PENDLETON -- Kaycie Warfel needed to make one more play to finally vanquish Shelbyville Saturday afternoon at Pendleton Heights.

The sophomore raced the length of the court in 5.1 seconds, split the last two Shelbyville defenders on the way to the rim and got a shot off that rolled in as the buzzer sounded to give the Arabians their third Hoosier Heritage Conference victory of the season, 55-53.

The loss ended Shelbyville’s unbeaten run to start the season.

“We said in our timeout let’s make sure we stop No. 12 (Warfel) in her dribble drive down the court and let’s make her get it out to somebody else to make the shot,” said Shelbyville head coach Becca Hoefler. “Unfortunately, we did not do that and we paid for that.”

Warfel, an All-HHC selection as a freshman and averaging 20 points per game as sophomore, scored a game-high 34 points and added nine rebounds and five steals to her performance.

Shelbyville, seeking its first 8-0 start to a season since 2004, got off to a fast start in its first HHC game of the season. Kylee Edwards and Ava Wilson scored 11 straight points to stake the Golden Bears to an early 11-2 lead.

Shelbyville maintained its lead into the second quarter as the Arabians (5-2, 3-0 HHC) settled for 3-point shots – and missed.

The momentum quickly flipped in the second quarter when Pendleton Heights coach Nick Rogers was assessed two technical fouls and ejected from the game. Edwards sank all four free throws as a result of the technicals and the Golden Bears led 20-13 with 4:19 left in the first half.

Shelbyville never scored again, though, and Warfel jumpstarted a 14-0 run to end the half with the Arabians leading 27-20.

“I wasn’t really happy with our offensive movement. I thought we were stagnant a lot,” said Hoefler.

Edwards sparked an 8-0 run in the third quarter that gave Shelbyville the lead once again, 32-31.

The lead changed nine times from there as the teams went back and forth. Neither team led by more than three points over the game’s final 13 minutes.

Lilly Marshall sank a 3-pointer from the wing to get Shelbyville back even at 42-all early in the fourth quarter. Hailey Pogue hit a top-of-the key 3-pointer to open up a 47-44 lead.

The Golden Bears fell behind but recovered on an Edwards score in the low post to make it 49-48.

A Wilson drive and score put Shelbyville on top 51-50.

Whitney Warfel hit a 15-foot jumper to get the Arabians back on top, 52-51, and Makayla Morrison added a free throw to make it 53-51 with 12 seconds left.

In a scramble at the other end of the floor, Ellie Simpson was fouled and sent to the free-throw line where she calmly sank both shots to tie the game and set up the final scenario.

“I am really proud where the girls are at in our season and how much work we’ve put in and where we’ve come from,” said Hoefler. “I know we’re 7-1 but this was a big game for us to tell us where we’re at.”

Wilson led Shelbyville with 20 points and three assists. Edwards finished with 19 points, 14 rebounds and two assists.

The Golden Bears shot 33% from the field and hit on 6-of-15 3-pointers and were a perfect 15-for-15 from the free-throw line.

Pendleton Heights shot 41% from the field despite going 0-for-17 from the arc.

Shelbyville’s junior varsity improved to 6-0 with a 46-43 victory. Hannah Baker had 13 points and Savannah Collins and Sophia Asher each finished with 12 to lead the Golden Bears.

Shelbyville hosts Batesville (4-3) Saturday.

Pendleton Heights 55, Shelbyville 53

SH – Edwards 5-16 6-6 19, Simpson 0-1 2-2 2, Keller 1-6 2-2 4, Wilson 6-21 5-5 20, Pogue 1-1 0-0 3, E. Johnson 1-2 0-0 2, Marshall 1-1 0-0 3. Totals: 16-48 15-15 53.

PH – Baldwin 1-3 0-0 2, K. Warfel 12-23 10-12 34, Jones 0-3 0-2 0, Shelton 2-4 0-0 4, W. Warfel 6-17 0-0 12, Ross 0-2 0-0 0, Phillips 0-3 0-0 0, Herndon 0-0 0-0 0, Morrison 1-1 1-2 3. Totals: 22-54 11-16 55.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

SH (7-1, 0-1)  16    4  19  14  --  53

PH (5-2, 3-0)    9  18  13  15  --  55

Three-point field goals: SH 6-15 (Edwards 1-6, Wilson 3-7, Pogue 1-1, Marshall 1-1), PH 0-17 (Baldwin 0-1, K. Warfel 0-6, Jones 0-3, Shelton 0-2, W. Warfel 0-2, Ross 0-1, Phillips 0-2). Rebounds: SH 32 (Edwards 14, Simpson 5, Keller 4, Wilson 2, Pogue 3, E. Johnson 4), PH 35 (Baldwin 4, K. Warfel 9, Jones 5, Shelton 4, W. Warfel 6, Ross 4, Phillips 3). Assists: SH 7 (Edwards 2, Wilson 3, Pogue 1, Marshall 1), PH 6 (Baldwin 1, K. Warfel 2, Shelton 1, W. Warfel 2). Steals: SH 3 (Simpson 2, Keller 1), PH 10 (Baldwin 3, K. Warfel 5, Shelton 1, W. Warfel 1). Blocks: PH 3 (K. Warfel 1, Jones 1, W. Warfel 1). Total fouls: SH 20, PH 13. Turnovers: SH 23, PH 16.

JV

Shelbyville 46, Pendleton Heights 43

SH – Baker 13, Collins 12, Asher 12, Fortune 7, Stieneker 2.

PH – Trout 15, Morrison 11, Roberts 9, Jones 3, Perry 2, Lowe 2, Fisher 1.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

SH  17    6  11  12  --  46

PH    9  18  10    6  --  43

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