The hardwood floors of the Fishers Event Center will bear witness to a clash of titans, as the annual Mudsock Rivalry basketball games renew one of central Indiana’s most passionate high school athletic contests.
The meeting between the Fishers High School Tigers and the Hamilton Southeastern Royals will draw thousands of fans into the arena.
This year’s doubleheader, set for Dec. 19, features the girls’ varsity teams tipping off at 6 p.m., followed by the boys’ varsity game at 8 p.m.
Doors open to the public at 5 p.m.
The rivalry, although relatively new, is steeped in a local history that dates back more than a century. The “Mudsock” moniker is a nod to the area’s agricultural past. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the community earned the nickname due to its swampy soil. The ground was so notoriously muddy that residents would find themselves stuck in muck up to their ankles, and their horses would be caked with mud around their feet, giving them the appearance of wearing brown socks.
The basketball series between the two schools began in the 2006-2007 school year, following the opening of Fishers High School. In the years since, a compelling competitive history has developed. The Hamilton Southeastern Royals currently hold the upper hand in both series. On the boys’ side, the Royals lead 10-7, while the HSE girls hold an 11-6 advantage over their Fishers counterparts. This historical context adds a layer of urgency for the Tigers, who will be playing on their designated home court for the girls’ game, as they look to close the gap in the standings.
The event has grown to such a scale that it requires a venue capable of handling a major spectacle. The Fishers Event Center, the designated home court, is more than up to the task. The state-of-the-art facility features advanced sound and lighting systems, cutting-edge technology and thoughtfully designed seating arrangements that promise extraordinary sightlines from every seat in the house.
Tickets for the Mudsock Rivalry games are now on sale through Fisherseventcenter.com. Pricing is tiered, with General Admission tickets at $10, Reserved Loge seating at $30, Legacy Club access at $35 and premium Reserved Courtside seats at $40. There is an eight-ticket limit per purchase, and children under the age of five are admitted free when accompanied by an adult with a ticket.
For a full list of upcoming events, venue maps, and detailed “Know Before You Go” information, including the clear bag and cashless policies, visit Fisherseventcenter.com.
Contact Multi-Media & Senior Sports Editor Noral Parham at 317-762-7846 or email at noralp@indyrecorder.com. Parham is also the owner of Horsemen Sports Media. For more news, click here.
Noral Parham is the multi-media & senior sports reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder, one of the oldest Black publications in the country. Prior to joining the Recorder, Parham served as the community advocate of the MLK Center in Indianapolis and senior copywriter for an e-commerce and marketing firm in Denver. He is also the owner and founder of Horsemen Sports Media.
