An undersized Shelbyville squad has scrapped for nearly everything it has gotten this season. The underlying belief being a lack of effort would lead to lopsided losses.
On Saturday night at William L. Garrett Gymnasium, the Golden Bears’ lackluster performance led to one of those losses.
Pendleton Heights raced out to a 12-0 lead, pushed the lead to nearly 20 points by halftime and cruised to an 81-69 Hoosier Heritage Conference win.
The young Arabians squad shot 68% from the field to improve to 3-10 this season and 1-2 against HHC foes.
“Our defensive end really hurt us tonight,” said Shelbyville head coach John Hartnett Jr. “We were playing ‘Ole’ defense when guys would drive down the lane. We would get out of the way because we were scared of contact. We need to start being a tougher team and stepping over into those driving lanes and take some charges.
“Our defense was very poor tonight and that is something we stressed on after the game and what we will be stressing on going into next week.”
Pendleton Heights senior Jamison Dunham connected on four three-pointers in the first half and sophomore Josiah Gustin had 12 points to push the Arabians to a 39-20 lead. Gustin entered the game averaging 9 ppg.
After hitting just eight field goals in the first half, Shelbyville made eight in the third quarter but was still outscored 25-19 to fall behind 64-39 to a team averaging 51 ppg.
After scoring just five points in the first half, Shelbyville’s leading scorer Ollie Sandman heated up, scoring seven in the third quarter and 15 over the final eight minutes for a game-high 27 points.
Jakob Heaton finished with 13 points and Jackson Parker added 10 as the Golden Bears scored 30 points in the final quarter to cut the final deficit to 12.
Dunham had 25 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the arc. The younger brother of former Butler University standout Kellen Dunham came into the game averaging 19 ppg.
“He is a very good player,” said Hartnett Jr. “That is no surprise. The kid lives and breathes basketball. I’ve watched him over the last four years and it’s no magic. He has worked at it. He’s been in the gym in the offseason.
“What I was disappointed in is how many open looks he got in the first half. He easily got four or five open looks and had 18 points and we were down by 19.”
Gustin finished with 18 points while Brayden Kanitz had 14 and Ethan Ross added 11.
Prior to the start of the game, Shelbyville honored the Oldham family (photo) following the recent death of Shelbyville graduate Gary Oldham Jr.
T-shirts with Oldham’s soccer number 19 were sold to help raise funds for the family.
Oldham Jr. was 30 years old.
“If there is one thing I want to take away from this night is the honor and respect we gave Gary before the game,” said Hartnett Jr. “That was the most important thing. It’s never easy losing a classmate and a friend.”
Pendleton Heights won the junior varsity game, 62-59.
Kohen Myers led the Golden Bears with 18 points. Gaige Runnebohm had 14.
Shelbyville travels to Franklin Central (3-7) Wednesday for a potential Sectional 13 preview.
“Franklin Central is very tough,” said Hartnett Jr. “I keep telling the guys this doesn’t get any easier. It’s a (Class) 4A basketball schedule. Obviously we are young and we lack strength and size but we can’t back down from anyone.”
The Golden Bears will close the week back at Garrett Gymnasium Saturday to face Greenfield-Central (4-6).
Pendleton Heights 81, Shelbyville 69
PH: Dunham 10-16 0-0 25, Candiano 1-3 1-2 3, Kanitz 3-3 7-10 14, Ross 3-6 6-7 11, Gustin 7-9 4-5 18, Cookston 0-0 0-0 0, Sims 0-0 0-0 0, Souders 2-2 2-3 6, Caplinger 1-1 0-0 2, Wilson 0-0 0-0 0. Cook 1-1 0-0 2. Totals: 28-41 20-27 81.
SH: Sandman 8-14 5-5 27, Brinkman 2-7 1-3 5, Parker 4-7 0-0 10, Heaton 5-12 2-2 13, Smothers 3-7 0-0 8, Macaluso 2-4 0-0 4, Asher 0-1 0-0 0, Lambert 1-2 0-0 2, Badgley 0-0 0-0 0, Runnebohm 0-0 0-0 0, Chappelow 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 25-54 9-11 69.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
PH (3-10) 17 22 25 17 -- 81
SH (2-9) 9 11 19 30 -- 69
Three-point field goals: PH 6-9 (Dunham 5-7, Kanitz 1-1, Ross 0-1), SH 10-23 (Sandman 5-9, Brinkman 0-1, Parker 2-4, Heaton 1-4, Smothers 2-4, Macaluso 0-1). Rebounds: PH 23 (Dunham 5, Candiano 3, Kanitz 5, Ross 4, Gustin 4, Caplinger 2), SH 17 (Sandman 3, Parker 3, Heaton 1, Smothers 6, Macaluso 2, Lambert 2). Assists: PH 11 (Dunham 3, Kanitz 2, Ross 3, Gustin 1, Souders 2), SH 6 (Sandman 2, Heaton 3, Macaluso 1). Steals: PH 2 (Gustin 2), SH 3 (Sandman 1, Parker 1, Heaton 1). Blocks: PH 4 (Ross 1, Gustin 3), SH 1 (Sandman 1). Total fouls: PH 15, SH 19. Fouled out: Asher (SH). Turnovers: PH 13, SH 12.
