COLLEGE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: FISHER'S GAME FOR THE AGES HIGHLIGHTS A GREAT SEASON FOR ELMIRA DUO AT MARIST (2023-02-17)

By Brian Fees
Southern Tier Sports Report
When Kiara Fisher is playing free and having fun on the court she is one of the most unstoppable players in the country.

However, because of injuries it was hard for the Elmira graduate to play free and loose in her first season with Marist a year ago.

“I have worked a lot on trying to get my body right so I’m not as prone to injury since that’s all I’ve been experiencing,” Fisher said. “It was a lot of stress last year always playing knowing in the back of my mind I was hurt.”

A year ago Fisher was hurt right from the start of the season and she never fully got over the injury, before having the injury end her season.

“The whole season, from the beginning,” Fisher said. “It was right before the games started that I messed up my shoulder so I played through it every game I played in.”

Last month Fisher got a chance to show what she can do when she’s healthy. Fisher scored a program record 44 points, while adding six assists on top of that. She was 12-for-19 from the floor and a perfect 16-for-16 from he foul line.

“It was crazy, I had no clue I had 44, or I was even close until they pulled me over and told me after the game,” Fisher said. “I was locked into the game the whole time. Just focused on doing whatever I can to help my team win, that was passing, rebounding or whatever else, it wasn’t just about scoring.”

The game was a big boost in confidence for Fisher.

“It definitely felt good,” she said. “I felt very free. It gave me a little confidence boost, nothing was restricting me.”

Few know Fisher better than Zaria Demember-Shazer. Demember-Shazer played with Fisher at Elmira and now is her teammate at Marist. She’s seen a lot of special things from Fisher, but the game against Mount St. Mary’s was something special.

“44 points, that’s the most I’ve ever seen, especially first hand, being able to watch her, I’ver never seen anything like it,” Demember-Shazer said.

“I think the energy in the locker room after that win was insane. Knowing what Kiara id and make history, it was a really good feeling, I’ll remember it forever.”

Demember-Shazer was just enjoying watching the performance.

“I know that games like this she’s capable of,” Demember-Shazer said. “She’s always been an amazing player and has that potential every night going into games, knowing I have that type of player on the court. I don’t think anyone was surprised at that point, just in awe. It was amazing.”

The two Elmira grads have helped lead Marist all season long. Demember-Shazer leads the team in scoring at 15.4 points a game, rebounds at 7.2 a game, and steals with 41.

Fisher is second on the team at 13.5 points a game, leads the team with 69 assists and is one steal back from her teammate with 40.

“Zaria is all around consistent,” Fisher said of her teammate. “I don’t think she’s had a bad game this season, she’s all around. She’s getting blocks, steals, she’s scoring, she’s doing it all. Here assists are up there.”

In fact Demember-Shazer is also second on the team in assists from her forward position and she’s second on the team in blocks.

“I’m not surprised at all,” Fisher said. “It’s very much expected. She would be letting me down if she wasn’t doing the things she’s doing.”


A FULL SEASON TOGETHER
This is the first full season for the two together since high school. A year ago Fisher missed time with her injury, and the previous year Demember-Shazer was at Marist, while Fisher began her college career at Syracuse.

“I think we are having a really good time,” Demember-Shazer said. “Definitely having Kiara back, especially since she was injured last year. I’m happy she is back and we can play together again.”

It may have been a while since the two played a full season together, but they have a lifetime of chemistry.

“Honestly, at this point I’m used to having Zaria around,” Fisher said. “I have played with her my whole life, like 10 years. I”m used to it, but it was great to have her out there (for the 44-point game), great to experience it with her.”

Last year Fisher was always battling the injury, but she just focused on the game when she was on the court.

“It definitely took a toll on me, but when I get in the game I forget about everything that’s been going on,” Fisher said. “That’s why I’ve been able to play through a lot of injuries. It was hard, but I definitely wasn’t thinking about it.”

Fisher doesn’t take for granted how special it is to be able to play free and injury free this year.

“It’s amazing, I am definitely blessed to not have any problems and am praying for a healthy career,” Fisher said.

It’s been al long time since the Marist standout was fully healthy.

“Probably sophomore season in high school, that’s the last time I was healthy consistently,” Fisher said.

Having the right mindset has helped Fisher deal with the injury setbacks.

“Just like any other life circumstance, I’ve just been taught, and it’s just in me to get through adversity,” Fisher said. “I faced adversity my whole life it’s really not hard anymore.”

Off the court Fisher has dealt with plenty of adversity in her life as well, so dealing with injuries on the court are nothing she can’t deal with.

“Just like any life situation it’s the same on the court, I get through it,” Fisher said. “I let myself be free and tough it out and I get through it. I just keep going.”


A DYNAMIC DUO
Fisher and Demember-Shazer finished high school as the top two scorers in school history at the time of their graduation (they are currently first and third). The chemistry the two have is something that makes them so hard to stop on the court.

“Me and Zar’s chemistry, I think I could close my eyes and I could pass it and she’ll catch it,” Fisher said. “At this point if we don’t have chemistry (after these many years).

The two have been playing together for a long time.

“I think when you have been together for so long it’s almost second nature,” Demember-Shazer said. “I’ve been so accustomed and so used to having my point guard it’s not even something I think about anymore.

“We really enjoy playing together. Having her by my side, she’s there and we’ll be able to play together is nice. Not having her last year was rough on me and having her this year is nice.”

For the Elmira pair this is just like a continuation of high school.

“It is crazy, that is basically the same as Elmira and carried it to the next level, it’s pretty special.”

Having two former Elmira players both excelling on the same Division I team is special and Fisher hopes that motivates the next generation of Elmira athletes.

“I have very high hopes that everyone watches us and doesn’t think it’s far out of reach,” Fisher said. “We did it, we all come from the same place, you just have to put in the work. There is a lot of talent in Elmira.”

Both Fisher and Demember-Shazer know that there is plenty of talent in Elmira and they hope to see what they can do at the next level.

“Think definitely the program and our area has a lot of potential,” Demember-Shazer said. “Players like Jea (Jalea Abrams) and those girls coming through now, really good players, I think it’s good exposure for them.”

Demember-Shazer is happy to have this season to really see what the two can do together at the college level.

“It’s definitely a different style of basketball in college,” Demember-Shazer said. “We found a way to make it work. We are growing together in a way where we can play together at both levels.

“It’s nice to see we got to maintain that chemistry and play well. Definitely about as a team winning these games and to have the stats we have.”

The team has a pretty big Section IV feel to it. Susquehanna Valley’s Maeve Donnelly started all 21 games she’s played in this year, leading the team with 37 blocks and averaging 4.2 rebounds and 4.4 points a game, second on the team in rebounding and fourth in scoring.

Both Fisher and Demember-Shazer played with Donnelly in AAU when they were in high school.

“It’s awesome, we played together in AAU, all of us in BNY, all of us being able to have those stories and history and background together is nice,” Demember-Shazer said. “I think it’s encouraging for our area as well.”

“It’s really great to be able to play with people I grew up with and watch them grow and grow with them,” Fisher said.


LEADERS ON THE TEAM
It’s special for both juniors to have leadership roles on the team this year.

“It’s good knowing my coaches trust me out there to be a leader on the floor for the team,” Demember-Shazer said. “Knowing they have that confidence in me.”

Her freshman year Fisher had few chances to show what she could do at Syracuse, and she’s happy to have a chance to take on a big role at Marist.

“For sure, freshman year I definitely wasn’t able to be the player I truly was,” she said. “I wasn’t given much opportunity. Now I have all the opportunity in the world and the team and coaches believe in me.”

Being free and having confidence is what makes Fisher a better player.

I think that’s very important at any level is go out there and feel free,” Fisher said. “You can mess up and will still be able to make it up, I just think it’s important to feel free and not have to worry about coming out or anything.”

Producing on the court is special, but it’s really not about stats at all for Demember-Shazer or Fisher.

“It’s awesome what’s been able to happen for us and myself, it’s more about what was a team we can accomplish,” Demember-Shazer said. “We are not super focused on individual accolades.”


HOPING FOR A SPECIAL SEASON
Marist picked up a win on Thursday over Manhattan, 75-66. That puts them at 7-8 in the conference and 11-13 on the year, an improvement from last year’s eight-win season, when they dealt with injuries.

It was again Demember-Shazer and Fisher leading the way on Thursday. Shazer had 22 points and seven rebounds, along with three assists, going 8-for-13 from the floor.

Fisher had 19 points and four assists, going 7-for-7 from the field and 2-for-2 from three. The two combined to go 9-for-12 from the foul line in the game.

When Demember-Shazer was a freshman the team went 18-4 and won the conference championship. Last year they dealt with injuries, but she feels like the team has potential for another postseason run this year.

“We are all pretty close,” Demember-Shazer said. “With that first Covid year we got to grow together. Then winning that championship that first year was awesome. Definitely have a lot of work for the rest of the season, but I definitely think the chemistry is up there.

“I think we have a lot of potential and we are just scratching the surface. Getting in the season we can have great games, but also have games we lose and don’t play well. When the tournament comes we have to work to have the result we want.”

The team believes they have the pieces to have postseason success.

“I think having experienced people, but also our new players coming in and having an impact as well,” Demember-Shazer said. “Having experienced players and a fifth year like Kendall (Krick) it gives us a lot of momentum going into the postseason.”

Having someone like Krick on the team helps both former Elmira stars.

“It’s really helpful having people like that who are experienced, they are really good players,” Demember-Shazer said.

Winning a conference championship is something the two would love to do together at the college level, as Fisher wasn’t part of the title two years ago.

“I would love that, but we are just taking it game by game, practice by practice,” Fisher said. “Just trying to get better every day, but it’s always the goal.

“I’m very excited for us. I think we have so much potential and we are really starting to figure it out, really growing. I think we definitely have a chance to compete for a championship and we are going to do that.”
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PHOTOS COURTESY OF STOCKTON PHOTOS.