initiative as a high priority during his time as mayor.

So far, Scott Fadness is the only candidate to officially file the paperwork with the Hamilton County Election Office in Noblesville as a Fishers mayoral candidate.

Logan Day has formed an exploratory committee for a run for mayor, but has not yet officially filed.  The filing deadline for candidates in the May 7th primary election is noon on Friday, February 8th.

Hamilton County Reporter/WISH-TV

There’s been outrage throughout Hamilton County and central Indiana about a video that has been making the rounds: A group of dogs outside in the severe cold.

On Wednesday, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office said the owners did not break the law in any way.

Videos from Arcadia flooded social media and the Sheriff’s Office. They showed dogs at Raebark German Shepherd Dog Kennel. Wind chill temperatures were well below zero, and the dogs sitting and running outside.

“You instantly are heartbroken for these animals,” said Jordan Hawk, who saw the video and pictures and started a petition calling for action.

Sheriff’s Capt. Mark Bowen said the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office checked on the dogs.

“They have igloo kennels. Their water is warm and not frozen. They have adequate food and shelter,” he said.

A man at the business said he has been out there throughout the day to check the dogs. Bowen, who is Hamilton County’s former sheriff, confirmed they did nothing illegal.

Hawk said it was reassuring to know authorities checked on the dogs. She said there needs to be clear focus on what’s next.

“If we’re going to come together for some good cause, it should be not to beat her down and not to say she needs to close her doors and all of this, but we need to address Indiana itself and say, ‘Hey, this is our concern’,” Hawk said.

She said her concern is the state code that she said doesn’t go far enough to protect animals.

Bowen said owners have to provide a shelter.

“I don’t think it specifically defines size, shape or anything of that nature, just requires they have shelter,” he said when asked about specifics of state law.

Bowen said under Indiana’s current law, it’s not defined when it’s too hot or cold for animals to be out. Hawk said other states have stricter laws.

Hawk created a change.org petition to get lawmakers talking about whether the law needs to change. The petition had nearly 3,000 signatures by Wednesday night.

Hamilton County Reporter

Hamilton Southeastern picked up a Hoosier Crossroads Conference win on Thursday, beating Franklin Central 75-58 in the Royals’ gym.

Southeastern led 15-11 after the first quarter, but took control in the second period, scoring 22 points to take a 37-23 lead. Three HSE players landed in double figures, starting with Aaron Etherington, who had 25 points eight rebounds and five assists.

Chris Grubbs reached double-double status with 17 points and 10 rebounds, and Noah Smith scored 10 points along with handing out nine assists. Landon Morris had five rebounds, four points and three blocked shots.

The Royals are 4-2 in the conference and 12-5 overall. They will host New Castle on Tuesday.

by

Richie Hall

Sports Editor

Hamilton County Reporter

If there’s one thing the Fishers boys basketball team can do, it’s win under tough circumstances.

The Tigers traveled to Westfield for a Thursday Hoosier Crossroads Conference game, and slowly took control in the third quarter to grab a 63-53 win over the Shamrocks at The Rock. Fishers got the win despite having two players out, and is now 5-1 in conference play, second to Zionsville’s 6-0 record.

Tigers coach Matt Moore noted that it was the third game in a row his team held an opponent under 55 points. The coach said it was a grind it out game, but Fishers seems to thrive in that situation.

Those aren’t the prettiest sometimes, but those are games that we can win,” said Moore. “And we’ve been able to win those a lot this year.”

Westfield led 15-12 after the first quarter. The Shamrocks had five different players score in that period, with Chris Chin and Caleb Welch both getting four points. Josiah Matthews had seven points, including a 3-pointer, to keep the Tigers within striking distance.

Fishers made its move in the second quarter, outscoring the ‘Rocks 16-9 to take a 28-24 lead. It was Willie Jackson’s turn to shine in that period, and he poured in 11 points.

The Tigers then turned it up in the third quarter, scoring 19 while holding Westfield to nine, going up 47-33. Jeffrey Simmons, who has quickly established himself as one of the better freshman players in the state, threw in 14 points.

The Shamrocks made a comeback in the fourth quarter, at one point cutting Fishers’ lead to eight points. Welch had an outstanding quarter, with 10 points, including two 3s. But the Tigers were carried through with their free throw shooting, making 12 of 17 in that period.

“They’re a team that has been competitive in nearly all their games, even the ones that they’ve lost,” said Moore of Westfield. The coach thought his team would have to make plays in the fourth quarter to get the lead, but Fishers had the lead well in hand by then.“

We were able to get to the free throw line a lot more in the second half,” said Moore. I thought Willie did a great job of, in that third quarter, hitting the free throw line. I thought Jeff did a really nice job of us establishing an inside presence. But I thought we shared the ball well tonight.”

Jackson made all six of his free throws on his way to 19 points. Simmons added 18 and Matthews scored 13 points.

The Tigers were without Justin Long, who was sick, and Terry Hicks, who has a broken fifth metatarsal in his foot. Moore said Hicks “will have surgery sometime next week,” and is looking at a four to six week recovery period.

“There’s an outside chance we get him back for the end of sectionals, potentially, and we’re holding out hope on that,” said Moore. “But it’s unfortunate for him.”
Hicks is a starter for Fishers, and Luke Hernandez started in his place. Hernandez played well in his role, scoring five points. Other players stepped up, such as Emmanuel Davis and Dominic Castellani.

“With losing Terry, it hurts us because of his versatility,” said Moore. “But at the same time, I think Luke steps in and does a great job. When Justin Long, who was sick tonight, is in there, he can do some things. Tonight I think Manny Davis, if we had a game ball to give, we’d give it to him just for his effort, his ability to stay on the floor and help make plays.”

Welch scored 19 points for the Shamrocks, with Zach Banks adding 10 points. Chin totaled eight points, and Camden Simons scored six. Braden Smith, also one of the better freshman players in the state, led Westfield in rebounding with eight, in addition to five points and four assists.

I thought we did a lot of good things the first half,” said Shamrocks coach Shane Sumpter.

“I thought we rebounded well, I thought we kept them out of the lane. The second half, a lot of those things disappeared is basically what happened. They came out strong the second half. They got a little bit of fire. They really hurt us inside. Jeff Simmons hurt us inside. We gave up a lot of offensive rebounds the second half and we struggled to score. Give Fishers a lot of credit. Defensively, they’re really good. We just dug ourselves a hole.”

Fishers is 14-5 overall and is back in the Tiger Den Tuesday to host Anderson. Westfield is now 1-5 in the conference and 8-7 overall; the Shamrocks’ next game is also Tuesday, at Harrison.