'Burb Bites: Noblesville lands the Horizon League tournament
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The home of the Boom is now the home of the Horizon League Championships. Photo: Matt Kryger/Pacers Sports & Entertainment
This week's news from around the region includes a big booking for Noblesville, big money for Fishers sports fields and a big award for a Johnson County baller.
🏀 The city of Noblesville is celebrating being named the new home of the annual Horizon League basketball tournaments.
- The Arena at Innovation Mile was chosen as the host site for the second round, semifinals and championships of the 2027–2031 men's and women's tourneys.
- The Horizon League includes Indiana teams IU Indianapolis and Purdue Fort Wayne.
- "This announcement builds on the momentum of our strong partnerships, with The Arena serving as home to the Indiana Pacers G League Affiliate, the Noblesville Boom, and Innovation Mile set to become the future home of the USA Gymnastics Training & Wellness Center and Headquarters," Noblesville Mayor Chris Jensen said in a statement.
🏈 Fishers officials are planning to spend $3.6 million to improve and expand the athletic fields at Fishers and Hamilton Southeastern high schools.
- Fishers High School is set to get a new artificial turf field with lighting, upgrades to four existing natural grass fields and a new pedestrian crosswalk connecting it to Sand Creek Intermediate School.
- Hamilton Southeastern plans also include a new artificial turf field with lighting and upgrade existing fields.
- Work will begin this spring and be completed by late summer.
🚙 The town of Zionsville will soon release the final design for a peanut roundabout at the center of a plan to improve traffic flow and safety downtown.
- After more than a decade of discussion, the Main Street Momentum project is moving forward to bring a number of street improvements to the area. The design is expected to be done this summer, and construction is poised to start in 2027.
- Changes include a roundabout where Sycamore Street intersects with Main and First streets; more pedestrian crossings along First Street and at Lions Park; and a new traffic signal at the intersection of First Street and Oak Street.
👮♂️ Franklin Community Schools has named former IMPD lieutenant Brian Gabel as the first chief of its new police department.
- Gabel, who most recently served as director and security and facilities at Greenwood Christian Academy, spent more than two decades in Indianapolis, where he held roles like training officer, narcotics detective and manager of the violent crimes unit.
🏆 Center Grove senior Gracyn Gilliard has been voted the 2026 IndyStar Miss Basketball by more than 120 of the state's coaches and media members.
- She is the first Center Grove player to receive the honor but the second in her family to be cemented as one of the state's best. Her cousin Trayce Jackson-Davis was named Mr. Basketball in 2019.