INDIANAPOLIS – Top-ranked Fishers spent Saturday night celebrating the program's first-ever sectional title, narrowly defeating No. 2 Noblesville 49-47.
"That was one of our goals going into this season, win that first sectional and cement ourselves in history," said senior power forward Keenan Garner.
Head coach Garrett Winegar feels his team's chemistry and balance of skills have made them the ultimate threat this year. Being able to play nine-deep is going to be huge on Saturday in New Castle.
Fishers will face No. 4 Kokomo in a rematch of an early December blowout. The Tigers won by 22 points, holding the Wildkats' leader and Kansas-bound big man Flory Bidunga to single-digit points. Winegar knows this meeting will be different than their last and not just because of the revenge factor.
"They've really improved, hopefully we've really improved," said Winegar. "Obviously, you try to look at that game, see what you did well, but at the end of the day, they're a different team and we're a different team."
Fishers is heading into Saturday's Class 4A regional matchup at New Castle with a 25-1 record. Playing in the country's largest gym for the chance to continue a historic run does not apply too much pressure to a group that has seen some of the best.
"I feel like we've been playing games like this all season, really hyped up with the rankings," said Garner. "For us to play a lot of games like this, it prepares us for the environment, the amount of people that are going to be there and the magnitude of the games."
No. 1 Fishers and No. 4 Kokomo tip off from New Castle on Saturday afternoon at 4pm.