Shelbyville wanted the win. Waldron needed the win even more.

In a battle of a Class 4A program trying to rebuild from the ground up and a Class A program on the verge of a milestone season, the small-school Mohawks prevailed 54-48 over the Golden Bears Tuesday with more composure over the final 17 minutes of the game at William L. Garrett Gymnasium.

With an 11-3 start to the third quarter, Shelbyville (1-1) built its first double-digit lead of the game over Class A, No. 5 Waldron, 36-26 and head coach Anthony Thomas called for a timeout.

The veteran Mohawks (3-0) regrouped and went on an 18-0 run that stretched nearly to the midway point of the fourth quarter.

“At that timeout, I told the girls we were getting the looks we wanted and it’s on you now,” said Thomas. “We leave here 2-1 or you go out and get it.”

Shelbyville’s run started with a 15-foot jumper from Madison Phares and four baskets on drives to the rim, the last from Kylee Edwards with five minutes, 10 seconds left in the third quarter.

Nichole Garner answered right away with a drive into the lane and score at the other end that cut the lead to 36-28. Bella Larrison followed with a 15-foot jumper, Mackenzie Shaw scored in the lane and Larrison got a shot off from an offensive rebound just before the quarter ended to cut the lead to two at the break.

Waldron set up a 3-point look for Megan Bogemann to start the fourth quarter and she nailed it.

“We changed it around a little bit for Bogemann to get us a corner three to get us going,” said Thomas. “A senior stepped up and hit it and that started to spread through the rest of the team, just like the misses spread through the rest of the team. Sometimes it’s just a matter of hitting one shot, it doesn’t matter where it is and it gets these girls going.”

Larrison followed with a 3-pointer from the top of the key. Hadlie Ross scored in the low post and Larrison went strong to the rim and converted to push the lead to 44-36.

“A lot of times our problem in the past with Bella (Larrison) is getting her to take the shot,” said Thomas. “Now she is looking for it and she needs to look for it.”

Shelbyville’s scoring drought ended at the 4:26 mark of the fourth quarter when Abby Brenner banked in an off-balance shot in the lane.

The Golden Bears cut the lead to 44-39 but Shaw scored two easy baskets off assists from Larrison and Bogemann and scored again with 2:19 on the clock for a 50-41 lead.

Shelbyville never found any offensive rhythm over the final quarter-and-a-half and the senior-laden Waldron squad never panicked down the stretch on the road.

“We are still a work in progress but I like how the kids share the ball and I like their moxie,” said Thomas, who is still getting the Mohawks up to speed after a delayed start to the preseason because several players were part of the school’s first volleyball regional appearance. “We’ve been down … Blue River had us down, (Shelbyville) had us down tonight and the girls stayed the course and I think that shows a lot for a group of kids in February if we can stay healthy.”

Larrison led all scorers with 22 points and she had a team-high 11 rebounds. Shaw scored 12 points off the bench and had six rebounds and three blocked shots.

Bogemann finished with nine points, all on 3s, and had four assists. Garner had nine points, five assists and four rebounds.

Ava Wilson and Edwards topped the Golden Bears with 12 points apiece. Edwards also had two rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocked shots.

Phares finished with 10 points, 10 rebounds and five blocked shots.

Brenner had nine points and Cheyenne Eads scored five points off the bench.

Waldron is at Class A, No. 13 Southwestern (1-1) on Friday for its first Mid-Hoosier Conference game of the season.

Shelbyville hosts Edinburgh (2-0) Friday at Garrett Gymnasium.

Shelbyville won the junior varsity game, 38-27.

Addison Stieneker led the Golden Bears (2-0) with 11 points. Sydney Baker scored 10 and Lilly Johnson had nine.

Alivia Fischer and Lilli Rozier each scored nine points to lead Waldron (2-2).

Waldron 54, Shelbyville 48

WA – J. Larrison 0-4 2-2 2, Had. Ross 1-5 0-0 2, Bogemann 3-11 0-0 9, Garner 2-10 4-4 9, B. Larrison 9-22 2-3 22, Shaw 5-7 0-0 10, Fewell 0-0 0-0 0. Totals – 20-59 8-9 54.

SH – Edwards 4-11 3-5 12, Brenner 4-7 1-2 9, Wilson 3-9 4-5 12, Bassett 0-6 0-0 0, Phares 4-9 0-0 10, Johnson 0-1 0-0 0, Eads 2-2 0-0 5, Simpson 0-1 0-0 0. Totals – 17-45 8-14 48.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

WA (3-0)   9  14  11  20  --  54

SH (1-1)  15  10  11  12  --  48

Three-point field goals: WA 6-15 (Bogemann 3-9, Garner 1-1, B. Larrison 2-5), SH 6-19 (Edwards 1-4, Wilson 2-6, Bassett 0-2, Phares 2-6, Eads 1-1). Rebounds: WA 30 (J. Larrison 2, Had. Ross 5, Bogemann 2, Garner 4, B. Larrison 11, Shaw 6, Fewell 1), SH 25 (Edwards 2, Brenner 3, Wilson 1, Bassett 6, Phares 10, Johnson 3). Assists: WA 13 (J. Larrison 1, Bogemann 4, Garner 5, B. Larrison 1, Shaw 1, Fewell 1). SH 8 (Edwards 3, Wilson 2, Johnson 1, Eads 1, Simpson 1). Steals: WA 4 (Bogemann 1, Garner 2, B. Larrison 1), SH 4 (Edwards 2, Bassett 2). Blocks: WA 5 (Bogemann 1, B. Larrison 1, Shaw 3), SH 7 (Edwards 2, Phares 5). Totals fouls: WA 16, SH 15. Fouled out: Brenner (SH). Turnovers: WA 12, SH 14.

JV

Shelbyville 38, Waldron 27

WA – Fischer 9, Lozier 9, Price 3, Benson 3, Hogg 2, Ross 1.
SH – Stieneker 11, Baker 10, Johnson 9, Marshall 4, Simpson 2, Mummert 2.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

WA (2-2)   2  11  2  12  -- 27

SH (1-1)  12    9  8    9  -- 38