Arabians steal HHC win from Class 3A, No. 4 Shelbyville

Class 3A, No. 4 Shelbyville blew a double-digit lead Saturday night at Garrett Gymnasium and the opportunity to take possession of the Hoosier Heritage Conference’s traveling trophy.

The Golden Bears led Pendleton Heights 42-37 after three quarters but hit just 1 of 7 shot attempts in the fourth and were outscored 7-2 over the final three minutes to suffer a 51-49 loss — their third of the season.

“We got off to a good start in the first half and got that 10-point lead. We were the much more physically strong team and wanted it more,” said Shelbyville head coach John Hartnett. “I thought in the second half we let off the gas a little bit and down the stretch we didn’t make the plays needed to win the ball game.”

Shelbyville (11-3, 2-2 HHC) recovered once after the Arabians secured their first lead of the game, 44-42, with 4:40 to go in the fourth quarter. A 7-0 run was capped off by a Hayden Fox three pointer. 

Caden Claxton tied the game less than a minute later with a drive to the rim.

Cole Schene sank a pair of free throws with 3:20 left and Claxton hit 1 of 2 to give Shelbyville a 47-44 lead.

The Golden Bears did not make another field goal from there.

Brandt Gray scored on a baseline drive to cut the lead to 47-46 and Shelbyville went into its spread offense with the bonus in effect and the possession arrow in its favor.

Points did not go on the scoreboard, though, and Pendleton Heights regained the lead for good with a Clark Emly offensive rebound and score with 1:11 to go.

Shelbyville’s next possession ended on a turnover. Emly hit two free throws at the other end to make it 50-47.

Claxton matched the free throws with 15 seconds left.

Cooper Sims missed the first of two free throws but extended the lead to 51-49.

Shelbyville’s best look at a game-winning shot was Mar Nicholson’s off balance, rushed 3.

“The defensive end was the most disappointing part,” said Hartnett. “We let them have some easy buckets and we didn’t rebound well in the second half (Pendleton Heights had a 12-9 advantage), especially late.

“We have to figure out ways to close games out. If we want to win the sectional and do the things we need to do to make a tournament run, we have to get to the point where we close out games with our eyes closed.”

Shelbyville limited Pendleton Heights (10-2, 2-1 HHC) to 20% shooting in the opening quarter and built a 17-5 lead at the first break. The Arabians were better in the second quarter and cut the lead to 28-18 at halftime.

The Golden Bears never got on track from the 3-point line and finished just 3 of 16 (19%).

Nicholson led all scorers with 21 points. The senior also had three rebounds, two assists and one block.

Claxton finished with eight points, nine rebounds, five steals and three assists. Schene had eight points and six rebounds.

Sims, a St. Francis (Ind.) commit, led the Arabians with 15 points. 

Gray and Ashaan Singh each had 11. Emly finished with nine points and five rebounds.

Pendleton Heights has won six straight after its Friday win at New Palestine (64-59), where it took possession of the HHC traveling trophy, and its Saturday win at Garrett Gymnasium.

The Arabians won the junior varsity game, 43-33. Braxton Young led Pendleton Heights with 14 points.

Eli Davis led Shelbyville (6-4) with 12 points. Jasper Hahn had seven points.

The Golden Bears have two games this week — at Whiteland (11-2) Tuesday and home Saturday against Greenfield-Central (7-5, 1-3 HHC).

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