When the Fishers girls soccer team looks back on its 2018 Class 3A Sectional 8 championship, it can honestly say that the trophy was won the hard way.
The No. 9 Tigers had already won a penalty kick shootout with the host
and No. 2-ranked Noblesville in Thursday’s semi-final, and that put them in
Saturday’s final with Pendleton Heights. The Arabians played Fishers
incredibly tough, taking the Tigers into overtime and back to – penalty kicks.
Fishers needed nine rounds in the shootout before finally prevailing 8-7.
The Tigers thus won their first sectional since 2015 and will advance to next
Saturday’s Logansport regional.
“There’s a lot of composure on this team and a lot of belief in one another,”
said Fishers coach Ben Beasley. “It’s taken everything we had to get by a
Pendleton team that’s been working hard for three years.”
The game was scoreless in the first half and for the majority of the second
half. It was the Arabians that got the first goal of the game, when Taylor Stone
put the ball in the right side of the net with 14:12 left. Kennedy Carrithers made
the assist.
The Tigers got the equalizer with 5:33 left in the half, when Delaney
Whelan crossed the ball over to Maya Turner inside the goal box. Turner was
able to touch it into the net.
“We know we’re going to have to grind out every win,” said Beasley. “We
have the players that can do it. They stepped up. I think the Noblesville game
took a lot out of us and it was evident on the field. And we knew that. We knew
that going in. But the girls found a way.”
After that, there was no score in the remainder of regulation, nor in both
overtime periods. That sent the game to the shootout, where there would
ultimately be nine rounds of penalty kicks. Fishers converted eight of its nine
kicks, with Samantha Bird making the kick to put the Tigers up 8-7. Jordan
Imes then blocked the Arabians’ final attempt.
“It’s a quality program, quality players,” said Beasley of Pendleton. “It’s
one of those teams that you walk off and you’re happy you won, but you feel
for how hard they worked in that game. Want to root for a team like that.”
Fishers is now 11-3-1 for the season. The Tigers will play Harrison in the
second semi-final of the Logansport regional at noon, this after the first (10
a.m.) semi-final between No. 7 Homestead and No. 14 Fort Wayne Carroll.
For those interested in history as I am, it may be of interest to note that the centerpiece of what community promoters call “historic downtown Noblesville,” the county courthouse, has reached its 140th birthday this year. Only a half-dozen courthouses among Indiana’s 92 counties are older.
I’ve been around the courthouse in one capacity or another for 50 years, and have learned a lot about the building.
Most of the courthouse construction was done in 1877, but it was not dedicated and occupied until 1878. County officials at the time promised to keep the cost under $100,000, so there were few frills.
In those days there was no electric power, no city water, no telephone communications and no central heating system. Heating was to be provided by 16 fireplaces installed with gas grates. It must have been a dark and chilly work environment during winter months. But, within months of occupying the building, officials did install a coal-fired boiler to provide steam heat. Water came from a huge tank in the attic. Lighting was provided by wall-mounted gaslight fixtures.
The architectural style of the building is French Second Empire, which is unusual among Indiana courthouses, but a style that enjoyed a brief popularity in the post-Civil War era. The building replaced an earlier small brick structure built about 1835.
The site of the courthouse was given to the county in 1823 by William Conner with the provision that it would remain the location of county government. By 1878, the courthouse square was lined with commercial buildings, most of them non-descript frame structures. The only downtown buildings remaining today that pre-date the courthouse are the Martha Gascho law office, the Smith Jewelry building and the former jail, now the county museum.
Buildings can be old without being historic. History-making events make a place historic. Two of the events helped make our courthouse historic.
The murder trial and conviction of Ku Klux Klan leader D.C. Stephenson in 1925 made history when his conviction resulted in the rapid downfall of the theretofore powerful Klan.
Another court action which attracted national news coverage was the 1965 contempt of court action brought against local newspaper editor James T. Neal. It was portrayed as an attack on freedom of the press, and was eventually overturned.
There have been mysteries such as strange noises heard by after-hours workers in the 1970s. An investigation report claimed it was rats in the ductwork. Exterminators took care of that.
Reportedly two historic documents mysteriously disappeared. The deathbed statement of Stephenson’s murder victim, Madge Oberholtzer, which essentially convicted the Klan leader, and a record of citizens who had assisted Underground Railroad activities both vanished. The opening of the courthouse cornerstone during renovation in 1994 solved a mystery. In a metal box sealed in the stone was an early photo of the 1835 courthouse. No photo of the building has ever been seen before.
By the latter part of the 20th century the courthouse was not only showing its age, but was extremely overcrowded. A complete restoration in the early 1990s preserved as many historical features as possible while providing for modern office space. Several pieces of the original furnishings from the Wooten Desk Company were saved along with an 1868 safe that had served the county treasurer in the 1835 courthouse.
Following restoration, the building became the home of the county assessor, auditor, recorder and treasurer while courts and court-related offices were housed in the new judicial center across the street. The original courtroom was restored and is used for public hearings, other meetings and ceremonies.
The courthouse is now fittingly listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
On Friday, Hamilton County Sheriff Bowen announced the passing of Sheriff’s Office Chaplain Dave Parks.
Chaplain Parks had been associated with the Sheriff’s Office for over 25 years. He was instrumental in helping to establish the Chaplaincy program at the Sheriff’s Office in the early 1990s under Sheriff Dan Stevens.
Arrangements are pending and the details will be communicated when confirmed.
Hamilton County officials are preparing for the Nov. 6 General Election. The Election Board met Friday morning to test the voting systems.
Hamilton County Elections Administrator Kathy Richardson said the county needs additional poll workers.
County residents that have an interest in serving as a poll worker can click here, then click the Poll Workers link.
Residents that have not yet registered to vote may do so at indianavoters.com or at the Elections Office located in the Hamilton County Government and Judicial Center.
Hamilton Southeastern dropped a back and forth Hoosier Crossroads Conference game at Franklin Central on Friday, 37-28.
The game was scoreless after the first quarter, but then both teams’ offense got going in the second period. The Flashes punched in the ball from the 1-yard line for their first touchdown, then the Royals answered when Jackson Lantz ran off a 95-yard kickoff return for a score.
FC went ahead 17-7 after a field goal and short rush TD, but then Lantz got going again. He caught two long passes from quarterback Andrew Hobson to get Southeastern ahead 21-17 at halftime. Lantz’s first touchdown catch was for 39 yards, then a 28-yard reception gave HSE the lead.
The Flashes got the lead for good in the third quarter on a 14-yard rushing touchdown, then moved ahead 31-21 in the fourth on a short TD run. Hobson got the ball in to the end zone from the 1 to get the Royals within 31-28, but FC finished the game on a 41-yard rushing score. Mitch Hebenstreit kicked all four of Southeastern’s extra points.
Hobson had a great game, completing 12 of 17 passes for 206 yards. Ben Boysen had five of those catches, while Lantz totaled 67 yards with his two receptions. Matt Harris gained 142 yards rushing.
The Royals are 2-4 in HCC play and 3-5 overall. Southeastern hosts Brownsburg next Friday in its conference and regular-season finale.
Westfield quarterback Camden Simons makes a run to put the Shamrocks in scoring position with less than a minute to play during the Westfield-Fishers football game Friday at Reynolds Tigers Stadium. Fishers hung on to get an 11-7 win over the Shamrocks. Pictured at left for the Tigers is Alex Eldridge (92). (Photo by Kirk Green)
by
Craig Adkins
Hamilton County Reporter
The final home game of the regular season is normally saved to be a night to honor the seniors. Friday night was no different for the Fishers Tigers, as they honored 29 football seniors, thanking them for their hard work and dedication to the football program throughout their four years.
It took a second half wake-up call for both teams, but it was the Fishers Tigers that came clawing out of this Hoosier Crossroads Conference battle for the win, 11-7.
Westfield was starting to drive a little in the middle of the first, but they turned the ball over at will. Shamrock quarterback Camden Simons rolled to his right and looked to be throwing the ball out of bounds on third down, but the pass was intercepted by Tigers’ cornerback Jason Lassic at the 35.
Neither team was really able to get that far into the opponent’s side of the field before the half. This resulted in Westfield’s Alex Bales missing on a 52 yard field goal attempt, that was partially deflected by Lassic and Jack Phillips of Fishers fell short of making a 44-yard try that left the two teams scoreless at halftime, 0-0.
Simons got the first touchdown on the board with a 20-yard strike to Kyle Pepiot for a 7-0 ‘Rocks lead.
Other than a couple drives in the second half, it seems like Westfield’s offense got to points where it stalled out on drives, which just led to frustration down the stretch.
“Well, we didn’t do much,” said Westfield head coach Jake Gilbert on his team’s offensive output.
“Obviously, when you hold a team to nine points defensively, you gotta win a game. You only score seven, we just gotta do a better job. We didn’t run the football as well as we typically do. Kudos to Fishers defense. They’re a very good defense and they stuffed us tonight,” said Gilbert, continuing to comment on his team’s output and complimenting the Fishers defense.
The following drive, the Tigers would get the chance to put a score up themselves. The drive was highlighted by a 57-yard first down catch by Collin Statz from sophomore, third-string QB Lucas Prewitt. Junior kicker Jack Phillips would convert his field goal try from 25 yards away, cutting the deficit to 7-3.
A couple drives later, Fishers was forced to punt and Phillips was able to pin the Shamrocks deep at their own 1-yard line to start the next series.
On the second play, the ball was snapped of Simons head, rolling out of the back of the end zone for a Tiger safety, narrowing the gap even more at 7-5.
During the second half, it was all about finding ways to convert great defensive play into points on the scoreboard, which obviously kept the Westfield offense off the field for a majority of the fourth quarter.
“We just had a hard time finishing drives this year. We’ve had some decent drives that we just had a hard time finishing them,” said Fishers head coach Rick Wimmer on his team not being able to finish drives most of the season, but it was able to on Friday.
In the latter part of the third and most of the fourth, it was junior tailback Dylan Scally that carried the load. Scally was the workhorse on the Tigers’ touchdown drive, carrying nine times for 42 yards. He capped it off with what wound up being the game-winning score on a 25-yard run, on a third and 11 at the Westfield’s 25, right down the home sideline for the TD scamper for an 11-7 Fishers edge.
“We got a great run out of Scally right there. I thought HL ran tough, awful tough tonight,” said Wimmer, noting the great running of his backfield.
Once the Tigers grabbed the lead, it was like their defense stepped it up another notch the remainder of the game. They gave way to some big gains on the ground by the Shamrocks, but they didn’t fully break down, holding tough in defending their narrow four-point lead.
“We talk about the offense, but the credit really is our defense,” said Wimmer on how well his defense played.
“What a great job by our defense tonight. I’m very fortunate that we’re playing that well on defense and the credit goes to Coach Judd and our defensive staff,” said Coach Wimmer, continuing on the defense and especially crediting the defensive staff.
The Tigers were able to move the ball throughout the night. Their offensive line created opportunities for their backfield to make cuts and get out into the open and get through holes.
“I thought out offensive line was really steady tonight. That’s a good defense they play. They’re gonna make it tough for you to run the ball, but we were able to do it enough,” said Wimmer, complimenting his offensive line and its great night, which allowed his ball carriers more room to run.
At the end of this HCC victory for Fishers, you’ve got to tip your hat to sophomore quarterback Lucas Prewitt, who stepped up and showed that he can more than compete at the varsity level. Prewitt filled in for injured first and second string quarterbacks senior Jon Vore and junior Marcus Roux, who were both out injured.
“Our sophomore quarterback Lucas Prewitt in his first opportunity made some big plays. Statz had a huge one that got us down there, of course we only got a field got out of it, but that was important,” said Wimmer, praising his young QB.
When it came down to it, Fishers was able to find the way to score on offense to take the lead in the fourth, but their defense played stout late in the fourth to seal the victory for the Tigers’ second consecutive HCC win.
Westfield (3-5, 2-4 HCC) dropped its third in a row and fourth in the last five. They’ll finish up regular season by hosting Franklin Central (2-6, 1-5 HCC), who upended Hamilton Southeastern at home on Friday, 37-28.
The Shamrocks’ offense was led by Eli Patchett’s 54 yards on 16 carries and he also had four receptions for 28 yards. Patrick Beam caught three for 42 and Kyle Pepiot snagged four for 50 and a TD. Simons finished 15-for-23 through the air for 153 yards with a touchdown and an INT.
Fishers (3-5, 2-4 HCC) grabbed its second win in a row and will go on the road in their regular season finale at Zionsville (4-4, 3-3 HCC). The Eagles had a huge 32-29 win at 6A No. 5 Avon on Friday night.
The Tigers’ offense was pretty efficient with their rushing game. HL Lewis led with 17 carries and 86 yards and was complimented with Dylan Scally’s 71 yards on 15 rushes and a touchdown. Soph QB Lucas Prewitt only went 7-of-24 for 151 yards, but made them count.
Collin Statz caught five passes for 118 yards, including a big 57-yarder that set up Phillips’ third-quarter field goal.
The series of podcasts featuring Hamilton Southeastern School Board candidates continues….on this podcast, I talk with Matt Molter, running in District 2
Fishers-based Ultimate Automation on Wednesday has announced the acquisition of Electronic Evolutions to form Ultimate Technologies Group. According to my news-gathering partners at the Hamilton County Reporter, the new entity will be headquartered in Ultimate Automation’s existing offices as well as expanding into the IoT Lab facility in Fishers.
Ultimate Technologies Group offers audio-visual, information technology, building controls and technology integration capabilities.
Ultimate Automation has built the standard in customer responsiveness and service for customers around the world. Founded in 1985, Electronic Evolutions provides a rich heritage in audio-visual technology solutions together with an impressive list of long-standing customers.
According to Ultimate Automation’s founder and president, Will O’Brien, Electronic Evolutions’ customer base will be a perfect fit with his team’s service-oriented business model.
“Ultimate Technologies Group provides a significant opportunity for our existing and future customers through an unmatched, four-hour response time service offering, remote monitoring service to proactively solve 75 percent of technology issues and comprehensive and innovative technical capabilities,” O’Brien said. “As organizations see how technology empowers employee performance which in turn drives business results, Ultimate Technologies Group is well positioned to help support companies on that empowerment journey.”
According to Ultimate Technologies Group owner Tiffany O’Brien, “Merging a stable, 30-year-plus company with an innovative, customer-centric one is a win-win-win for our customers, employees and the market.”
“We have been impressed with Ultimate Automation’s industry knowledge and skilled staff, as well as their commitment to customer satisfaction,” said Electronic Evolutions CEO Daniel Knotts. “The more I learned about them, the more I knew this was a great fit for us. The extended business, Ultimate Technologies Group, will serve hundreds of well-known companies.”
“Ultimate Automation has rapidly become a true innovator and technology leader not only in Fishers but throughout our state due in part to their dedication to service and strong leadership in Will O’Brien,” said Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness. “Their latest growth acquisition of Electronic Evolutions, in addition to their rapid organic growth is a prime example of our smart, vibrant and entrepreneurial business community. We are thrilled they will not only remain headquartered in Fishers, but continue their growth and innovation at the Indiana IoT Lab.”
Effective immediately, the two companies have rebranded and will operate as Ultimate Technologies Group.
Eric Moeller represents the North Central District on the Fishers City Council, and he is inviting Homeowners Association & business officials from his district to a meeting Tuesday, October 23rd.
Councilman Moeller has invited Troy Woodruff of RQAW, who will provide the latest update on the State Road 37 construction plan, which will start next year. Also, newly sworn-in Fishers Police Chief Ed Gebhart is expected to be on hand.
The meeting is set for 7:00-8:30pm in the new Pavilion building, located between City Hall and the Amphitheater.
