Eight wrestlers representing Shelbyville and Triton Central extended their season by another week with solid performances at the Shelbyville Sectional Saturday at William L. Garrett Gymnasium.

Triton Central’s Ayden Nufio (photo, left) and Shelbyville’s Cael Lux each competed in sectional championship matches at their respective weight classes. Six more wrestled in third-place matches which guaranteed them a spot in the Perry Meridian Regional.

At 106 pounds, Nufio won two matches to set a championship match with New Palestine’s Cole Vandygriff. The freshman pinned Nufio, a sophomore, in the first period to secure the sectional title.

Nufio was an 80-pound freshman a year ago and finished 4-10. Now 20 pounds stronger and more proficient on the mat, he is one win away from a coveted New Castle Semistate berth.

“It was ugly. I was maybe like 80 pounds. I was not very good,” said Nufio after stepping off the awards podium Saturday afternoon.

Nufio entered his second sectional at 15-5.

“Size, of course, but I am better technically,” said Nufio of his 2022 record. “I have improved a lot.”

With just six entrants in his weight class, Nufio started the sectional in the semifinal round with a pinfall victory over Warren Central’s Fransisco Sanchez that moved him into the championship match.

Nufio (photo below) will face the third-place winner from the Southport Sectional at the Perry Meridian Regional – Roncalli freshman Matthew Rossman.

Nufio will use the week to prepare for the biggest match of his career.

“I need to get mentally right. A lot of it is mental and I need to make sure I am conditioned and in the zone,” he said.

Lux entered the sectional as a bit of an underdog at 132 pounds. The junior was a regional qualifier at 138 pounds in 2021 but not seeded in the 2022 field.

With a 5-1 win over Greenfield-Central’s JJ Harlow to start the day, Lux gained confidence.

“I wasn’t expected to win but I got an early takedown and held him down from there,” said Lux.

Lux needed just 44 seconds to pin Scecina’s Jacob Kehrer in the semifinal which set up a rematch with New Palestine’s Elijah Alonso in the championship.

Alonso defeated Lux, 9-6, earlier in the season.

Lux (photo above, left) scored the first points of the sectional title match with an early takedown but Alonso took control in the second period and prevailed 11-3.

With the runner-up finish, Lux should face Southport sophomore Josh Foxworthy at the regional.

“It will be my second time there (at the regional). Last year I went as a No. 4 seed and went up against the No. 1 seed,” said Lux, referring to Southport senior Luke Goodwin, who won sectional, regional and semistate titles in 2021.

Lux went to the New Castle Semistate last year as an alternate and wants to return as a participant this year.

“It would be awesome,” he said. “The environment there is crazy.”

Lux (photo above, left), now 18-14 this season, will have a fellow Golden Bear at the regional Saturday. Sophomore Jacob Harker (12-21) finished fourth at 220 pounds to advance where he will face Perry Meridian’s Aaron Butts in the regional quarterfinal round.

At 152 pounds, Triton Central junior Lucas Kleeman (10-7) defeated Franklin Central’s Jeremy Cox, 6-5, to win the third-place match. Kleeman will face Southport junior Duvonte Rivers in his regional opener.

Hadyn Ball had three state-ranked wrestlers in the 182-pound bracket yet he still finished third to qualify for the regional. Ball (18-5), a junior, defeated Greenfield-Central’s Silas Frye, 3-0, to get a No. 3 seed at the regional.

Ball will face Beech Grove senior Jacob Skinner in his regional opener.

Triton Central freshman Dayne Bailey (13-7) took an injury forfeit in the third-place match to Warren Central’s Terry Easley and will face No. 18 ranked Braden Getz of Roncalli at the regional.

Jaden Ferris lost 11-7 in the third-place match to Greenfield-Central’s Matt Wickham. The Triton Central senior (17-9) faces unbeaten Bryce Lowery of Roncalli. Lowery is ranked No. 3 in the state.

At 160, Triton Central senior Tristan Gibbons (12-8) guaranteed himself at least one more match with a fourth-place finish. Gibbons suffered a first-period pinfall loss to Lutheran’s Joe Davis to finish fourth.

Gibbons will face Roncalli’s Andrew Stuck in the regional.

For the first time in program history, Waldron finishes the regular season as the top-ranked team in Class A.

In the final Indiana Coaches of Girls Sports Association poll of 2022, Waldron (20-1) is ranked No. 1 ahead of No. 2 Lanesville (22-1), who was ranked No. 1 in the first poll of the season.

Waldron and Lanesville could meet in the Class A South Semistate on Feb. 19.

Lafayette Central Catholic (19-4) is ranked No. 3 and the favorite to represent the northern part of the state in the IHSAA Girls Basketball State Championship Game on Feb. 26 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Blue River Valley (21-2) is No. 4 followed by Jac-Cen-Del (17-6), Vincennes Rivet (17-6), Tecumseh (13-8), North White (16-6), Washington Township (15-5) and Northeast Dubois (16-5).

Jac-Cen-Del and Waldron could meet for a second time this season Saturday night in the Class A sectional championship game at Waldron. The Mohawks won the first meeting, 51-48, on Dec. 7 at Waldron.

Waldron is 7-0 against potential Sectional 60 opponents this season.

The only unbeaten team in the state, South Central (Union Mills), is the No. 1 team in Class 2A. The Satellites are 23-0 under first-year coach Ben Anderson.

Winchester (20-1) is No. 2 ahead of Eastbrook (19-2), Fairfield (19-3), Tipton (19-4), University (18-4), Triton Central (19-4), Cascade (18-4), Forest Park (19-3) and Pioneer (19-4).

Eastern Hancock (16-6) is ranked No. 12 and will face Triton Central in the sectional semifinal round Friday at Heritage Christian High School.

If Triton Central wins the sectional, the Tigers would head to the Southmont Regional that should include either No. 6 University of No. 8 Cascade, which are in the same sectional.

South Bend Washington (20-3) held on to the top ranking in Class 3A all season.

Garrett (23-1) is No. 2 followed by Benton Central (23-1), Silver Creek (20-2), Norwell (18-4), Jay County (20-3), Washington (20-3), Hamilton Heights (15-5), Mishawaka Marian (18-5), Evansville Memorial (19-4) and Twin Lakes (18-5).

Homestead (21-1) ends the regular season as the No. 1 team in Class 4A.

Franklin (22-1) is No. 2 ahead of Bedford North Lawrence (20-2), Crown Point (19-3), Noblesville (18-4), Westfield (18-4), Fishers (18-4), Columbus East (17-3), North Central (18-6) and Fort Wayne Snider (17-3).

Franklin opens the Franklin Central Sectional Tuesday at 6 p.m. against Shelbyville (11-11).

Shelbyville won the last three races Saturday morning to earn an 83-82 victory over South Putnam in a boys dual swim meet at Shelbyville High School.

Following wins by Will Rife in the 100-yard backstroke and Tyler Harker in the 100 breaststroke, the duo teamed with Tristin Maloney and Juan Gonzalez-Gallego to win the final race – the 400 freestyle relay.

The Shelbyville quartet touched the wall in 3:50.29 – more than 30 seconds ahead of South Putnam (4:26.31).

Rife won the 100 backstroke in 1:02.73, edging out Gonzalez-Gallego by .20 seconds.

Harker collected first-place points in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:08.87.

Gonzalez-Gallego won the 200 individual medley in 2:18.5. Harker also had wins in the 50 freestyle (23.51), 100 freestyle (52.48) and 500 freestyle (5:16.76).

Shelbyville won the 200 medley relay (1:52.50) with Rife, Harker, Gonzalez-Gallego and Maloney.

Finishing runner-up in events were Lance File (2:19.38 in 200 freestyle), Maloney (2:35 in 200 individual medley), Rife (1:02.14 in 100 butterfly, 1:05.63 in 100 backstroke), Michael Fox (2:15.3 in 200 freestyle, 1:22.72 in 100 breaststroke), Gonzalez-Gallego (58.46 in 100 butterfly), and Blake Hughes (7:36.17 in 500 freestyle).

The team of Andrew Duffy, Fox, File and Maloney finished second in the 200 freestyle relay.

Southwestern celebrated Hall of Fame Night Saturday with a 73-40 victory over Herron.

Aiden Hartsell scored a game-high 28 points to lead Southwestern (5-10). Jordan Jones hit five three-pointers on the way to 20 points and Matthew Clements finished with 11.

The Spartans broke the game open in the third quarter, outscoring the Achaeans (7-6) 21-9 to take a 51-27 lead.

Kaiden Jerabek led Herron with 13 points.

Prior to the game, Southwestern inducted David Hamilton, Kenneth “Butch” Gorrell Jr., Bryce Rowe and Derrick Smith into its Hall of Fame (photo).

On Friday, Southwestern lost to Waldron for the third time this season, 52-47. The county rivals played three overtimes in their first meeting in mid-December and met in the semifinal round of the Shelby County Tournament earlier this month.

Jones led the Spartans in the game that counted toward the Mid-Hoosier Conference standings with 17 points. Hartsell scored 12 and Clements had 10.

Lucas Mitchell scored 21 points to lead Waldron (10-6, 3-1 MHC). Bryce Yarling added 16.

Southwestern (1-3 MHC) hosts Hauser (7-9, 1-3 MHC) Thursday for a conference game then travels to Rising Sun (6-8) Saturday  night.

Nick Stidham scored a game-high 21 points but Knightstown’s balance was too much for Morristown to overcome Saturday night.

Four of the Panthers’ starters scored between nine and 13 points to get Knightstown a 54-38 victory and end a 6-game losing streak.

Mason Fields and Brayden McDaniel each scored 13 points for Knightstown (3-10) while Michael Roberson had 11 and Karson Stiner finished with nine.

Morristown (1-13) trailed 14-7 after one quarter and managed just a Stidham three pointer in the second quarter to fall behind 25-10 at halftime.

Stidham was the only Yellow Jacket to reach double digits in the scoring column. Cade Mahin finished with eight points.

On Friday, Class A, No. 2 Edinburgh got 28 points from junior Caleb Dewey, who surpassed 1,000 career points, in a 69-49 win at Morristown.

Dewey scored just four points in the first quarter but totaled 21 in the middle two quarters to help the Lancers (14-1, 5-0 Mid-Hoosier Conference) open up a 34-14 lead at halftime and a 55-33 advantage after three quarters.

Travis Jones scored 16 for Edinburgh and Riley Palmeter had 11.

Stidham topped Morristown with 23 points, 21 in the second half, and Nolan Laster had 17.

Prior to the game, Morristown inducted former girls basketball head coach Doug Carlton (photo above) and track and field standout Haley Hart (photo below) into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame.

Read more about Carlton's and Hart's accomplishments at https://shelbycountypost.com/sports/615302

Morristown travels to Class A, No. 16 Jac-Cen-Del (10-4) Thursday then hosts Centerville (0-13) Saturday afternoon at the Bee Hive.

With a pair of wins over the weekend, Waldron improved to 10-6 this season.

Waldron got a combined 37 points from Lucas Mitchell and Bryce Yarling Friday night in a 52-47 win over visiting Southwestern. The win was the third for the Mohawks this season over the Spartans.

Mitchell scored 21 points, Yarling had 16 and Bryant Becker added nine to get Waldron the Mid-Hoosier Conference victory and improve to 9-6 (3-1 MHC).

Waldron started fast, building a 19-9 lead after one quarter. The Mohawks led 28-19 at halftime and 36-31 after three quarters.

Jordan Jones scored a team-high 17 points for Southwestern (5-9, 1-3 MHC). Aiden Hartsell finished with 12 and Matthew Clements scored 10.

On Saturday, Becker scored a season-high 19 points while Mitchell and Yarling combined for 45 points to net Waldron a 73-58 Homecoming win over Rising Sun.

Mitchell finished with 25 points and nine rebounds. Yarling had 20 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter, and collected eight assists and five steals.

Becker hit six three-pointers in the win and added four rebounds to get Waldron a win over a potential sectional opponent in Rising Sun (6-8).

Caden Sheaffer scored four points in the win and was named Homecoming King. Kiara Heagy was selected Homecoming Queen.

Waldron is at North Decatur (6-9, 2-1 MHC) Thursday and hosts Tri (4-5) Saturday at noon.

Triton Central kept itself at the top of the Indiana Crossroads Conference standings Friday night with a 65-47 Homecoming win over Indianapolis Scecina.

The host Tigers (9-7, 3-0 ICC) led 43-31 after three quarters then produced a 22-point fourth quarter to top the Crusaders (7-8, 0-3 ICC).

Caleb Miller and Alex Crouse combined for 12 fourth-quarter points and led Triton Central overall with 17 points and 16 points, respectively.

Josh Kemper had six points on a night when he was crowned Homecoming King. Olivia Faust was named Homecoming Queen (photo).

Scecina scored just three points in the opening quarter to fall behind 15-3. Layden Adair scored six of his team-high 17 points in the second quarter but his Crusaders trailed 31-17 at halftime.

Keaton Thibo and Jaylen Long each scored nine points for Scecina. David Mendez finished with eight.

Beech Grove (9-5, 3-0 ICC) and Triton Central are tied atop the ICC standings with Ritter (5-8, 3-1 ICC) one game back in the loss column.

Triton Central had its three-game win streak snapped Saturday night at South Decatur.

The Tigers trailed by 11 at halftime and cut the deficit to 53-51 after three quarters but could not complete the comeback.

Hunter Johnson scored 37 points to lead South Decatur to a 72-64 win. Johnson also had nine rebounds, four assists and three steals.

Jacob Scruggs finished with 15 points and six assists for South Decatur (8-8). Evan Wullenweber had 10 points, five rebounds and two blocked shots.

Caleb Miller led Triton Central (9-8) with 21 points. Kemper finished with 14.

Triton Central returns to action Saturday at noon at Oldenburg Academy (3-10).

Kaliyah Brown continued a strong sophomore season for Shelbyville’s gymnastics team with a runner-up finish Saturday in the all-around competition in a four-team-meet hosted by Roncalli.

Brown placed second in the vault and fourth on the uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise.

Roncalli won the meet with 103.15 points. The Golden Bears were second at 84.3. Lutheran (33.35) and Scecina (42.76) rounded out the competition.

Shelbyville hosts Rushville tonight at Girls Inc. in Shelbyville.

Morristown’s girls basketball program closed out its regular season with four straight wins after a 45-22 victory Friday at the Bee Hive over Edinburgh.

Nevaeh Sanders led the Yellow Jackets (13-9, 4-2 Mid-Hoosier Conference) with 15 points, three rebounds, four assists and three steals.

Gracie Laster scored nine points and Raegan Kleine finished with eight points and six rebounds.

Morristown trailed 8-7 after one quarter but held a 13-12 lead at halftime then outscored the Lancers (8-10, 1-4 MHC) 32-10 in the second half to secure a third-place finish in the conference standings behind Waldron and North Decatur.

Also for Morristown Friday, Danika Rutledge had six points, seven rebounds and five steals. Alexia Rogers added five points.

Morristown travels to Waldron Wednesday for its sectional opener against Southwestern (12-10). Tipoff is scheduled for approximately 7:30 p.m.

Based on the pre-sectional brackets, several wrestlers from Shelbyville and Triton Central have opportunities to advance to the regional round of the state tournament.

Shelbyville High School’s William L. Garrett Gymnasium is the host site for the 2022 wrestling sectional involving the Golden Bears and Tigers. Also competing will be Eastern Hancock, Franklin Central, Greenfield-Central, Lutheran, Scecina, New Palestine and Warren Central.

A top-four finish in each weight class secures a berth in the Perry Meridian Regional on Feb. 5. The higher the sectional finish equals a stronger seed at the regional level.

Shelbyville’s  Cael Lux and Triton Central’s Ayden Nufio, Dayne Bailey, Jaden Ferris, Tristan Gibbons and Hadyn Ball have favorable matchups in their respective weight classes to get those top-four finishes.

At 132 pounds, Lux (16-13) will face Greenfield-Central’s JJ Harlow (12-8) in a quarterfinal match. The winner will face either Lutheran’s Jimmy Davis (3-2) or Scecina’s Jacob Kehrer (9-5) in the semifinals.

Warren Central’s Adrian Cohen (9-1) is the top seed and in the opposite side of the bracket as Lux.

Triton Central’s Marcos Davis (9-6) is slated to meet New Palestine’s Elijah Alonso (9-11) in the opening round with the winner facing Franklin Central’s Timmy Day (11-12) in the quarterfinals.

Nufio, 15-5 this season, has the second most wins in the bracket at 106 pounds. New Palestine’s Cole Vandygriff (14-4) is the top seed and will face Shelbyville’s Ian Barajas (2-6) in the quarterfinal round.

Nufio is matched against Eastern Hancock’s Logan Gilman (4-9) with a berth in the semifinals at stake.

At 113, Bailey (11-5) will face Eastern Hancock’s Zane Badgley (4-7) in the quarterfinal round. Bailey’s 11 wins is third most in the weight class behind New Palestine’s Bryce Doss (23-5) and Greenfield-Central’s Lincoln Parson (17-10).

Shelbyville’s Isaiah Havens (7-8) takes on Warren Central’s Terry Easley (17-13) in a quarterfinal match.

Ferris, at 15-7, is the No. 2 seed at 138 pounds. Franklin Central’s Cayden Shelton (25-8) is the top seed on the other side of the bracket.

Ferris opens against New Palestine’s Diego Reyes (1-14) in the quarterfinal round.

Shelbyville’s Tarik Runnebohm (9-8) will square off with Warren Central’s Sterling Smith (17-11).

Gibbons is wrestling at 160 pounds where there are a pair of top 20-ranked competitors.

Warren Central’s Brenton Russell (32-4), ranked No. 14 at 152 pounds, moves up to 160 and is the top seed. Greenfield-Central’s Clay Guenin (27-4), is ranked No. 15 at 160 pounds.

Gibbons (10-6) opens against New Palestine’s Jaedyn Jeffries (8-20) in the quarterfinal round. A win would likely set up a semifinal match with Russell.

Shelbyville’s Brayden Schultz (7-18) takes on Lutheran’s Joe Davis (13-5) in another quarterfinal match.

There are only eight wrestlers in the 182-pound bracket but three are state ranked.

New Palestine’s Porter Keevers (15-1) is ranked No. 22 and is the top seed at the sectional. Warren Central’s Mike Durham (33-3) is ranked No. 17. Franklin Central’s Jeremiah Smith (11-6) is ranked No. 24.

Ball (15-4) gets Scecina’s Alex Morales (9-9) in the quarterfinal round. A win would likely set up a showdown with Keevers in the semifinal round.

Also competing at the sectional for Shelbyville will be Ethan Watkins (9-9 at 126 pounds), Braxton Mills (28 at 145), Keagan Turner (2-14 at 152), Carson Linville (12-10 at 170), Ryan Bradley (8-12 at 195), Jacob Harker (10-19 at 220) and Elias Jones (14-11 at 285).

Also in the Triton Central lineup are Lucas Kleeman (6-6 at 152), Isaak Booth (12-10 at 170), Andrew Bailey (9-9 at 195), Austin Myers (7-7 at 220) and Aden Sosbe (2-12 at 285).

Weight class brackets are subject to change based on the pre-match weigh-ins.

The Indiana High School Athletic Association recently released the minutes from the Jan. 13 IHSAA Executive Committee meeting.

Within the minutes were approval of the track and field postseason events.

Athletes from Morristown, Shelbyville and Triton Central will compete in the New Palestine Girls Track and Field Sectional on May 17 along with Beech Grove, Christel House Academy, Franklin Central, Greenfield-Central, Lutheran, Scecina, New Palestine, Roncalli, Victory College Prep and Warren Central.

Athletes from Southwestern and Waldron will compete at the Franklin Sectional with Center Grove, Columbus East, Columbus North, Edinburgh, Franklin, Greenwood Christian, Greenwood, Hauser, Indian Creek and Whiteland.

The girls regional for both sectionals will be at Franklin High School on May 24.

The state championship meet will return to the campus of Indiana University in Bloomington on June 3.

Morristown, Shelbyville and Triton Central will send boys track and field participants to the Greenfield-Central Sectional on May 19. The schools in the G-C Sectional are the same as the New Palestine girls sectional.

Southwestern and Waldron athletes will travel to the Columbus North Sectional.

Greenfield-Central also will serve as the boys regional site on May 26 for both the G-C Sectional and Columbus North Sectional.

The state finals will be held June 4 at Robert C. Haugh Track & Field Complex at Indiana University.

In other news:

• A proposal from the Softball Coaches Association of Indiana (SCAI) was approved 18-0. The proposal asked for six-team sectional brackets to be set up the same as basketball and volleyball sectionals where the team receiving a bye playing teams that advanced from round one.
• A list of 506 basketball officials that applied for this year’s Girls Basketball State Tournament Series was presented. The series will require six officials per sectional for a total of 384 individuals.
• A total of 584 officials applied to work this year’s Boys Basketball State Tournament Series. The tournament requires 384 individuals.
• A list of 154 wrestling officials was presented to work the Wrestling State Tournament Series. A total of 128 officials are needed at the sectional level.
• A total of 60 applicants applied to officiate the 2022 swimming and diving state tournaments.
• When discussing unsporting behavior for the time period between Aug. 1, 2021, and Jan. 7, 2022, a troubling trend in boys soccer was identified.

A total of 131 athletes were ejected in boys soccer contests in that time period. Football was second with 107 athlete ejections. Girls soccer followed with 23 ejections, ahead of boys basketball (16), girls basketball (11), wrestling (10) and volleyball, which had no athletes ejected.

The IHSAA will address the statistics with the state coaches association as well as the Sportsmanship Task Force. In addition, five schools with poor sportsmanship scores will be appearing before the Executive Committee this summer to discuss plans for improvement. The schools were not identified.

Kaliyah Brown produced a standout performance Thursday at Connersville but the Golden Bears gymnastics team could not seal the win over the Spartans.

Connersville won the meet over Shelbyville, 88.2-82.15.

Brown (photo, far right) won two events and finished runner-up in two more to win the all-around competition. She took first place in the vault and floor exercise and was second on the uneven bars and balance beam.

Also for Shelbyville, Ruby Garner finished third in the vault; Renee Aldridge (photo, second from left) was third on the balance beam and fifth in the floor exercise and uneven bars; and Ella Griggs was sixth on the uneven bars and balance beam.

Shelbyville will travel to Roncalli Saturday.

With a 58-20 win over Milan Thursday, Class A, No. 1 Waldron finished the regular season at 20-1.

After celebrating seven seniors ahead of their final regular season game on their home floor, the Mohawks blasted out to a 35-10 halftime lead and were never challenged by the Indians (5-17).

Waldron is the host site for Class A, Sectional 60 which begins Tuesday with Oldenburg Academy (8-12) facing Rising Sun (9-13). The winner advances to Friday’s semifinal round to take on Waldron, who defeated both teams in the regular season by a combined score of 113-30.

The other half of the bracket plays Wednesday with Class A, No. 6 Jac-Cen-Del (17-6) facing Hauser (10-12) and Morristown (12-9) battling Southwestern (12-10).

Waldron is 7-0 against the sectional field this season including a 51-48 victory over Jac-Cen-Del on Dec. 7.

Triton Central is the 2022 Indiana Crossroads Conference girls basketball champion.

With a 56-9 win Thursday at Beech Grove, the Tigers closed out the conference title with a perfect 7-0 mark.

Olivia Faust led Class 2A, No. 8 Triton Central (19-4) with 20 points.

Hallie Schweitzer scored 11 points and Lizzie Graham, Brooklyn Bailey and Kennedy Brown combined for 22 points to net the Tigers their fourth-straight win.

Triton Central held the Hornets (4-17, 1-6 ICC) scoreless in the opening quarter and built a 20-0 lead. That advantage grew to 34-2 at halftime.

Brookelynne Rucker led Beech Grove with five points.

Class 2A, No. 9 Cascade (18-4, 6-1) finished second in the conference standings. Triton Central defeated the Cadets, 57-47, on Nov. 11.

Speedway (15-6, 5-2) finished third ahead of Ritter (7-14, 4-3), Monrovia (8-15, 3-4), Scecina (8-13, 1-6), Lutheran (5-16, 1-6) and Beech Grove.

Triton Central begins its quest for a fifth-straight sectional title against 2A No. 12 Eastern Hancock (16-6) on Feb. 4 at Heritage Christian High School in Indianapolis.

The Tigers defeated Eastern Hancock, 50-41, on Nov. 13.

Class 2A, Sectional 42 starts Tuesday with Heritage Christian (13-11) hosting Indianapolis Scecina (8-13). The winner advances to Friday’s semifinal round to take on Irvington Prep (1-10).

Shelbyville nearly matched its season scoring average in the first half Thursday at Hauser.

The Golden Bears’ 41 first-half points netted a 41-23 lead and they rolled to a 71-38 win against the Jets (10-12) in their regular-season finale.

Shelbyville came into the game averaging 45 points per game and finished with a season-high 71 points.

Kylie Edwards scored 26 points to get Shelbyville back to .500 at 11-11. It is the first time Shelbyville has been at least .500 to close out a regular season since 2016.

Madison Phares had 11 points. Madison Bassett finished with eight and Ava Wilson had seven.

The Golden Bears closed the regular season with three straight victories to get back to .500 before the postseason starts.

Shelbyville’s junior varsity closed out its season Thursday with a 37-15 win over the Jets to finish 16-3.

Shelbyville travels to Franklin Central Tuesday for a Class 4A, Sectional 13 opener against 4A No. 2 Franklin (22-1).

The Golden Bears lost at Franklin, 67-28, on Dec. 18.

The winner advances to face Central Grove (12-9) Friday in the semifinal round.

In the other half of the sectional, Whiteland (6-15) takes on Greenwood (11-10) Tuesday with the winner moving into the semifinal round to face Franklin Central (5-15).

Kennedy Pile’s last two points came with 0.4 seconds left on the clock and sealed a 54-53 come-from-behind win for Southwestern Thursday at Greenwood Christian.

Pile grabbed an offensive rebound and scored to get the Spartans their fourth-straight win to close out the regular season.

Lilly Rooks led all scorers with 20 points for Southwestern (12-10). Lily Kerber finished with 17 and the duo combined for 23 second-half points that helped erase a 30-23 halftime deficit.

Dani Simon led Greenwood Christian (11-11) with 16 points. Ellie Bigelow had 15 and Sydney Waldron scored nine.

Southwestern will start the postseason Wednesday at the Class A, Sectional 60 tournament at Waldron against Morristown (12-9).

Morristown won the regular-season meeting, 38-32, at Southwestern on Jan. 10.

The winner advances to Friday’s semifinal round to face either Class A, No. 6 Jac-Cen-Del (17-6) or Hauser (10-12).

Morristown secured its third-straight victory Thursday night and celebrated a Senior Night win over Indianapolis Lutheran, 44-37.

For the fourth consecutive game, freshman Nevaeh Sanders scored at least 20 points to lead Morristown, now 12 -9 overall. Sanders led the way with 20 points and also had six rebounds and five steals against the Saints (5-16).

Raegan Kleine continued to be a formidable 1-2 punch with Sanders at the end of the season. She scored 17 points and added four rebounds, five assists and five steals.

The Yellow Jackets opened up a 23-19 halftime lead with a 12-5 scoring advantage in the third quarter to take a 35-24 lead into the final quarter.

Morristown will finish its regular-season schedule tonight with a Mid-Hoosier Conference game against visiting Edinburgh (8-8, 1-2 MHC). With a win, the Yellow Jackets (3-2 MHC) would lock in a third-place finish in the standings behind conference champ Waldron and runner-up North Decatur.

There is a full slate of events tonight at the Bee Hive around the girls/boys basketball doubleheader with Edinburgh. The girls varsity-only contest tips off at 6 p.m. in the main gym while the boys junior varsity game takes place in the old gym.

At the conclusion of the girls game, Morristown will induct former girls basketball coach Doug Carlton and former track and field standout Haley Hart into its Athletic Hall of Fame.

At halftime of the boys varsity game, there will be a Unified Champions basketball game with teams representing Morristown and Edinburgh.

There will be a canned food drive for the Morristown High School food pantry. Three cans or non-perishable items brought to the game equals 50% off ticket prices; five cans or non-perishable items brought equals free admission.

There also will be a bake sale to benefit Special Olympics of Indiana.

Morristown will then turn its attention to the postseason with a Wednesday Class A, Sectional 60 quarterfinal game against Southwestern (12-10) at Waldron.

The Spartans have won four straight entering the postseason but lost to Morristown, 38-32, on Jan. 10.

Taylor Heath scored 19 of her career-high 27 points in the second half Wednesday to lead Hanover’s women’s basketball team to a road conference win at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.

Heath (photo), a Triton Central graduate, also had four rebounds, six assists and one steal in Hanover’s 75-63 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference win.

The Panthers improved to 8-7 this season and 5-5 in the HCAC standings.

Heath, a freshman, had seven points, five assists and one steal on Jan. 19 in Hanover’s 84-60 loss to No. 3 Transylvania.

On Saturday, she had 14 points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals in a 77-68 loss at Bluffton.

Here is a look at other Shelby County graduates competing at the collegiate level.

Maya Chandler

The Triton Central graduate finished with 11 points, seven rebounds and two assists in Loyola’s 68-54 win Friday over Evansville.

The Ramblers improved to 11-7 overall and 3-4 in the Missouri Valley Conference.

Triton Central graduate Rylie Stephens played two minutes for Evansville (7-9, 1-4 MVC) and did not score.

Hayden Langkabel

The Morristown graduate had 17 points, one rebound and two assists Tuesday to help Marian defeat No. 9-ranked Grace College, 82-67.

The Knights improved to 15-4 this season and 7-4 in Crossroads League games.

On Saturday, Marian lost at No. 7 Indiana Wesleyan, 81-77. Langkabel had 10 points, six rebounds, one steal and one assist.

 Drake Moore

The Morristown graduate scored three points and had one rebound and one steal for York in an 81-70 loss Monday at Friends University in Wichita, Kansas.

Kenzie Ryle

The Triton Central graduate finished with two rebounds, one assist and one steal on Jan. 19 in Earlham College’s 80-64 loss against Defiance College.

Ryle did not play Saturday in Earlham’s 80-62 loss at Manchester. Earlham is 0-13 this season and 0-6 in HCAC contests.

Zaleeya Martin

The Shelbyville graduate was named HCAC Track Athlete of the Week after scoring three first-place finishes for Hanover Saturday at the Mt. St. Joseph Invitational.

Martin won the 60-meter dash (7.97 seconds), the 200 (28.06) and was part of Hanover’s winning 4x200 relay team (1:53.83).

Madisen Hinderliter

The Shelbyville graduate finished fourth for St. Francis in the women’s weight throw at the Indiana Wesleyan University Invitational.

Hinderliter’s best distance was 12.61 meters.

Kenneth Gipson

The Triton Central graduate finished seventh in the shot put (37 feet, 9.25 inches) and fifth in the weight throw (41-9.25) for Rose-Hulman Friday in the Friday Night Spikes Meet in Terre Haute.

Chandler Martin

The Shelbyville graduate placed fourth in the high jump (1.83 meters) for the University of Indianapolis in the University of Indianapolis Classic Saturday.

Cameron Baker

The Shelbyville graduate finished third in the first of two one-meter diving competitions and fifth in the second for Franklin College Saturday in a dual meet against Rose-Hulman.

Baker scored 146.05 points in his first event and 173.6 points in the second.

Nolan Davis

The Shelbyville graduate celebrated Senior Day Saturday for Franklin College’s swim and dive team with an 183-115 win over Rose-Hulman.

In the final home dual meet of his career, Davis (photo below, right) won the 200-yard freestyle (1:45.74) and 500 freestyle (4:55.95). He also was part of Franklin’s winning 400 freestyle relay team with fellow senior Davis Fletcher (photo below, left), Jack Burke and Campbell Coyle.

Gary 21^st Century, Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian, NorthWood and Chesterton are the top-ranked teams in this week’s Associated Press boys basketball state poll.

Gary 21^st Century (11-2) and No. 2 Edinburgh (12-1) jumped over previous No. 1 North Daviess (14-2) in the Class A poll.

Barr-Reeve (10-6) is No. 4 ahead of Loogootee (12-4), Bloomfield (13-3), Indianapolis Lutheran (10-3), Indianapolis Tindley (9-5), Orleans (12-2) and Triton (11-3).

Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian (13-2) rose two spots to No. 1 in the Class 2A poll.

Monroe Central (13-0) is No. 2 with Central Noble (15-1) falling from the top spot to No. 3.

Eastside (16-1) is No. 4 with Linton-Stockton (14-2), Carroll (Flora) (12-0), Lake Station (13-0), Clinton Prairie (13-2), South Spencer (10-2) and Wapahani (12-3) rounding out the top 10.

NorthWood (15-1) stayed on top of the Class 3A poll for another week. John Glenn (16-0) is No. 2 with Mishawka Marian (12-3), Leo (9-2), Sullivan (14-1), Indianapolis Chatard (13-1), Brebeuf Jesuit (10-4), Brownstown Central (12-2), Peru (11-1) and Connersville (12-4) following.

Unbeaten Chesterton (14-0) is No. 1 in Class 4A with Fishers (14-2), Zionsville (10-3), Indianapolis Tech (15-3), Carmel (11-4), Indianapolis Cathedral (13-4), Ben Davis (12-4), Terre Haute North (16-1), Valparaiso (14-3) and Westfield (12-4) completing the top 10.

With just days left in the high school girls basketball regular season, Waldron remains the No. 1-ranked team in the Indiana Coaches of Girls Sports Association’s Class A poll.

The Mohawks, now 19-1, host Milan (5-16) Thursday to close out the regular season.

Lanesville (21-1) is ranked No. 2 in the poll ahead of Lafayette Central Catholic (18-4), Blue River (20-2), Tecumseh (13-7), Jac-Cen-Del (16-6), Vincennes Rivet (16-5), Northeast Dubois (15-4), North White (15-6), Caston (16-5) and Trinity Lutheran (14-7).

The only unbeaten team left in the state is Class 2A, No. 1 South Central (Union Mills). The Satellites are 22-0 and close out the regular season Friday at LaCrosse (14-6).

Winchester (19-1) is No. 2 with Eastbrook (17-2), University (18-2), Tipton (18-3), Fairfield (18-3), Forest Park (18-3), Triton Central (18-4), Cascade (17-4) and Pioneer (18-4) in pursuit.

South Bend Washington (20-2) continues its season-long hold on the top spot in the Class 3A poll.

Garrett (22-1) is No. 2 with Silver Creek (20-2), Benton Central (23-1), Norwell (17-4), Jay County (19-3), Washington (19-3), Hamilton Heights (15-5), Mishawaka Marian (17-5) and Twin Lakes (17-5) rounding out the top 10.

Homestead (20-1) sits atop the top 10 in Class 4A. Franklin (21-1) is No. 2 ahead of Crown Point (18-3), Bedford North Lawrence (19-2), Noblesville (17-4), North Central (18-5), Westfield (18-4), Fishers (17-4), Fort Wayne Snider (16-3) and Columbus East (17-3).

Class 2A, No. 8 Triton Central celebrated Senior Night with a 59-29 win Tuesday in Fairland.

Lizzie Graham scored a game-high 22 points to lead Triton Central (18-4).

Olivia Faust finished with 15 points in her final home game at Triton Central. Maia Harris had 10 points.

The Tigers took a 17-5 lead into the first quarter break and extended the lead to 33-13 at halftime.

Ella Scaringe led Perry Meridian (4-15) with 21 points.

Triton Central travels to Beech Grove (4-16) Thursday to close out the regular-season schedule and secure outright the Indiana Crossroads Conference championship. The Tigers (6-0 ICC) are the only unbeaten team left in the ICC standings.

In another girls basketball game Tuesday:

Southwestern 51, Brown County 33

At Southwestern, the host Spartans trailed 17-11 after one quarter but held the visiting Eagles to 22 points over the final three quarters to secure their third-straight victory.

Lily Kerber finished with a game-high 18 points for Southwestern (11-10). Lilly Rooks added 13 and McKinley Correll had nine.

Katie Tipton led Brown County (3-19) in its regular-season finale. The Eagles have lost eight straight going into the postseason tournament.

Southwestern won the junior varsity game, 23-16.

Katelynn Coffman topped the Spartans with 11 points. Amber Benson finished with six.

Ava Sanders led Brown County with 11 points.

Southwestern ends its regular season Thursday at Greenwood Christian (11-10).

The Hoosier Basketball Coaches Association honored 42 girls basketball players from southern Indiana as All-District performers.

HBCA member coaches vote on the top senior players. The top 10 vote getters from each of the four districts, including ties, were selected All-District.

Shelby County is part of District 3 and Triton Central senior Olivia Faust and Waldron senior Bella Larrison were two of the 10 players selected to represent the district.

Also selected All-District in District 3 were Jac-Cen-Del’s Annabelle Williams, Franklin’s Ashlyn Traylor and Kuryn Brunson, Columbus East’s Harley Gant and Koryn Greiwe, East Central’s Hope Fox, Columbus North’s Kylah Lawson and Jennings County’s Lily Ernstes.

The District 1 selections were Washington’s Alaina Thorne, Jesse Ledgerwood and Kencia Levasseur, Bloomington North’s Amya Mayes, Vincennes Lincoln’s Chloe Cardinal and Dani Kroeger, Sullivan’s Delainey Shorter and Gracie Shorter, North Knox’s Graycie Poe, and Vincennes Rivet’s Maddisyn Halter and Meredith Weiss.

In District 2, those honored were Forest Park’s Ali Welp, Jasper’s Aspen Sermersheim, Princeton’s Cortney Dove, Heritage Hills’ Hadley Lytton, Evansville North’s Jaidn Green, Kaliah Neighbors and Kaylee Martin, Castle’s Jordan Coon and Natalie Niehaus, and Tecumseh’s Kaybree Oxley.

District 4’s selections were Salem’s Abigail Ratts, Macie Tomlinson and Natalie Noel, Charlestown’s Demaria King, North Harrison’s Dianna Burgher, Silver Creek’s Emme Rooney, Kynidi Mason Striverson and Sydney Sierota, Floyd Central’s Keegan Kaiser, Crawford County’s Sarah Stutzman and Madison’s Taylor Lynch.

Southwestern’s girls basketball program delivered a birthday present for head coach Jason West.

The Spartans improved to 10-10 this season with a 49-29 win Monday at Indiana Deaf on West’s birthday.

The Spartans led 25-15 at halftime then outscored the Orioles 19-4 in the third quarter to pull away for the win.

Lily Kerber finished with a team-high 16 points. Alison Muck had 10.

Seanna Baird led Indiana Deaf (7-12) with 17 points.

Southwestern closes out its regular-season schedule with a home game tonight against Brown County (3-18) and a road game Thursday at Greenwood Christian (11-9).

In another girls basketball game Monday:

Morristown 54, Knightstown 20

At Knightstown, freshman Nevaeh Sanders topped 20 points for the third consecutive game to lead the Yellow Jackets to their 11^th win this season.

Sanders had a game-high 21 points and had four rebounds and four steals to push Morristown’s record to 11-9 this season.

Raegan Kleine scored 15 points and had eight rebounds and four assists. Danika Rutledge finished with seven points and 10 rebounds. Maggie Lutes had 11 rebounds.

Knightstown closed out the regular season with a 2-20 record.

Morristown has two more games this week. The Yellow Jackets host Lutheran (5-14) Thursday and travel Friday to Edinburgh (8-7).

The Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) slotted 389 girls basketball teams Sunday for the 47^th annual IHSAA Girls Basketball State Tournament.

Sectional games begin Feb. 1 with champions crowned on Feb. 5. The regional round is Feb. 12 with semistate games following on Feb. 19.

The four state championship games will be played Feb. 26 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the home of the Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever, in downtown Indianapolis.

Here is a look at the three sectional fields for the five Shelby County girls basketball programs:

Class 4A Franklin Central Sectional

Shelbyville has battled this season to stay at or near .500. With one game left, the Golden Bears could achieve a .500 regular season and carry momentum into the sectional tournament.

Sunday’s draw did not favor Shelbyville, though.

The Golden Bears (10-11) open the tournament on Feb. 1 at 6 p.m. against Class 4A, No. 2 Franklin (20-1). The winner advances to Friday’s semifinal round to face Center Grove (11-9).

Shelbyville lost to Franklin, 67-28, on Dec. 18.

In the other quarterfinal matchup at Franklin Central, Whiteland (6-14) takes on Greenwood (11-9) with the winner getting the host Flashes (5-14) in the semifinals.

The Franklin Central Sectional champ advances to the Columbus North Regional to take on the Bloomington North Sectional champion.

Class 4A, No. 10 Columbus East (16-3) and 4A No. 13 East Central (18-4) are in the field at Bloomington North.

Class 2A Heritage Christian Sectional

The two state-ranked programs in the sectional will meet in the semifinal round.

Class 2A, No. 8 Triton Central (17-4) opens sectional play against 2A No. 11 Eastern Hancock (14-5) on Feb. 4. Those two teams met on Nov. 13 with Triton Central prevailing 50-41.

Heritage Christian (12-10) hosts Indianapolis Scecina (8-11) in the only sectional quarterfinal game on Feb. 1. The winner advances to face Irvington Prep Academy (1-10) in the semifinals.

Since a sectional realignment in 2016, Triton Central and Eastern Hancock have met in the postseason five of the last six seasons – Triton Central has won four of those meetings and all six regular season meetings during that same time period.

Earlier this season, Triton Central head coach Bryan Graham noted that someone was going to have to go through two tough opponents to win a sectional title. On Sunday, he learned it was his Tigers, who have won four straight sectional titles.

“Honestly, with the teams in the sectional, it will be a toss up,” he said.

With a win over the Royals earlier this season, Graham expects Eastern Hancock to be ready for a rematch.

“I’m sure they are,” he said, “but we are starting to get a little bit hungry again.”

The winner of the Heritage Christian Sectional advances to the Southmont Regional to face the Southmont Sectional champion.

Parke Heritage (16-5) and North Putnam (13-8) are the only two teams in that sectional with winning records. Parke Heritage defeated North Putnam, 65-52, on Dec. 11.

Class A Waldron Sectional

Two top-five programs are on opposite sides of the bracket.

In the opening game Feb. 1, Rising Sun (8-12) takes on Oldenburg Academy (7-12) with the winner advancing to face Class A, No. 1 Waldron (19-1) on its home floor in the semifinal round.

There are two quarterfinal games on Feb. 2.

In the first one, Hauser (10-10) battles Class A, No. 5 Jac-Cen-Del (16-5). Southwestern (9-10) gets a familiar foe in Morristown (10-9) in the second game.

The winners meet on Friday in the second semifinal game.

Waldron has beaten every team in the sectional field, including Southwestern twice. The Mohawks defeated Jac-Cen-Del, 51-48, on Dec. 7.

Morristown defeated Southwestern, 38-32, on Jan. 10.

The winner of the Waldron Sectional moves on to the Southwestern Regional to face the winner of the Clay City Sectional. North Central (Farmersburg) (15-6) and Eminence (10-6) are the only two teams in the sectional field with winning records.

North Central defeated Eminence, 59-45, on Nov. 20.

Triton Central got out of the gate fast Saturday night against Class A, No. 8 Indianapolis Lutheran and rolled to a 66-61 victory.

The Tigers scored 23 first-quarter points and extended their lead to 31-14 at halftime. The Saints hit 10 second-half three-pointers to cut into the lead but five different Triton Central players scored in the fourth quarter to secure the Indiana Crossroads Conference win.

Isaac Morgan finished with a team-high 17 points to lead Triton Central (8-7, 2-0 ICC). Caleb Miller and Josh Kemper each scored 13.

L.J. Ward topped Lutheran (10-3, 3-1 ICC) with 20 points. Mitchell Lee had four 3s in the second half and finished with 18 points.

Triton Central continues its ICC schedule Friday when it hosts Indianapolis Scecina (7-6, 0-1). The Tigers are at South Decatur (7-8) Saturday.

In other prep events Saturday:

Boys basketball

Bethesda Christian 68, Waldron 45

At Bethesda Christian, the visiting Mohawks overcame a slow start to stay within range but the Class A, No. 14-ranked Patriots were too strong in the fourth quarter, outscoring Waldron 22-10.

Sam Mlagan led Bethesda Christian (9-2) with 21 points. Demonte Ferguson had 18 and Luke Stuckey made four 3s on the way to 14 points.

The Patriots led 24-6 after one quarter and 33-24 and 46-35 at the next two breaks.

Bryce Yarling led Waldron (8-6) with 21 points. Lucas Mitchell finished with 13.

Waldron hosts Southwestern (4-9) Friday and Rising Sun (6-7) Saturday.

Girls basketball

Shelbyville 55, Delta 17

At Shelbyville, the host Golden Bears closed out their Hoosier Heritage Conference schedule with a win over the Eagles (3-16, 0-6 HHC).

Shelbyville (10-11, 4-3 HHC) built a 15-5 advantage after one quarter and extended that to 33-9 at halftime.

Kylee Edwards led the Golden Bears with 18 points in the season finale at William L. Garrett Gymnasium.  Abby Brenner had 13 points and Ava Wilson finished with seven.

Abby Rouse led Delta with nine points.

Shelbyville closes out its regular season schedule Thursday at Hauser (10-10).

Boys swimming

Yorktown 120, Shelbyville 48

Mt. Vernon 116, Shelbyville 52

At Mt. Vernon, the Golden Bears did not have an event win against a pair of HHC opponents but Tyler Harker and Juan Gonzalez-Gallego had runner-up performances.

Harker finished second in the 200-yard freestyle in 1:56.34. He also finished third in the 500 freestyle (5:21.30).

Gonzalez-Gallego placed second in the 100 butterfly (58.60) and third in the 200 individual medley (2:16.11).

The duo teamed with Will Rife and Tristin Maloney to finish third in the 200 medley relay (1:54.70).

Shelbyville is at Indian Creek Thursday.

Girls swimming

Yorktown 104, Shelbyville 51

Mt. Vernon 100, Shelbyville 55

At Mt. Vernon, Karissa Hamilton and Miriam Garringer each scored individual wins for Shelbyville and formed half of a winning relay team,

Hamilton won the 50 freestyle in 25.49 and finished runner-up in the 100 freestyle (56.62).

Garringer won the 200 freestyle in 2:11.39 and was runner-up in the 500 freestyle (5:56.03).

Hamilton and Garringer teamed with Marlee Rice and Madison Monroe to win the 200 freestyle relay (1:49.83).

Rice also had third-place finishes in the 100 freestyle (59.58) and 50 freestyle (27.69).

Shelbyville is at Indian Creek Thursday.

A matchup of two of the Hoosier Heritage Conference scorers didn’t quite materialize as Greenfield-Central’s zone defense kept Shelbyville’s Ollie Sandman in check in the Cougars’ Saturday win at Garrett Gym, 62-44.

Greenfield-Central junior Dylan Moles poured in 23 points to lead all scorers.  It matched his output in a Thursday win over Richmond as the Cougars got ‘back to normal’ following Covid protocols that caused Greenfield-Central to resort to E-learning and postpone games over the previous weekend.

The game was tied at 11 after the first eight minutes.  Greenfield-Central (6-6, 2-2 HHC) dominated the middle two quarters to the tune of 40-20 and took a 51-31 lead into the final quarter.

Joey Roland also reached double-figures for Greenfield-Central.  His 10 points included the highlight of the night, a two-handed dunk from an off-the-backboard alley-oop by teammate Rashawn Street.

Sandman, averaging 22.1 ppg, was held to just 10.  Nolyn Smothers and Jakob Heaton topped the Shelbyville (2-11, 0-5 HHC) scoring effort with 11 each.

Shelbyville will host Indian Creek on Friday.  Then, it’s on the road to South Ripley on Saturday.  Both games can be heard on GIANT fm Sports with pregame at 7:00 pm.

Over the 14 years of Triton Central’s “Pink Out” game, fast starts have been hard to come by. With the setup of the gymnasium after the junior varsity game, the special guest speakers and the honoring of the survivors in attendance, the varsity game tips off somewhere near 9 p.m.

That was no different Friday in Fairland as the Tigers and their opponent, the Twisters of Oldenburg Academy, sat courtside and heard about the “Pink Out” game’s success and saw the smiles on the breast cancer survivors’ faces. It’s an emotional roller coaster for all involved.

Then the ball goes up in the air. And this year, Class 2A, No. 8 Triton Central was ready to go. The Tigers jumped out to a 21-9 lead after one quarter and never looked back in a 60-29 win that almost never happened.

“We hit a couple of shots early, hit a couple of 3s and got a couple defensive stops,” said Bryan Graham, who serves as both athletic director and girls varsity basketball coach at Triton Central. “Anytime you can start out good on one of these nights, it’s only going to get better. I was very appreciative how hard the girls played.”

COVID-19 nearly derailed Friday’s event. Triton Central’s original opponent, Rock Creek Academy, had a player test positive which required all the players to be tested. Results would be received at least 24 hours later and that left Graham with a dilemma – wait for the results and hope for the best or start the search for a last-minute opponent.

Graham went proactive and searched both ends of the state for a team willing to travel and play on a Friday night. The problem he ran into was the traditional girls schedule of games Thursday and Saturday. No one wanted to play three straight days, especially with the guaranteed late hour of Friday’s tipoff.

Oldenburg Academy agreed to fill in to save the event – a fact not lost on Graham who addressed the entire Twisters team after the game.

“It was real simple,” said Graham of the message. “Tonight is bigger than a game. I made it very clear to them and coach (Eric) Feller that if they didn’t do what they did, none of this would have been possible. I wanted to remind them that the ladies’ faces and the reactions and the money raised would not have been possible if they did not step up and do what they did. I am very appreciative of them and they were very appreciative to play in this atmosphere.”

The “Pink Out” game always draws a large and enthusiastic crowd that helps push the fundraiser side of the event monetarily past five figures. That was the case again Friday as Graham expected the event to raise at least $20,000 for the Indiana Women In Need (IWIN) foundation that assists families battling breast cancer in Shelby County and its surrounding areas.

In the 14 years of the event, more than $200,000 has been raised for what is dubbed “the largest Pink Out game in the state.”

Triton Central improved to 17-4 this season with a balanced offensive performance led by Lizzie Graham’s 17 points. Maddy Brown had 11 and Hallie Schweitzer and Olivia Faust each finished with 10.

Ellie Ryan led Oldenburg Academy (7-12) with nine points.

Rock Creek Academy did not have a junior varsity squad so Triton Central brought Waldron in Friday for a JV game.

The Tigers defeated the Mohawks, 52-37.

Audrey Hogg led Waldron with 12 points.

Triton Central will host Perry Meridian (4-14) Tuesday for Senior Night celebrations.

A late third-quarter surge led to a strong fourth quarter and a conference win Friday for Waldron at Hauser.

The Jets led 27-21 at halftime and extended the lead to 12 points in the third quarter before the Mohawks rallied to cut the lead to 39-38 at the break.

Bryce Yarling scored 12 of his team-high 21 points in the fourth quarter to get Waldron a 63-55 win at Hauser.

Bryant Becker scored a season-high 14 points. Lucas Mitchell had 12 and Lucas Shaw finished with 10.

Koby Johnson, Bryce Bates and Eli Miller each scored 14 points for Hauser.

With the win, Waldron improved to 8-5 this season and 2-1 in the Mid-Hoosier Conference standings.

Hauser dropped to 6-8 overall and 1-3 in MHC contests.

Waldron is back in action tonight at Bethesda Christian (8-2).

In another boys basketball game Friday:

Edinburgh 73, Southwestern 63

At Edinburgh, Jordan Jones and Aiden Hartsell combined for 27 fourth-quarter points but it was not enough for the visiting Spartans to avoid defeat.

Southwestern trailed 51-34 after three quarters before closing with a 29-point fourth quarter to get within 10.

Caleb Dewey would not let the Spartans get too close, scoring 14 of his game-high 29 points over the final eight minutes.

Jarrett Turner finished with 17 points and Travis Jones added 11 for Class A, No. 3 Edinburgh (12-1, 4-0 MHC).

Hartsell finished with 28 points and Jones had 24.

Southwestern, who has lost five of its last six, dropped to 4-9 this season and 1-2 in the MHC standings.

Southwestern is on the road Friday at Waldron (8-5).

Shelbyville celebrated Senior Night with a 56-48 win over Whiteland Thursday night at William L. Garrett Gymnasium.

Shelbyville’s seniors, Madison Phares (photo, left) and Madison Bassett (photo, right), combined for 19 points and Kylee Edwards finished with a game-high 22 to lead the Golden Bears to their ninth win of the regular season.

Phares scored 12 points in her penultimate game at Garrett Gymnasium. The Golden Bears (9-11) host Delta (3-15) Saturday in their home finale before traveling to Hauser (9-10) on Thursday to close out the regular season.

Phares will continue her basketball career next season at Wilmington College in Ohio.

Bassett had seven points.

Braylyn Clendenen led Whiteland (6-13) with 11 points. Muskaan Ghuman and Emily Reed each scored eight in the loss.

Whiteland won the junior varsity game, 31-21. The Golden Bears finished their JV season with a 14-3 mark. Delta and Hauser are not fielding JV teams this season.

In other prep events Thursday:

Morristown 49, Hauser 35

At Hauser, Raegan Kleine scored 22 points and Nevaeh Sanders had 21 to lead the Yellow Jackets to a Mid-Hoosier Conference win on the road.

Kleine also had three rebounds, two assists and three steals for Morristown (10-9, 3-2 MHC). Sanders added three rebounds, one assist and five steals.

Danika Rutledge had five points, 11 rebounds and two steals.

Hauser dropped to 9-10 overall and 1-4 against MHC competition.

The Yellow Jackets are at Knightstown (2-18) on Monday.

Waldron 55, Lutheran 11

At Lutheran, the Class A, No. 1 Mohawks improved to 19-1 with a balanced performance against a short-handed Lutheran squad.

Nichole Garner and Bella Larrison each had 11 points for Waldron. Josee Larrison finished with 10 and Hadlie Ross had eight points.

Lutheran (4-14) could only dress six players against Waldron and was held scoreless in the first half.

Waldron will seek its first 20-win regular season on Thursday for Senior Night at home against Milan (5-15).

Boys swimming

Greenfield-Central 100, Shelbyville 65

At Shelbyville, Tyler Harker won two events on his Senior Night for Shelbyville.

Harker took first place in the 200-yard freestyle (1:53.42) and the 500 freestyle (5:16.84).

Foreign exchange student Juan Gonzalez-Gallego won the 100 freestyle in 53.26. He also was runner-up in the 50 freestyle (24.37).

And Will Rife won the 100 backstroke (1:02.88).

Tristin Maloney finished second in the 200 individual medley (2:44.97).

Rife, Maloney, Andrew Duffy and Blake Hughes finished second in the 200 medley relay (2:03.11).

Harker, Gonzalez-Gallego, Lance File and Michael Fox placed second in the 200 freestyle relay.

And Rife, Maloney and Hughes teamed with Gaige Harker to take second in the 400 freestyle relay (4:25.39).

Shelbyville travels to Mt. Vernon Saturday.

Girls swimming

Greenfield-Central 117, Shelbyville 55

At Shelbyville, Karissa Hamilton scored a pair of individual wins on her Senior Night.

Hamilton won the 200 freestyle (2:10.30) and 50 freestyle (24.8) and combined with fellow senior Marlee Rice and Madison Monroe and Miriam Garringer to win the 200 medley relay (2:03.21) and 200 freestyle relay (1:48.27).

In the 400 freestyle relay, Lexi Dwiggins, Bella Matney, Kylie Stader and Jordan Tobler placed second in 5:03.42.

Shelbyville is at Mt. Vernon Saturday.

Wrestling

Shelbyville 54, Rushville 22

At Shelbyville, the host Golden Bears closed out the regular season schedule with a win over the Lions.

Cael Lux, Ethan Watkins, Jacob Harker, Carson Linville, Keagan Turner, Elias Jones  and Tarik Runnebohm each scored victories on the mat to lead Shelbyville.

Shelbyville is the host site for this year’s sectional tournament on Jan. 29.

Morristown High School’s athletic department has announced Doug Carlton and Haley Hart as this year’s Athletic Hall of Fame honorees.

The official induction ceremony will take place Jan. 28 in between girls junior varsity and varsity basketball games against Edinburgh. There will be a reception for family, friends and fans that night.

The fifth induction class will be honored at approximately 7:15 p.m.

Doug Carlton spent nine years as head coach of the Morristown girls basketball program. He won two Shelby County Tournament titles, three sectionals and one regional during his tenure.

Carlton closed out his career with 102 wins, the most in school history for the girls basketball program.

Carlton returned to the Yellow Jackets program this season as an assistant coach to Rachel Kleine, one of his former players.

Haley Hart is a 2015 graduate of Morristown High School where she was an exceptional track and field and basketball athlete.

Hart set track and field records in the shot put and discus and was a three-time state championship qualifier in the shot put. After 28^th- and 11^th-place finishes at the state meet at Indiana University in Bloomington, Hart finished fourth in 2015 with a program record throw of 42 feet, 5.25 inches.

Hart won three shot put sectional titles and was a regional qualifier in the discus. She set the school record in the discus at the regional with a throw of 117-9.

When her basketball career came to an end, she was top 15 in scoring and top 10 in rebounding.

Hart currently lives in Tampa, Florida, and works for Crunch Fitness.

The Hall of Fame at Morristown was created in 2018.

A shovel is more suited for a gardener or farmer than a high school basketball team.  It could, however, be symbolic for the Shelbyville Golden Bears.  Much of the season the Bears have dug an early hole and spent the rest of the game trying to dig back out.

A much better early game performance kept the Golden Bears in the game into the second half until Franklin Central finally pulled away for a Wednesday night win, 83-63.

Four nights before, Shelbyville trailed Pendleton Heights 12-0 to start the game.  Against the Flashes, Nolyn Smothers and Jakob Heaton combined for 17 first quarter points as the Bears put five players in the scoring column and held a lead at the end of eight minutes, 22-19.

The fast moving, full-court play continued into the second quarter but the Bears couldn’t sustain the scoring punch.  Shelbyville’s leading scorer Ollie Sandman (22.5 ppg) scored all of the Golden Bears points in the period. But Franklin Central’s Dhani Flannigan, a transfer from Cathedral, sparked the Flashes with four three-point field goals in the first half (six for the game) for 14 points.  Franklin Central took a lead in the second quarter it wouldn’t relinquish and led at the half, 38-33.

Shelbyville was outscored 22-12 in the third period.  Sandman, who finished with a team-high 18 points, missed several minutes in the period with a fourth foul that put him on the bench until the start of the fourth quarter. Three of Sandman’s fouls were whistled on the offensive end.

Shelbyville head coach John Hartnett appeared on the GIANT fm Sports Cagney's Pizza King postgame.

Franklin Central (4-7) was led in scoring by Rynell Echols with a game-high 22 points.  Flannigan poured in 20.  Elijah Crockett and Bryan Marshall were also in double figures with 12 and 10, respectively.

Joining Sandman in double figures for the Golden Bears were Jakob Heaton, 15, and Nolyn Smothers with 13.

The Golden Bears and Flashes could meet again.  Both will be in the field at the 4A sectional hosted by Greenwood.

Shelbyville (2-10) will host Greenfield-Central Saturday.  GIANT fm Sports play-by-play coverage begins at approximately 7:00 pm.

Class 2A, No. 8 Triton Central ended a rare two-game losing streak Wednesday at Covenant Christian.

Head coach Bryan Graham inserted sophomore center Brooklyn Bailey into the starting lineup and she responded with a game-high 14-point performance to lead the Tigers to a 62-27 victory over the Warriors.

Three Triton Central players scored in double digits as the Tigers topped 60 points for the first time in nine games.

Olivia Faust hit three three-pointers on the way to 13 points and Lizzie Graham had 12. Hallie Schweitzer finished with nine.

Triton Central led 14-7 after one quarter and 30-13 at halftime then limited the Warriors (5-13) to 14 second-half points.

The Tigers, now 16-4, connected on 14 of 16 free throws and made six 3s in its best offensive performance since mid-December.

Ella Crane led Covenant Christian with nine points. Avery Reichart and Mia Gamble each had six in the loss.

Triton Central hosts its annual “Pink Out” game Friday against Oldenburg Academy (7-11). Rock Creek Academy was the original opponent but had to abruptly cancel and the Twisters filled the spot.

The “Pink Out” game annually raises more than $10,000 for the Indiana Women In Need (IWIN) foundation that disperses the money raised locally to help families dealing with breast cancer.

The event includes a silent auction, a guest speaker and a parade of survivors in front of a packed gymnasium.

Shelbyville High School senior Karissa Hamilton is chasing one more IHSAA swimming state finals berth.

On Tuesday at Greenwood, Hamilton collected her 13^th win this season in the 50-yard freestyle, touching the wall first in 25.28 seconds.

Hamilton also had a runner-up finish in the 100 freestyle (56.78) and she teamed with Miriam Garringer, Madison Monroe and Marlee Rice for a second-place finish in the 200 freestyle relay (1:52.03).

Garringer also had a second-place finish in the 200 freestyle in 2:11.83.

Greenwood won the girls meet, 130-42.

In the boys meet, Juan Gonzalez-Gallego delivered Shelbyville’s only event win. He finished first in the 500 freestyle in 5:21.22. He also produced a second-place finish in the 100 breaststroke (1:15.14), missing out on the win by .88 seconds.

Tyler Harker had runner-up performances in the 200 individual medley (2:15.21) and 100 freestyle (53.97).

The Golden Bears opened the meet with a second-place finish in the 200 medley relay. Will Rife, Tristin Maloney, Harker and Gonzalez-Gallego finished in 1:54.12.

An in the meet’s final race, the 400 freestyle relay, Harker, Rife and Gonzalez-Gallego teamed with Michael Fox for a runner-up finish in 3:43.61.

Greenwood won the boys meet, 115-54.

Shelbyville hosts Greenfield-Central Thursday.

Taylor Heath scored eight points and had four rebounds, four assists and two steals Saturday for Hanover College in a 72-47 win over Manchester.

The win improved the Panthers to 7-5 this season and 4-3 in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) contests.

On Jan. 12, Heath, a Triton Central graduate, scored 10 points and added one rebound, one assist and two steals to help Hanover win at Franklin, 65-59.

Here is a look at other Shelby County graduates competing at the collegiate level.

Maya Chandler

The Triton Central graduate finished with 10 points, one rebound and three assists Saturday in Loyola’s 68-50 loss at Illinois State.

The loss dropped the Ramblers to 10-7 this season and 2-4 in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC).

On Thursday, Chandler hit a career high five three-pointers and scored 19 points to lead Loyola to a 48-41 win at Bradley. She also had five rebounds, three assists and one steal.

Rylie Stephens

The Triton Central graduate had two points Tuesday in Evansville’s 69-51 loss at Indiana State.

The Purple Aces dropped to 7-8 this season and 1-3 in the MVC.

Hayden Langkabel

The Morristown graduate scored 17 points and added four rebounds, one steal and one block Tuesday in Marian’s 82-76 win over Mt. Vernon Nazarene.

The Knights improved to 14-3 (6-3 Crossroads League).

On Saturday, Langkabel had five points, one rebound, two assists, one steal and one block in Marian’s 77-58 win at Spring Arbor.

Dalen Williams

The Waldron graduate finished fourth in the shot put competition for Franklin College Friday in the Robert H. Johnson Invitational at Wabash College.

Williams’ best throw in the finals was 12.18 meters.

Madisen Hinderliter

The Shelbyville graduate finished eighth in the weight throw competition for St. Francis (Ind.) in the Sean Brady Alumni Invitational Saturday at Trine University.

Hinderliter’s best throw was 12.15 meters.

Kenneth Gipson

The Triton Central graduate placed ninth in the shot put and 12^th in the weight throw for Rose-Hulman Friday in the Friday Night Spikes Opener hosted by Rose-Hulman.

Gipson’s best throws were 35 feet, five inches in the shot put and 33-3 in the weight throw.

Southwestern raced out to a 38-9 halftime advantage and rolled to a 53-16 victory Tuesday night against Indianapolis Herron.

Seven different players scored leading to Southwestern’s largest margin of victory this season.

Lilly Rooks scored 12 of her game-high 17 points in the first half to lead Southwestern (9-10).

Lily Kerber finished with 11 points and Alison Muck had nine.

Southwestern led 18-7 at the end of the first quarter and built that into a 29-point halftime lead. The Spartans outscored the Achaeans 11-7 in the third quarter and held them scoreless over the final eight minutes.

London Love led Herron (4-12) with 14 points.

Southwestern returns to the court Monday at Indiana Deaf (6-9).

In another girls basketball game Tuesday:

Greenwood Christian 49, Morristown 40

At Greenwood Christian, Morristown freshman Nevaeh Sanders scored a career-high 23 points but it was not enough to get the Yellow Jackets past the Cougars.

Sanders also had three rebounds and four steals in the loss.

Raegan Kleine had 12 points, two rebounds and three steals for Morristown (9-9).

Greenwood Christian (10-9) trailed 22-20 at halftime but outscored the Yellow Jackets 29-18 in the second half to secure the win.

Morristown travels to Hauser (9-9) on Thursday for a Mid-Hoosier Conference game.

North Daviess, Central Noble, NorthWood and Chesterton are the No. 1 ranked teams in this week’s Associated Press boys basketball poll.

North Daviess (13-1) remained No. 1 in Class A while Gary 21^st Century (10-2) jumped two spots to No. 2. Edinburgh (11-1) dropped one spot to No. 3 with Bloomfield (12-2), Barr-Reeve (9-6), Loogootee (11-4), Triton (8-2), Lutheran (9-2), Tindley (8-4) and Argos (10-2) rounding out the top 10.

Still unbeaten Central Noble (15-0) stayed on top of the Class 2A poll with Linton-Stockton (14-1), Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian (12-1), Monroe Central (11-0), Carroll (Flora) (11-0), Eastside (14-1), Lake Station (11-0), Southmont (10-1), Clinton Prairie (12-2) and South Spencer (10-2) in pursuit.

NorthWood (14-1) rose two spots to the No. 1 position in Class 3A. John Glenn (13-0) also climbed two spots to No. 2 with Mishawaka Marian (11-2), Brebeuf (10-3), Chatard (13-0), Leo (8-2), Sullivan (12-1), Brownstown Central (10-2), New Castle (10-2) and Peru (11-1) completing the top 10.

Chesterton (13-0) remained unbeaten for another week and ascended to the No. 1 ranking in Class 4A.

Carmel (10-3) is No. 2 ahead of Fishers (13-2), Zionsville (9-2), Valparaiso (13-2), Westfield (10-3), Tech (13-2), Penn (11-1), North Central (10-3) and Ben Davis (11-4).

One of Triton Central baseball’s best offensive weapons is headed to Goshen College.

On Friday, infielder Aaron Shircliff signed his paperwork to seal his commitment to play baseball at Goshen College in northern Indiana.

“I feel great. I am very happy it’s over,” said Shircliff of the recruiting process and signing day. “I’m happy it happened but it was a stressful process.”

Shircliff (photo with parents, Jeromy and Michelle Shircliff, and brother, Mathew) is a versatile player that has focused on playing third base and second base for Goshen.

“I want to play third base at college but at the (Goshen) camp I played second base mostly,” he said. “I am assuming that might be where I am at, we will just have to wait and see.”

Shircliff has been playing baseball for two-thirds of his life and dove in deeply to the recruiting process once he reached high school.

“I got into (recruiting) my freshman year but it really took off the end of last year at the end of my travel ball season after high school,” said Shircliff. “That’s when I started getting tons of looks and going to camps.”

Statistically, Goshen did not stand out to Shircliff. The Maple Leafs finished the 2021 season with a 3-34 record. He was encouraged to attend a camp on campus and do his own due diligence on the program.

“We know you see our record from last year but don’t worry about that,” said Shircliff of his communication with the Goshen coaching staff. “They showed me their training facility and what they do and how they practice. It’s going to be a nice college for me. I am excited.”

Shircliff intends to major in Kinesiology.

Now that his next step is finalized, Shircliff can focus on one last season with Triton Central.

“I hope we have over a .500 season,” he said. “Last year, we were a little rough. We started out slow. It was not as good as we wanted. This year, I hope we start off hot and keep playing well and win a sectional championship.”

Shircliff also wants to leave his name on the baseball program’s record board. With another stellar season, he can break the career batting average mark and he was close to the single season runs batted in record in 2021 when the Tigers finished 15-14.

Then, when the baseball season ends and graduation is complete, Shircliff officially becomes a freshman once again.

“I don’t know … being a freshman here was awful,” said Shircliff when asked if he was ready to start over. “It will be different there. It’s a different place. It’s a different lifestyle. It will be an experience. I am excited for it.”

Shelby County’s two gymnastics programs went head-to-head Monday at Girls Inc. in Shelbyville.

The host Golden Bears prevailed over Morristown, 89.625-84.65.

Shelbyville's Kaliyah Brown (photo, top of podium for all-around place finishers) won three events and the all-around competition. She placed first in the vault, uneven bars and floor exercise.

Oakleigh Goedde, a Morristown junior, won the balance beam event and finished runner-up in the vault, uneven bars and floor exercise to secure a second-place finish in the all-around competition.

Shelbyville's Renee Aldridge finished third in the all-around bolstered by third-place finishes in the uneven bars and floor exercise and a fourth-place finish on the balance beam.

Morristown’s Allison Batten, a senior, finished fourth in the vault and uneven bars and fifth in the floor exercise to place fourth in the all-around.

Shelbyville's Faye-Lynn Voss was fifth in the all-around after placing third in vault, fourth in floor exercise and fifth on the uneven bars.

Also for Morristown, Cheyenne Shrum was fifth in the vault and Kaelee Trittipo was fifth on the balance beam.

Shelbyville will host Seymour Thursday while Morristown returns to competition on Jan. 25 against New Palestine and Scecina.

The Southwestern High School Athletic Hall of Fame will induct four new members on Jan. 29.

The fifth induction class includes David Hamilton, Kenneth “Butch” Gorrell Jr., Bryce Rowe and Derrick Smith.

Hamilton is a 1991 graduate that excelled on the basketball court and baseball field at Southwestern. Hamilton played for what is still Southwestern’s highest scoring basketball team at 83.9 ppg.

During his senior year, Hamilton scored 489 points (23.3 ppg) – third most in a single season in school history. He ended his career with 1,198 points and is one of just six players to surpass 1,000 career points.

He graduated with the most made three-pointers in program history. That record was broken in 2002.

In his final two seasons, Hamilton helped the Spartans win back-to-back conference championships.

Hamilton was an All-Conference baseball player during his three-year career. An injury forced him to switch to golf his senior season and he helped Southwestern capture its first Shelby County Tournament title.

Gorrell Jr. was Southwestern’s first state finalist in school history in 1963 when he competed in the 200-yard dash at the track and field state championship meet. He was a four-sport athlete playing basketball, baseball, and running track and cross country.

Gorrell Jr. set six track and field records (long jump, 100-yard dash, 200, 440, 1600 and the 880 relay with Morris Emerick, Larry Williams and Jerry Petro) and his 200 time of 22.20 still stands today as the program’s best.

Gorrell Jr. is one of 11 state finalists in school history, and was the lone state finalist up until 1983.

He was part of the school’s first Shelby County Cross Country Meet champions in 1962.

Gorrell Jr. scored 251 career points as a member of the basketball team. He won the all sports award three times.

Gorrell Jr. went on to attend Ball State University where he set track and field records, including the Little State 100 yard dash record.

He went on to become a school teacher and officiate high school and college basketball games. He worked 13 sectionals, 11 regionals, eight semistates and three state finals in his career and received the 2016 Center Circle Officials Award from the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.

Rowe won two sectional titles and three county tourney titles in basketball and tennis.

As a freshman, he scored 240 points, which was second most in school history. He set the program record for a junior with 486 points.

And when his career ended, Rowe landed second on the basketball program’s career scoring list with 1,452 points. He also was fifth all-time in 3s with 129.

In addition, Rowe set records for career made free throws with 424 and points scored in a game when he tallied 46 against Eastern Hancock on Dec. 4, 2015.

On the tennis court, Rowe helped the Spartans win three county tourney titles and the program’s first conference championship.

Smith was part of Southwestern’s most successful basketball program in school history.

In 2003, Smith helped the Spartans win sectional, regional and semistate championships to put the program into the Class A state championship game. Although the Spartans did not win the state title, Smith was bestowed the Trester Award, given to a state finals participant who excelled in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and basketball ability.

A four-year starter at point guard, Smith holds the record for most assists in a season (120) and a career (379). He was selected All-Conference three times.

With 670 career points, Smith sits at 25^th all-time for the program and he is 17^th in 3s made with 68.

Smith also played tennis for three years at Southwestern and graduated as the school’s salutatorian in 2003.

The Southwestern Hall of Fame currently has 15 members: Ray Hamilton, Jeremy Wright, Russell Swift, Ryan Rooks, Delena White, JeannAnna (Gore) Yarling, Marty Echelbarger, William Golden, Travis Kuhn, Rick Parmer Jr., Josh Mohr, Don and Naomi Fuchs, Annie Thomas and Oda Shackelford.

The Hall of Fame will add four new members on Jan. 29 when Southwestern hosts Herron for boys junior varsity and varsity basketball games.

A win over a top 10 team in Class 2A has vaulted Waldron back to the top of the Indiana Coaches of Girls Sports Association’s Class A basketball poll.

Waldron defeated 2A No. 9 Eastern Hancock 55-44 Saturday to improve to 18-1 this season. That victory propelled the Mohawks over Lanesville, who was ranked No. 1 for the last two weeks.

Waldron and Lanesville (20-1) are No. 1 and No. 2 in Class A ahead of Lafayette Central Catholic (15-4), Blue River (16-2), Jac-Cen-Del (14-5), Tecumseh (11-7), Vincennes Rivet (15-4), Trinity Lutheran (12-6), Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian (14-6) and Northeast Dubois (12-4).

Despite losing three of its last four games, Triton Central (15-4) remains in the top 10 in the Class 2A poll.

Unbeaten South Central (Union Mills) (19-0) is No. 1 in 2A ahead of Winchester (17-1), Eastbrook (14-2), Tipton (16-3), University (15-2), Forest Park (15-3), Fairfield (15-2), Triton Central, Frankton (14-4) and Cascade (15-3).

Eastern Hancock (13-4) is No. 11 in this week’s poll.

South Bend Washington (19-2) continues its reign atop the Class 3A poll.

Garrett (20-1) is No. 2 followed by Benton Central (21-0), Silver Creek (18-1), Jay County (16-2), Hamilton Heights (15-4), Norwell (15-4), Washington (17-3), Mishawaka Marian (15-5) and Twin Lakes (16-4).

Homestead (17-1) continues as No. 1 in Class 4A ahead of Franklin (19-1), Crown Point (16-2), Bedford North Lawrence (17-2), Westfield (16-3), Noblesville (15-4), North Central (16-5), Fishers (14-4), Zionsville (15-5) and Columbus East (15-3).

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.

Morristown’s gymnastics team continued to show improvement with a strong finish Saturday at the Franklin Central Invitational.

The nine-team meet was won by Bloomington North with 106.75 points. Angola was a close second at 106.2. Roncalli finished third at 102.5

Completing the field were Martinsville (98.95), Bloomington South (97.15), Lapel (93.8), Morristown (82.35), Fishers (76.85) and Frankton (35.6).

No Morristown gymnast placed in the four individual events or the all-around competition.

Morristown will travel to Shelbyville tonight for a head-to-head meet at Girls Inc. at 6 p.m.

South Decatur senior Hunter Johnson had a night to remember Saturday against the Southwestern Spartans.

Johnson (photo) scored a career-high 53 points to set both the boys basketball program record for a single game and break the Decatur County record in his team’s 79-67 win over visiting Southwestern (4-8, 1-1 Mid-Hoosier Conference).

Johnson made seven three-pointers and was 12-of-13 from the free-throw line to lead his team. He also had 12 rebounds and four assists.

He scored 16 points in the first quarter as the Cougars (7-7, 2-1 MHC) built a 21-12 lead. Johnson added three 3s in the second quarter and the lead grew to 42-28 behind Johnson’s 25 points.

Johnson scored 11 in the third quarter but the Spartans wouldn’t go away, outscoring the Cougars 22-16 to cut the lead to 58-50.

Seventeen more points came in the fourth quarter before the Spartans and their dynamic duo of scorers were finally vanquished.

With the 53 points, Johnson improved his scoring average to 33.5 points per game. The previous Decatur County single-game record was 52 points set by Dale Muckerheide while playing for Clarksburg against Cross Plains on Feb. 8, 1966.

Jordan Jones hit eight 3s on the way to 30 points for Southwestern. Aiden Hartsell finished with 27 points.

The Spartans continue their MHC schedule Friday at Class A, No. 2 Edinburgh (11-1, 3-0 MHC).

In other boys basketball games:

Jac-Cen-Del 90, Waldron 64

At Waldron Saturday, the Class A, No. 7 Eagles had too much scoring balance for the Mohawks.

Five different Jac-Cen-Del players reached double digits, led by Caleb Simon’s 25 points. Wyatt Day finished with 16. Devin Grieshop had 15 while Justin Swinney and Matt Dickman each finished with 10.

The Eagles (8-3) led 21-15 after one quarter and 46-28 at halftime.

Waldron scored 23 third-quarter points but were still outscored 26-23 by the Eagles, a potential Sectional 60 opponent in the postseason.

Bryce Yarling led Waldron (7-5) with 25 points. Lucas Mitchell had 23.

Waldron travels to Hauser (6-7, 1-2 MHC) Friday for a conference contest.

Triton Central 49, Milan 33

At Milan Saturday, the visiting Tigers opened up a 19-13 halftime advantage then outscored the Indians, 30-20, in the second half to keep Milan (0-12) winless this season.

Josh Kemper and Josiah Blair each scored 13 points to lead Triton Central (7-7). Caleb Miller added nine in the potential Sectional 44 preview.

M.J. Hartman led Milan with 10 points.

Triton Central travels to Class A, No. 5 Lutheran (9-2) on Saturday.

Rising Sun 46, Morristown 44

At Rising Sun Saturday, visiting Morristown led 33-31 after three quarters but could not finish off the road victory against a potential Sectional 60 opponent.

Nick Stidham scored a game-high 22 points for the Yellow Jackets (1-11). Nolan Laster added 15.

Damon Carrigan led the Shiners (5-6) with 16 points. Brady Works finished with 15.

Morristown led 12-8 after one quarter but trailed 23-19 at halftime. A solid third quarter gave the Yellow Jackets the lead once again but Carrigan and Works combined for 11 points in the fourth to steal the victory.

Morristown is at North Decatur (6-6, 2-1 MHC) Friday for a Mid-Hoosier Conference contest.

Rushville 51, Morristown 43

At Rushville Friday, Laster (21 points) and Stidham (13 points) combined for 34 points but it was not enough to get the Yellow Jackets past the host Lions (3-9).

Morristown jumped out to a 9-2 lead at the end of the first quarter but was outscored 13-2 in the second to trail 15-11 at halftime.

Southwestern 60, Brown County 49

At Brown County Friday, Jordan Jones scored 13 of his team-high 27 points in the fourth quarter to lead Southwestern to the win.

The Spartans built a 31-15 halftime lead that it never relinquished.

Aiden Hartsell finished with 21 points and five more Spartans combined for 12 points in the win.

Carter Kelly scored a game-high 28 points for the Eagles (2-8), who have lost seven straight games.

No other Brown County player reached double digits.

Class A, No. 2 Waldron used a strong second-quarter performance to pull away from Class 2A, No. 9 Eastern Hancock Saturday afternoon for a 55-44 victory.

The Mohawks improved to 18-1 this season and matched last season’s win total.

Mackenzie Shaw, Megan Bogemann and Nichole Garner each scored 11 points in Waldron’s win.

The Royals (13-4) led 10-8 after one quarter but were outscored 15-4 over the second eight minutes.

The Mohawks’ halftime lead of 23-14 grew to 38-27 after three quarters.

Waldron shot 74% from the free-throw line, hitting 25 of 34 to seal the win.

Sammie Bolding led Eastern Hancock with 15 points and five rebounds. Grace Stapleton finished with nine points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Eastern Hancock won the junior varsity game, 42-30. Alyssa Benson led the Mohawks with 13 points and Lilli Lozier had 11.

Waldron travels to Lutheran (4-11) on Thursday.

In other girls basketball games:

Mt. Vernon 54, Shelbyville 26

At Mt. Vernon Saturday, Ellery Minch scored a game-high 20 points and Maddie Swingle finished with 17 to lead the host Marauders (11-7, 3-1 Hoosier Heritage Conference).

Mt. Vernon led 14-1 after one quarter and 31-9 by halftime to secure the victory.

Ava Wilson led Shelbyville (8-11, 3-3 HHC) with 11 points. Kylee Edwards had 10.

Shelbyville’s junior varsity improved to 14-2 this season and 6-0 against HHC opponents with a 29-23 victory.

Shelbyville will host Whiteland (6-12) Thursday at Garrett Gymnasium for Senior Night.

Jac-Cen-Del 57, Southwestern 42

At Southwestern Friday, the Class A, No. 4 Eagles used a 23-point third quarter to pull away from the host Spartans, who were playing their fourth game in five days.

Reagan Hughes led Jac-Cen-Del (14-5) with 14 points, six assists and four steals. Jalee Rider finished with 11 points and three rebounds.

Lilly Rooks topped Southwestern with 19 points. Lily Kerber finished with 14 points.

Southwestern (8-10) travels to Herron (4-10) on Tuesday.

Triton Central’s Ayden Nufio and Hadyn Ball each secured runner-up finishes in their respective weight classes Saturday in the Indiana Crossroads Conference Tournament at Monrovia.

Nufio started the tournament 2-0 to reach the championship match at 106 pounds where he was defeated by Monrovia’s Gavin Ash, who is ranked 14^th in the state poll.

Ball similarly went 2-0 to reach the title match at 182 pounds where he was defeated by Cascade’s Liam Farmer, who is ranked 23^rd at 170 pounds.

Triton Central had a trio of third-place finishers in Dayne Bailey (113), Marcos Davis (132) and Isaak Booth (170). All three completed the event with a 3-1 record.

Jaden Ferris (138) and Tristan Gibbons (160) each placed fourth and Austin Myers was sixth.

Cascade won the ICC title with 271 points. Monrovia was second at 237.5 to finish ahead of Beech Grove (236), Lutheran (140), Triton Central (114), Scecina (78), Speedway (45) and Ritter (38).

Triton Central will return to action Saturday at the Ritter Invitational.

In another conference meet Saturday:

Hoosier Heritage Conference Meet

At Yorktown, three Golden Bears placed fourth and three more were sixth.

Isaiah Havens (113), Carson Linville (170) and Elias Jones (285) advanced to the third-place matches at the conference meet but did not collect a win to finish fourth.

Ethan Watkins (126), Tarik Runnebohm (138) and Jacob Harker (220) were defeated in the fifth-place matches.

Greenfield-Central won the HHC title with 207 points. Mt. Vernon was runner-up at 193 with New Palestine (181.5), Yorktown (174.5), Pendleton Heights (152), Delta (148), New Castle (111.5) and Shelbyville (63) completing the field.

The Golden Bears will host Rushville Thursday for a dual match.

Class A, No. 2 Waldron hit 11 three-pointers Thursday night to roll to its second-consecutive Mid-Hoosier Conference girls basketball title.

The Mohawks used a balanced offensive effort to defeat South Decatur, 69-37, and finish 5-0 in the MHC standings. It is the first time in program history winning back-to-back conference titles. The title is the third in program history.

Hallie Ross led Waldron (17-1) with 13 points. Megan Bogemann finished with 12 and Bella Larrison added eight.

Waldron led 18-10 after one quarter and 31-17 at halftime.

South Decatur dropped to 3-13 (0-5 MHC).

The Mohawks won the junior varsity game, 56-36, to finish undefeated against MHC competition.

Audrey Hogg led Waldron (11-4) with 14 points. Alyssa Benson had 12 and Alivia Fischer finished with 10.

Waldron travels to Charlottesville Saturday to face Class 2A, No. 9 Eastern Hancock (13-3).

In other prep events Thursday:

Girls basketball

North Decatur 46, Southwestern 40

At North Decatur, freshmen Kelsey Haley drained five 3s and scored a game-high 17 points to lead the Chargers over the visiting Spartans.

Southwestern (8-9, 3-3 MHC) took a 9-6 lead after one quarter but North Decatur (13-6, 3-1 MHC) responded with a 19-point second quarter to take a 25-17 halftime lead. Three different Chargers combined for five made 3s in the quarter.

After an even third quarter, Madi Allen scored all seven of her points for North Decatur over the final eight minutes to keep Southwestern at bay.

Lily Kerber led Southwestern with 13 points. Alison Muck had 10 points and Lilly Rooks finished with eight.

North Decatur went 8 of 19 from the free-throw line but made eight 3s. Southwestern was 12 of 16 from the free-throw line and did not make a 3-pointer.

North Decatur won the junior varsity game, 46-11. Amber Benson led the Spartans with six points.

Southwestern will play its fourth game of the week tonight when Class A, No. 4 Jac-Cen-Del (13-5) pays a visit. There will not be a JV game. Varsity tipoff is slated for 6:30 p.m.

Gymnastics

Shelbyville splits with New Pal, Lutheran

At Girls Inc., Kaliyah Brown won the vault competition and led Shelbyville to a win over Lutheran.

Brown scored 9.05 to win the vault. She also had a third-place finish on the uneven bars, a fourth-place finish in the floor exercise and a fifth-place finish on the balance beam to score runner-up in the all-around competition to Lutheran’s Penelope Morrow.

Also for Shelbyville, Faye-Lynn Voss and Renee Aldridge finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in the vault and in the all-around.

Shelbyville will host Morristown Monday at 6 p.m.

Wrestling

Beech Grove 42, Triton Central 21

At Triton Central, the host Tigers won five head-to-head matches with the Hornets.

Ayden Nufio scored an 8-3 win at 106 pounds. Dayne Bailey followed at 113 with a third-period pinfall victory.

At 160, Tristan Gibbons also scored a pinfall win.

Isaak Booth followed at 170 with a 5-0 victory.

Hadyn Ball needed overtime for a 3-1 victory at 182.

Triton Central travels to Monrovia Saturday for the Indiana Crossroads Conference Meet.

The Indiana High School Athletic Association has released tournament pairings show information for three winter sports.

Pairings for the 47^th IHSAA Girls Basketball State Tournament will be revealed Jan. 23 at 5 p.m.

The opening round games for the 112^th IHSAA Boys Basketball State Tournament will be announced Feb. 20 at 5 p.m.

Both two-hour programs, hosted by Bob Lovell and Greg Rakestraw, will stream exclusively on the IHSAA’s video portal at IHSAAtv.org and via affiliates of the IHSAA Champions Radio Network.

Immediately following both shows, all sectional pairings will be available online at IHSAA.org.

Pairings for the 84^th IHSAA Wrestling State Finals will be announced on Feb. 13 (the day after the semistate round) at 4 p.m. via IHSAAtv.org.

Each bracket in the 14 weight classes will be revealed by Rakestraw and Hall of Fame coach Mike Goebel beginning with the 106-pound weight class and continuing through the 285 pounders.

Edinburgh entered Tuesday night’s Johnson County Tournament game with Greenwood unbeaten and ranked No. 2 in the state.

The Lancers suffered their first loss, in overtime to the Woodmen, but will stay at No. 2 for another week in the Associated Press boys basketball state poll.

North Daviess (12-1) remains No. 1 in Class A ahead of Edinburgh (11-1), Bloomfield (11-1), Gary 21^st Century (7-2), Loogootee (11-3), Lutheran (8-2), Jac-Cen-Del (7-2), Barr-Reeve (8-6), Tindley (6-3) and Triton (6-2).

In Class 2A, Central Noble (12-0) is unbeaten and top-ranked.

Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian (11-1) is No. 2 ahead of Linton-Stockton (13-1), Monroe Central (10-0), Carroll (Flora) (9-0), Eastside (12-0), Clinton Prairie (12-1), Lake Station (9-0), Southmont (8-1) and Eastern Hancock (8-2).

Leo (8-1) is the No. 1 team in Class 3A ahead of Brebeuf (9-2), NorthWood (12-1), John Glenn (11-0), Mishawaka Marian (9-2), Chatard (11-0), Peru (11-0), Sullivan (10-1), Brownstown Central (8-2) and New Castle (9-2).

The No. 1 team in Class 4A is Zionsville (9-1).

Chesterton (11-0) is No. 2 followed by Westfield (9-2), Carmel (9-3), Fishers (12-2), Valparaiso (11-2), Cathedral (10-3), Penn (9-1), Tech (11-2) and Pike (8-1).

The Marian University men’s basketball team’s eight-game winning streak came to an end Tuesday at No. 25-ranked St. Francis (Ind.), 70-63.

Hayden Langkabel, a Morristown graduate, scored eight points and had two rebounds, two steals and one blocked shot for Marian, now 12-3 and 4-3 in Crossroads League contests.

The Knights won their eighth-straight game Saturday, 87-69 over Huntington. Langkabel had 16 points, two rebounds and two assists.

Here is a look at other Shelby County graduates competing at the collegiate level.

Drake Moore

The Morristown graduate had two points and one steal Saturday for York College in a 73-56 conference win over Tabor.

On Monday, Moore was scoreless in four minutes of action for York in a 77-64 win at Saint Mary in Leavenworth, Kansas.

York, with its third-straight win, improved to 7-11 this season.

Maya Chandler

The Triton Central graduate had two points, two rebounds and one steal Sunday in Loyola’s 58-54 loss to the University of Northern Iowa.

The loss dropped the Ramblers to 9-6 this season and 1-3 against Missouri Valley Conference foes.

On Friday, Chandler finished with 16 points, three rebounds and one assist in a 63-46 conference win over Drake.

Riley Stephens

The Triton Central graduate had five points and one rebound Sunday for the University of Evansville in an 87-68 loss to Illinois State.

The loss evened the Purple Aces’ record at 7-7 this season and 1-2 in the MVC.

On Friday, Stephens was held scoreless in four minutes of playing time for the Purple Aces in a 74-73 win over Bradley.

Annika Marlow scored nine of her game-high 22 points in the third quarter Tuesday night at Garrett Gymnasium to propel Rushville to a 51-44 victory at Shelbyville.

The host Golden Bears built a 25-17 lead by halftime but made just one field goal in the third quarter which allowed the Lions (11-8) the lead which it held with a 12-of-18 performance from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter.

Marlow became the 13^th Rushville player to surpass 1,000 career points in the win. She also had four rebounds, three assists and three steals.

Sophia Dora added 13 points and Briley Munchel had nine points, six assists, five steals and four rebounds.

Kylee Edwards led Shelbyville with 15 points. Ellie Simpson had nine.

Shelbyville won the junior varsity game, 27-21, to improve to 13-2 this season.

The Golden Bears (8-10, 3-2 Hoosier Heritage Conference) travel to Mt. Vernon (10-7, 2-1 HHC) Saturday for a 1 p.m. tipoff.

In other prep events Tuesday:

Girls basketball

New Palestine 54, Triton Central 44

At New Palestine, the host Dragons sank 18 of 22 free throws over the final five minutes, 30 seconds of the contest to deal the Class 2A, No. 7 Tigers their second consecutive loss.

The last time Triton Central lost back-to-back games came in late January of 2016.

Three Dragons (10-7) scored in double figures led by Isabella Gizzi’s 16 points. Rachel Kelley tied her career high with 15 points and Alaina Miller had 13.

Gizzi now has 990 career points and is poised to become the third Dragon to eclipse 1,000 career points in her career. Gizzi is coached by her mother, Sarah Gizzi – New Palestine’s career scoring leader at 1,172 points. Gizzi’s brother, Maximus, is the New Palestine boys basketball program career scoring leader at 1,612 points.

Brooklyn Bailey led Triton Central (15-4) with 14 points. Maddy Brown finished with 12.

Triton Central won the junior varsity game, 36-24.

The Tigers return to the court Tuesday at Covenant Christian (5-12).

Southwestern 53, Lutheran 28

At Southwestern, Lily Kerber scored a game-high 18 points to get the Spartans back to .500 at 8-8 this season.

Alison Muck had 12 points and McKinley Correll finished with seven.

Five different Spartans scored in the second quarter to create a 27-15 halftime advantage.

Kerber tallied eight of her 18 points in the third quarter when Southwestern opened up a 43-21 lead.

Bekah Caston led Lutheran (4-10) with 11 points.

Southwestern is at North Decatur (12-6) Thursday for a Mid-Hoosier Conference game.

North Decatur 41, Morristown 35

At Morristown, Danika Rutledge produced a double-double in the Yellow Jackets’ loss.

The freshman finished with a team-high 10 points and 11 rebounds and also had four steals and three blocked shots.

Raegan Kleine had nine points, six rebounds and four assists. Maggie Lutes also had nine points and five rebounds.

Morristown dropped to 9-8 this season with the loss.

Morristown’s scheduled game Saturday at Edinburgh has been postponed until Jan. 28. The Yellow Jackets will return to action Tuesday at Greenwood Christian (8-8).

Gymnastics

Roncalli 102.2, Martinsville 92.175, Morristown 80.525

At Roncalli, Morristown had just three competitors in the season opening meet due to illness and injury.

Oakleigh Goedde finished fifth in the floor exercise and sixth in the all-around competition.

Also competing Tuesday for Morristown were Allison Batten and Cheyenne Shrum.

Morristown is in action again Saturday at the Franklin Central Invitational.

Boys swimming

Pendleton Heights 95, Shelbyville 45

At Pendleton Heights, Michael Fox and Juan Gonzalez-Gallego each won two individual races for the Golden Bears.

Fox won the 200-yard freestyle in 2:12.94 and followed that up with a win in the 500 freestyle (6:07.51).

Gonzalez-Gallego took first place in the 200 individual medley (2:14.97) and the 100 butterfly (59.09).

Also for Shelbyville, Lance File was runner-up in the 50 freestyle (27.38) and 100 backstroke (1:17.72).

Shelbyville hosts Mt. Vernon Thursday.

Girls swimming

Pendleton Heights 136, Shelbyville 41

At Pendleton Heights, Karissa Hamilton led the Golden Bears with wins in the 50 freestyle (25.71) and 100 freestyle (58.24).

Also for Shelbyville, Miriam Garringer had a runner-up finish in the 500 freestyle (6:07.91).

The Golden Bears closed out the meet with a second-place finish in the 400 freestyle relay (4:11.11) with Hamilton, Garringer, Marlee Rice and Jordan Tobler.

Shelbyville hosts Mt. Vernon Thursday.

The Indiana Pacers today announced the team has signed guard Lance Stephenson to a second 10-day contract under the NBA’s COVID-related hardship exception. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The Pacers signed Stephenson to an initial 10-day contract under the NBA’s COVID-related hardship exception on January 1, 2022.

Southwestern missed 8 of 9 free throws over the final eight minutes Monday to hinder the comeback attempt against Morristown in a Mid-Hoosier Conference girls basketball game.

After a third quarter where the host Spartans cut the lead to five at 29-24, Southwestern struggled to complete the rally and lost 38-32.

Gracie Laster hit a trio of three-pointers on the way to 13 points and Nevaeh Sanders was 9 of 10 from the free-throw line to match the senior with 13 points.

Raegan Kleine finished with eight points and Morristown improved to 9-7 overall and 2-1 in the MHC.

The Yellow Jackets built a 12-5 lead after one quarter as the Spartans’ free-throw difficulties started early. They missed 4 of 5 in the first quarter.

The lead was extended to 25-15 by halftime as Laster hit a pair of 3s in the second quarter.

Four different Spartans scored in the third quarter when they outscored the Yellow Jackets, 9-4. However, four different Spartans missed from the charity stripe in the fourth.

Alison Muck led Southwestern (7-8, 2-2 MHC) with 13 points. Lily Kerber finished with seven.

Southwestern was 7 of 23 from the free-throw line (30%).

Morristown won the junior varsity game, 52-20.

Nevaeh Cox made 14 field goals on the way to a game-high 29 points. Sarah Essex and Olivia Rude each had six.

Ellie Gosser topped Southwestern with seven points. Katelynn Coffman finished with five.

Both squads are in action tonight.

Southwestern hosts Lutheran (4-9) in a varsity-only contest at 6 p.m.

Morristown continues its MHC schedule hosting North Decatur (11-6, 1-1 MHC).

In another prep event Monday:

Gymnastics

Richmond 103.375, Shelbyville 84.575

At Shelbyville, Kaliyah Brown, Renee Aldridge and Faye-Lynn Voss finished in the top five in the all-around competition in the Golden Bears’ first meet of the season at Girls Inc. in Shelbyville.

Brown placed second in the vault (9.0) and third in the floor exercise (8.5) to secure a third-place finish in the all-around (30.825).

Voss was fifth on the balance beam and floor exercise to place fifth in the all-around.

Aldridge was fourth in the all-around.

Shelbyville will host Waldron Thursday.

Bryce Yarling raced to the rim for the game-winning shot in the Shelby County Tournament championship game – and missed.

Redemption for the Waldron junior came seconds later when he got a second opportunity and converted to give his Mohawks a 51-50 victory over Triton Central Saturday night -- and its first county tournament title since 2016.

“This is fun. This is unforgettable,” said head coach Beau Scott, in his third season at Waldron. “I am really happy for the community, who are still here celebrating. This is a lot of fun.”

Triton Central junior Isaac Morgan was in the same position to win it when he scored in the lane with 20 seconds left on the clock to give the Tigers a 50-49 lead.

Yarling raced up court with the ball past the Waldron bench and found a path to the basket. The ball rolled off his right hand and then off the rim and into Josiah Blair’s hands.

The senior was fouled and walked to the free throw line at the other end of the court with 8.5 seconds left in regulation. And as the Tigers did much of the game, Blair missed both free throws.

Lucas Mitchell grabbed the rebound and found Yarling near half court. He raced off for the rim once again and converted as the clock ticked under two seconds.

The officials put 1.9 seconds on the clock but the best TC could do was get Blair a half-court shot that missed and the celebration of two county tourney titles in one night was on.

“Bryce had the hot hand and he wanted that last shot,” said Mitchell. “He wanted to be that guy. I believe in my teammates 100% -- every single one of them. So I got the ball to Bryce. Any shot he takes I believe it’s going in.”

Waldron won the girls county tourney title over Triton Central earlier in the evening and the teams became the first in school history to capture county titles on the same night – and it was even sweeter on their home floor.

Yarling finished with a game-high 22 points and added three rebounds and two assists to be named Shelby County Tournament Most Valuable Player.

“I knew there were eight seconds left and I had to get the ball somehow,” said Yarling. “I put on a move, somehow got the ball and the rest just happened.”

Mitchell had 14 points and 10 rebounds and the rest of the starting lineup contributed 15 points to get the win and avenge a 67-47 loss at Triton Central on Dec. 2.

The win meant Waldron took possession of the coveted Victory Bell – the county’s traveling trophy. The Mohawks will have to defend the bell on Jan. 28 against Southwestern – a team it has beaten twice this season, including in Friday’s county tourney semifinal round.

Morgan was outstanding for Triton Central, scoring 21 points on 9 of 12 shooting. He also had five rebounds and two assists.

Blair finished with 13 points and nine rebounds. Caleb Miller had eight points and four rebounds.

The Tigers led 8-7 early in the first quarter before the Mohawks closed out the quarter with an 11-2 run.

Waldron pushed the lead to double digits late in the second quarter and led 30-22 at halftime.

Triton Central shot 55% from the field in the third quarter but missed all five free-throw attempts and trailed 38-35 at the break.

The Tigers were 2 of 11 from the charity stripe entering the fourth quarter but still kept pushing the Mohawks, who kept responding.

With the Tigers within two, Waldron senior Caden Sheaffer hit a corner 3-pointer with 5:55 to go to push the lead back to five.

Morgan scored five straight points for TC to cut the lead to 45-44 and Blair hit a free throw with 3:39 left on the clock to tie the game at 45s.

Yarling made two free throws, Waldron was 11 of 12 in the game, for a 47-45 advantage.

Morgan answered on the other end with two free throws and Miller added another with 1:09 left to give Triton Central its first lead since 8-7.

Yarling converted two free throws with 55 seconds left to set up a frenzied finish that saw Yarling potentially hit the game winner, Morgan follow with a potential game winner, then Yarling sealing the deal.

Waldron shot 49% from the field and 92% from the free-throw line.

Triton Central finished at 50% from the field but was 1 of 9 from the 3-point arc (11%) and 7 of 22 from the free throw line (32%) after entering the tournament converting 70% as a team.

“It was bad timing for sure,” said Triton Central coach Kyle Ballard when asked about his team’s struggle from the line. “I thought we did a lot of things well. We took care of the ball. And we had some pretty good looks. We were pretty patient on the offensive end but if you can’t put the ball in the basket from the free throw line … and we couldn’t string stops together when we needed them.”

Triton Central travels to Milan (0-10) Saturday.

Waldron is back in action Saturday when its hosts Class A, No. 9 Jac-Cen-Del (7-2).

Waldron 51, Triton Central 50

TC: Blair 5-12 3-7 13, Crouse 1-3 0-0 2, Miller 3-8 1-4 8, Morgan 9-12 3-5 21, Kemper 1-3 0-1 2, Faust 2-3 0-0 4, Krebs 0-0 0-0 0, Stuckey 0-1 0-4 0. Totals: 21-42 7-22 50.

WA: Mitchell 6-13 2-2 14, Yarling 7-14 7-8 22, Shaw 2-4 0-0 4, Sheaffer 2-3 1-1 6, Becker 2-4 1-1 5, Lindsey 0-1 0-0 0, Jones 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 19-39 11-12 51.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

TC (6-7)   10  12  13  15  -- 50

WA (7-4) 15  12     8  13  --  51

Three-point field goals: TC 1-9 (Blair 0-4, Crouse 0-2, Miller 1-1, Kemper 0-1, Faust 0-1), WA 2-10 (Yarling 1-5, Shaw 0-1, Sheaffer 1-2, Becker 0-1, Lindsey 0-1). Rebounds: TC 24 (Blair 9, Crouse 2, Miller 4, Morgan 5, Kemper 1, Faust 3), WA 17 (Mitchell 10, Yarling 3, Becker 3, Lindsey 1), Assists: TC 6 (Blair 1, Crouse 2, Morgan 2, Faust 1), WA 5 (Mitchell 1, Yarling 2, Becker 2). Steals: TC 5 (Crouse 3, Morgan 1, Kemper 1). Blocks: TC 2 (Blair 1, Morgan 1), WA 2 (Mitchell 1, Becker 1). Total fouls: TC 13, WA 17. Turnovers: TC 5, WA 9.

The Shelbyville Golden Bears Varsity / JV boys basketball games scheduled for Tuesday at Columbus East have been postponed due to Covid-induced low numbers in the Olympians program.

Olympians head coach Brent Chitty told GIANT fm Sports that 11 of 18 Columbus East players were either out with Covid or due to contact tracing.

The JV and varsity games have been postponed.  A rescheduled date is still to be determined.

The Shelbyville freshman team will still play at Columbus East on Tuesday.  That is scheduled for 6:00 pm.

An 8-0 run over a two-minute span provided all the momentum Waldron needed to claim its first Shelby County Girls Basketball Tournament title in 12 years.

Megan Bogemann hit a rushed three-pointer just ahead of the halftime buzzer Saturday night and opened the third quarter with another 3 which was followed by a Bella Larrison layin to give Class A, No. 2 Waldron its first double-digit lead of the game over 2A No. 7 Triton Central.

The Tigers never recovered as its offense sputtered to its worst performance of the season in a 42-27 loss, bringing an end to their seven-year reign as county tourney champions.

Nichole Garner scored a game-high 16 points and had five rebounds and two assists to be named the Shelby County Tournament Most Valuable Player. The senior was solid from start to finish and led Waldron to a pair of victories over Triton Central this season.

“It feels amazing. Triton Central is a big competitor for us and we beat them this season so there was a lot of pressure on us going into this game,” said Garner, who 7-of-8 fourth-quarter free throws in Waldron’s 46-39 Dec. 3 win in Fairland.

While Garner was the MVP, Bogemann produced the game’s biggest play just before halftime.

Waldron was leading 16-14 and running the clock down for the final shot of the first half. Bella Larrison pulled up for a 3 from the wing and missed. Waldron got the rebound and hoisted another shot which missed. In the scramble for the loose ball, Hadlie Ross corralled it and found Bogemann in front of the TC bench.

 The senior knocked down her 48^th 3-pointer of the season just as time expired.

“Honestly, I didn’t think it was going in. I was praying the whole time I shot it,” said Bogemann. “It went in and the crowd went crazy and I got chills all over my body.”

Waldron had possession to start the second half and Bogemann opened it with her third trifecta of the game and the Mohawks never looked back.

Triton Central shot just 34% from the field in its semifinal win over Morristown Thursday. Head coach Bryan Graham lamented Thursday after the win that the performance needed to be better Saturday night. He was right.

The Tigers made just two field goals in the first half while shooting  13%. Only a 9-of-11 performance from the free throw line kept them in the game.

Hallie Schweitzer and Maddy Brown each hit a 3 in the third quarter to keep Triton Central within seven points going into the fourth quarter.

Brown had the only field goal over the final eight minutes as Triton Central shot just 20% in the loss and had just one field goal in three of the four quarters.

Olivia Faust led Triton Central with seven points and three rebounds. Schweitzer and Brown each had five points.

Bogemann finished with 11 points and Hadlie Ross and Bella Larrison each had six. Josee Larrison pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds.

Waldron extended the lead to 28-17 midway through the third quarter before Triton Central’s last rally – a Riley Ross score from the low post and Brown’s long 3 from the top of the key cut the lead to six.

Ross hit a pair of free throws just before the third quarter buzzer to set the lead at 32-25.

The Mohawks scored the first eight points of the fourth quarter and a victorious buzz started building within Waldron’s gymnasium.

Triton Central failed to score in the first seven minutes of the fourth quarter.

Waldron collected its third Shelby County Tournament title to go with wins in 1992 and 2010.

Waldron head coach Anthony Thomas improved to 74-36 in his fifth and final season with the Mohawks. He has already announced his retirement following the conclusion of the season.

“I got overcome with emotion when there was about a minute to go and I thought we were in good shape,” said Thomas. “It’s a testament to the kids. It was a gritty performance. We weren’t in sync offensively, which a lot of that was (Triton Central). They put some pressure on you, but our defense played well enough and stayed the course.”

The Mohawks trailed 13-9 midway through the second quarter but never wavered – the veteran presence of seven seniors and one junior in the rotation has been evident all season.

“They don’t really have any fear,” said Thomas. “One of the things we talked about going into this game is they had us down six or eight (points) up there a couple times (earlier this season) and just kept doing what we do. We have faith in what we do. If we stay consistent like that, there is no reason to panic. If you are in a 2- or 3-possession game, I will take us against the world every time.

“No disrespect to Triton Central, but that was a huge moment for our kids, for our fans and for our community. You could push me over with a feather, I could not be more happy for these kids.”

Triton Central is back in action Tuesday at New Palestine (9-7).

Waldron (16-1) is off until Thursday when its hosts South Decatur (3-12) in a Mid-Hoosier Conference game.

Waldron 42, Triton Central 27

TC: Schweitzer 1-11 2-4 5, Brown 2-7 0-1 5, Graham 0-4 1-2 1, Harris 1-2 1-1 3, Faust 2-8 2-2 7, Bailey 0-2 4-6 4, Ross 1-1 0-0 2. Totals: 7-35 10-16 27.

WA: Had. Ross 2-3 2-3 6, Shaw 1-7 1-2 3, Bogemann 3-9 2-2 11, Garner 5-12 4-5 16, B. Larrison 2-6 2-2 6, J. Larrison 0-5 0-0 0, Fewell 0-0 0-0 0, Sheaffer 0-0 0-0 0, Benson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 13-42 11-14 42.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

TC (15-3)    5    9  11    2  --  27

WA (16-1)  5  14  13  10  --  42

Three-point field goals: TC 3-11 (Schweitzer 1-3, Brown 1-3, Graham 0-1, Harris 0-1, Faust 1-3), WA 5-12 (Shaw 0-1, Bogemann 3-6, Garner 2-3, B. Larrison 0-2). Rebounds: TC 24 (Schweitzer 6, Brown 3, Graham 3, Harris 4, Faust 3, Bailey 5), WA 32 (Had. Ross 8, Shaw 1, Bogemann 2, Garner 5, B. Larrison 5, J. Larrison 11). Assists: TC 4 (Schweitzer 1, Brown 3), WA 6 (Had. Ross 1, Shaw 2, Bogemann 1, Garner 2). Steals: TC 3 (Schweitzer 1, Graham 1, Faust 1), WA 4 (Bogemann 2, Garner 1, B. Larrison 1). Blocks: TC 2 (Faust 2). Total fouls: TC 18, WA 15. Fouled out: Brown, Bailey (TC). Turnovers: TC 10, WA 7.

With its Shelby County Tournament title Saturday night, Waldron solidified itself in the Indiana Coaches of Girls Sports Association basketball poll.

The Mohawks, now 16-1, remain at No. 2 behind Lanesville (17-1) for a second straight week in the Class A poll.

Completing the top 10 are Lafayette Central Catholic (14-3), Jac-Cen-Del (13-4), Tecumseh (10-6), Blue River (14-2), Vincennes Rivet (13-4), Trinity Lutheran (10-5), North White (12-4) and Northeast Dubois (12-3).

Top-ranked Lanesville is at No. 8 Trinity Lutheran Tuesday.

No. 4 Jac-Cen-Del returns to Shelby County Friday to face Southwestern.

Waldron travels to Class 2A, No. 9 Eastern Hancock Saturday.

Unbeaten South Central (Union Mills) (17-0) is No. 1 in Class 2A ahead of Winchester (16-1), Tipton (15-1), Eastbrook (12-2), Forest Park (14-2), Fairfield (14-2), Triton Central (15-3), University (12-2), Eastern Hancock (13-2) and Frankton (12-4).

Triton Central was defeated by Waldron Saturday night in the championship game of the Shelby County Tournament. The loss dropped the Tigers one spot in this week’s poll.

The top-ranked team in Class 3A continues to be South Bend Washington (16-2).

Garrett (16-1) is No. 2 ahead of Benton Central (19-0), Silver Creek (16-1), Mishawaka Marian (14-3), Jay County (13-2), Hamilton Heights (13-4), Norwell (13-4), Washington (15-3) and Twin Lakes (14-4).

Homestead (15-1) jumps from No. 4 to No. 1 in this week’s Class 4A poll.

Bedford North Lawrence (16-1) is No. 2 with Franklin (18-1), Crown Point (13-2), Noblesville (14-3), Westfield (14-3), North Central (15-5), Fishers (13-4), Columbia City (16-0) and Fort Wayne Snider (12-2) completing the top 10.

Shelbyville finished 5-0 and had four wrestlers go undefeated to win the Guerin Catholic Invitational Saturday.

The Golden Bears defeated Scecina (60-9), Lafayette Central Catholic (51-18), Lapel (56-6), Lawrenceburg (36-30) and Guerin Catholic (42-28) to capture the team title.

Shelbyville improved to 14-7 in dual matches this season.

Finishing the day 5-0 for Shelbyville were Ethan Watkins at 126 pounds, Cael Lux at 132, Tarik Runnebohm at 138 and Carson Linville at 170.

Shelbyville returns to the mats Saturday for the Hoosier Heritage Conference Meet at Yorktown.

In another wrestling invitational Saturday:

Maconaquah Invitational

A trio of Triton Central Tigers captured third-place finishes at the Maconaquah Invitational.

Dayne Bailey, Isaak Booth and Hadyn Ball each finished 4-1 to finish on the podium.

Jaden Ferris, Tristan Gibbons and Andrew Bailey went 3-2 in the invitational. Ferris and Bailey finished fourth in their respective weight classes. Gibbons placed fifth.

Marcos Davis was 2-2 and finished seventh.

The Tigers host Beech Grove Thursday at 6 p.m. in a dual meet then travel to Monrovia Saturday for the Indiana Crossroads Conference Meet.

Madison Phares hit a pair of three-pointers and Kylee Edwards scored seven of her game-high 18 points to lead Shelbyville to its third Hoosier Heritage Conference win of the season Saturday afternoon.

The Golden Bears defeated Yorktown, 43-33, to improve to 8-9 this season and 3-2 in the HHC – good enough for fourth place in the conference standings.

Shelbyville built a 17-10 lead after the first quarter and opened it to 24-14 by halftime.

Phares and Edwards each hit a 3 in the third quarter to offset a pair by Yorktown’s Amari Wright and the Golden Bear lead was 36-24 by the end of the quarter.

Edwards added nine rebounds, four assists and two steals for Shelbyville.

Ava Wilson had 10 points, two rebounds, two assists and a steal. Madison Bassett added four points and seven rebounds. Phares finished with nine points.

Wright topped Yorktown (3-12, 1-4 HHC) with 16 points. Raya Tewari finished with seven.

Shelbyville’s junior varsity improved to 12-2 this season with a 36-20 victory.

The Golden Bears return to action Tuesday when they host Rushville (10-8) at Garrett Gymnasium.

Shelbyville is at Mt. Vernon (10-6, 2-1 HHC) Saturday.

Class 3A, No. 15 Greensburg raced out to a 17-6 lead after one quarter Saturday night at Garrett Gymnasium and held off Shelbyville for a 61-54 victory.

The Pirates (9-3) extended the lead to 35-23 at halftime and the Golden Bears (2-8) never got closer than three points the rest of the way.

Ollie Sandman led Shelbyville with 27 points. Jakob Heaton added 15 in the Golden Bears’ first loss of 2022.

Greensburg won the junior varsity game, 48-22. The Golden Bears are 2-8.

Shelbyville travels to Columbus Tuesday to take on Columbus East (1-8). The Olympians have lost five straight.

The Golden Bears will host Hoosier Heritage Conference foe Pendleton Heights (2-9) Saturday at Garrett Gymnasium. Shelbyville will honor former Golden Bear athlete Gary Oldham Jr., who was killed in an automobile accident on Interstate 74 early Wednesday morning in Shelby County.

T-shirts will be sold with Gary’s name and soccer number (#19) on the back. All proceeds will go to the Oldham family.

Kyle Ballard was searching for a leader for his Triton Central boys basketball team.

On Friday night in the second semifinal game of the 97^th Annual Shelby County Boys Basketball Tournament, senior point guard Alex Crouse answered the call.

Crouse scored a team-high 18 points and had six assists and two rebounds to lead the Tigers past Morristown, 59-38. Triton Central (6-6) will attempt to repeat as county champions Saturday night against Waldron (6-4).

“(Alex) and I talked a couple of times this week about seeing him getting back to being an Energizer bunny for us,” said Ballard. “There is no question he did that. He made a couple of plays in the first half that were big and he sparked our run in the third quarter with some effort plays and making some really heady plays with the basketball which is what we expect of him.”

Crouse entered the county tournament averaging 5.4 ppg and a county best 4.8 apg. He matched that before halftime Friday against a Morristown team battling illness and injury.

Starter Chase Theobald rolled his right ankle early in the contest and sat out the rest of the game. Still, Nolan Laster and Nick Stidham kept the Yellow Jackets within striking distance.

Triton Central got out to an 8-0 lead before Laster scored five straight. The Yellow Jackets trailed 10-5 after one quarter.

Stidham heated up in the second quarter and scored 12 points but Crouse had seven and Caleb Miller and Mason Krebs each had four to keep TC in front 25-17 at halftime.

Laster splashed a pair of 3s in the third quarter but Crouse continued to direct the Tigers, who extended the lead to 40-28 with one quarter to go.

Ballard was running eight players through the rotations all night and that helped wear down the Yellow Jackets in the fourth quarter.

“We got back within striking distance but when you are playing a low-scoring game like that, every defensive mistake gets magnified,” said Morristown coach Collin McCartt. “We got beat on a couple of back doors that we were trying to adjust to. We had to come out into (man-to-man defense) and that was probably my fault. I think we came out of our zone to early and when we had to go man, we had nothing left in the tank to try and stay in front of those guys.”

Laster led Morristown with 20 points and four assists. Stidham scored 18 and had three rebounds.

Triton Central had three in double figures with Miller getting 15 points, six rebounds and four assists and Isaac Morgan collecting 12 points and five rebounds.

Josiah Blair finished with eight points, seven rebounds and three assists.

Triton Central 59, Morristown 38

MT: Mahin 0-2 0-0 0, Laster 7-20 1-2 20, Carlton 0-0 0-0 0, Stidham 6-15 2-3 18, Theobald 0-0 0-0 0, Riley 0-1 0-2, Garthwaite 0-0 0-2 0. Totals: 13-38 3-9 38.

TC: Blair 3-7 2-3 8, Crouse 8-10 0-0 18, Miller 7-11 0-0 15, Morgan 5-6 1-2 12, Kemper 0-2 0-0 0, Faust 1-3 0-0 2, Palmer 0-0 0-0 0, Krebs 2-2 0-0 4, Stuckey 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 26-42 3-5 59.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

MT (1-9)   5   12  11  10  --  38

TC (6-6)   10  15  15  19  --  59

Three-point field goals: MT 9-19 (Laster 5-10, Stidham 4-8, Riley 0-1), TC 4-11 (Blair 0-2, Crouse 2-3, Miller 1-4, Morgan 1-1, Faust 0-1). Rebounds: MT 12 (Mahin 4, Laster 3, Carlton 1, Stidham 3, Garthwaite 1), TC 26 (Blair 7, Crouse 2, Miller 6, Morgan 5, Kemper 3, Faust 3). Assists: MT 8 (Laster 4, Carlton 2, Stidham 1, Riley 1), TC 14 (Blair 3, Crouse 6, Miller 4, Palmer 1). Steals: MT 4 (Mahin 2, Laster 1, Stidham 1), TC 3 (Crouse 1, Miller 1, Morgan 1). Blocks: MT 1 (Mahin 1), TC 2 (Faust 1, Krebs 1). Total fouls: MT 7, TC 10. Turnovers: MT 13, TC 10.

Waldron’s success this season has come on the backs of Bryce Yarling and Lucas Mitchell.

On Friday in the first semifinal game of the 97^th Annual Shelby County Boys Basketball Tournament, Bryant Becker did a lot of the heavy lifting for the Mohawks.

The senior scored 11 points, pulled down 10 rebounds and had seven assists to lead the Mohawks to a 60-47 victory over Southwestern. Waldron (6-4) will play for its first county tournament title in five years Saturday night against Triton Central (6-6).

Waldron has little depth on its roster and relies on Yarling and Mitchell, who combine for 37.4 ppg, to lead the team. On Friday, Becker was outstanding clearing the boards, scoring when he had opportunities and making the right passes to his teammates to put points on the scoreboard.

“This was awesome. We talked with him and told him when you are attacking and willing to shoot we are a different offense,” said Beau Scott. “It’s another element defenses have to account for.”

Scott also got production from starters Lucas Shaw (six points) and Caden Sheaffer (four points) to total 21 points from players not named Yarling, who finished with 18 points and three steals, and Mitchell, who was dominant in the first quarter and finished with 21 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks.

Hartsell led Southwestern (3-7) with 19 points but he only had five in the first half when the Spartans struggled to get going offensively.

“We were starting the offense 10 feet further back than we wanted to and we didn’t run much,” said Southwestern coach Brady Days. “In the second half we had to go to a spread out offense because we didn’t want to run anything. We had to run something simple because we weren’t doing any screening.”

Jordan Jones added 18 points in the loss.

Waldron led 14-6 after one quarter with Mitchell getting 10 points and three rebounds.

All five Waldron starters scored in the second quarter to extend the lead to 25-14.

Southwestern’s third quarter was its best quarter, shooting 55% from the field and getting as close as five points.

The Spartans cut a 39-32 lead after three quarters to 39-34 on a pair of Hartsell free throws to start the fourth quarter. A free throw from Grant Emerick got the lead back to five at 40-35 before a 7-0 run by Waldron sealed the win.

Waldron 60, Southwestern 47

SW: Hartsell 5-18 6-8 19, Clements 2-2 2-5 7, Pappano 0-1 0-0 0, Emerick 0-1 1-2 1, Jones 8-16 0-1 18, Joy 1-7 0-0 0, Jewell 0-1 0-0 0, DeArmitt 0-0 0-0 0, Snepp 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 16-46 9-16 47.

WA: Mitchell 6-10 9-10 21, Yarling 3-7 10-10 18, Shaw 2-5 1-2 6, Sheaffer 2-3 0-0 4, Becker 4-7 2-5 11, Lindsey 0-0 0-0 0, Jones 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 17-32 22-27 60.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

SW (3-7)    6    8   18  15  --  47

WA (6-4)  14  11  14  21  --  60

Three-point field goals: SW 6-22 (Hartsell 3-9, Clements 1-1, Pappano 0-1, Jones 2-5, Joy 0-5, Jewell 0-1), WA 4-8 (Mitchell 0-1, Yarling 2-2, Shaw 1-2, Becker 1-3). Rebounds: SW 18 (Hartsell 3, Clements 6, Jones 2, Jewell 4, DeArmitt 3), WA 24 (Mitchell 10, Yarling 1, Shaw 1, Sheaffer 2, Becker 10). Assists: SW 5 (Hartsell 3, Pappano 1, Jones 1), WA 10 (Mitchell 2, Sheaffer 1, Becker 7). Steals: SW 4 (Hartsell 1, Clements 2, Jones 1), WA 6 (Yarling 3, Sheaffer 3). Blocks: SW 1 (Hartsell 1), WA 3 (Mitchell 3). Total fouls: SW 19, WA 13. Fouled out: Emerick, Jewell (SW). Turnovers: SW 12, WA 13.

Morristown put everything it had into a strong third-quarter performance then ran out of gas over the final eight minutes against Class 2A, No. 6 Triton Central Thursday night in the semifinal round of the Shelby County Tournament.

The Yellow Jackets outscored the Tigers 15-14 over the third eight-minute period to cut the TC lead to 38-29. Missed opportunities early in the fourth quarter, especially from the free-throw line, showed Morristown had little left to give and the Tigers went in for the kill.

Hallie Schweitzer banked in a short shot in the lane and Lizzie Graham hit her fifth three-pointer of the game and the lead ballooned to 43-29.

Graham hit another 3 in the quarter to finish with a game-high 18 points. She was 6 of 12 from the arc in the win.

Brooklyn Bailey came off the bench to net Triton Central 12 points, nine rebounds and two steals.

“When (Southwestern) packed that zone in there, with her size and strength, we have to get her in quickly,” said Triton Central coach Bryan Graham in his postgame interview with GIANT fm radio. “With her and (Olivia) Faust in there we get those high-low looks. You have to double team one of them. You can roll the dice with one of them one-on-one but the majority of the time they are going to hit the shot.”

Graham hit a pair of corner 3s in the first quarter to stake the Tigers to a 17-10 lead.

The two teams combined to hit 5 of 27 shots in the second quarter and the Tigers’ lead was 10 at halftime, 24-14.

Following a Maddy Brown 3-pointer that opened the lead to 27-14, the Yellow Jackets went on an 8-0 run that started with Nevaeh Sanders hitting a short jumper from the wing.

Raegan Kleine followed with a successful drive into the lane, Danika Rutledge sank two free throws and Sanders scored in the lane to trim the lead to 27-22 with 4:57 left in the quarter.

Graham answered back with another 3 from the wing and Bailey hit a pair of free throws before Kleine splashed her own 3.

The Tigers had a 6-0 run that was answered by Morristown’s 4-0 run that closed one of the best quarters by the Yellow Jackets this season.

There just was not much left in the fourth quarter where Morristown was 0-for-3 from the field and 1 of 6 from the free-throw line while being outscored 12-1.

Kleine finished with a team-high 10 points and three assists and surpassed the 500-point mark in her career in the loss.

Rutledge, a freshman, had four points, 11 rebounds and three blocked shots in her county tourney debut at the varsity level. Sanders, another freshman, had seven points.

Morristown shot 41% from the field but only took 27 shots. The Yellow Jackets committed 25 turnovers.

Faust had nine points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals for Triton Central. Brown finished with nine points before leaving the game in the fourth quarter with a leg cramp, according to Bryan Graham.

With the win, Triton Central sets up a rematch of Shelby County’s two top-10 ranked programs. Waldron won the first meeting this season, 46-39 on Dec. 3.

Triton Central will be seeking its eighth-straight county tourney title and possession of the Victory Bell – the county’s traveling trophy.

Waldron is chasing its first county tourney title since 2010.

Triton Central 50, Morristown 30

MT: Rogers 2-3 0-0 4, Kleine 4-8 1-4 10, Laster 0-5 2-2 2, Sanders 3-4 1-4 7, Rutledge 1-5 2-2 4, Cornn 0-1 0-0 0, Lutes 1-1 0-0 3, Rude 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 11-27 6-12 30.

TC: Schweitzer 2-10 0-0 4, Brown 3-13 0-0 7, Graham 6-15 0-0 18, Harris 0-0 0-0 0, Faust 4-11 1-1 9, Bailey 5-9 2-2 12, Ross 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 20-58 3-3 50.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

MT (8-7)  10  4  15    1  --  30

TC (15-2)  17  7  14  12  --  50

Three-point field goals: MT 2-8 (Rogers 0-1, Kleine 1-2, Laster 0-3, Cornn 0-1, Lutes 1-1), TC 7-21 (Schweitzer 0-2, Brown 1-5, Graham 6-12, Faust 0-2). Rebounds: MT 24 (Rogers 1, Kleine 1, Laster 3, Sanders 1, Rutledge 11, Cornn 1, Lutes 5, Rude 1), TC 25 (Schweitzer 3, Brown 3, Graham 4, Harris 2, Faust 4, Bailey 9). Assists: MT 5 (Rogers 1, Kleine 3, Sanders 1), TC 12 (Schweitzer 4, Brown 3, Harris 1, Faust 3, Bailey 1). Steals: MT 1 (Laster 1), TC 7 (Brown 1, Graham 1, Harris 1, Faust 2, Bailey 2). Blocks: MT 4 (Rutledge 3, Lutes 1), TC 1 (Faust 1). Total fouls: MT 4, TC 10. Turnovers: MT 25, TC 6.

Class A, No. 2 Waldron utilized a 25-5 run over an eight-minute span in the second and third quarters to pull away from Southwestern and secure a semifinal win in the Shelby County Girls Basketball Tournament Thursday night at Waldron, 49-33.

Bella Larrison scored a game-high 17 points and Megan Bogemann connected on a trio of three-pointers during that game-changing run to finish with 14 points and put the Mohawks, now 15-1, in Saturday’s championship game against Class 2A, No. 6 Triton Central.

“We never found our groove which I kind of expected,” said Waldron head coach Anthony Thomas in his postgame interview with GIANT fm radio. “You practice four days and you don’t really have any game-type stuff even though you try to simulate it. I expected us to be a little flat but I was proud of how we came out and played in the third quarter and put the game away.”

With her performance Thursday, Larrison surpassed Hannah Sullivan and Courtney Sawyer to move into ninth place on the Mohawks’ career scoring list.

Larrison was the steadying force while Bogemann was explosive for a Waldron team that struggled in the first half to knock down field goals against a stingy Southwestern defense.

“Bella was very active tonight. She was kind of our leader when we needed it,” said Thomas.

The Spartans were held scoreless in the first quarter but the Mohawks hit just 4 of 10 shots and missed all three 3s in building a 10-0 lead.

Alison Muck sank the first of two free-throw attempts at the 7:07 mark of the second quarter to get the Spartans on the scoreboard. Lilly Rooks followed with a layin, McKinley Correll hit a free throw and Lily Kerber scored twice from close range to cut Waldron’s lead to 12-8.

Mackenzie Shaw scored off an offensive rebound for Waldron with 3:16 to go in the half that ignited an 8-0 run and a 20-10 halftime advantage.

Bogemann, Shelby County’s top 3-pointer shooter with 42 this season entering the tournament, hit her first trifecta with 7:37 left in the third quarter and added two more in the run that extended the lead to 37-13.

“Once (Bogemann) gets going, her teammates find her and she gets in a rhythm,” said Thomas. “She knocked down some shots we needed.”

Rooks scored five of her team-high 14 points in the fourth quarter when she also had three rebounds and four steals. She finished the game with seven steals.

Kerber had 10 points in her final county tournament. She also had five rebounds to match Muck’s five rebounds.

The Spartans finished the game 11 of 29 from the field (38%) and 9 of 12 from the free-throw line (75%). Twenty-six turnovers limited the offensive punch.

Waldron hit 9 of 14 shots in the third quarter, including four 3s, to finish 19 of 48 from the field (40%). The Mohawks were a perfect 6 of 6 from the free-throw line.

Waldron 49, Southwestern 33

SW: Correll 1-2 3-4 5, Muck 0-1 1-2 5, Kerber 5-11 0-0 10, Rooks 4-8 5-6 14, Kelley 0-2 0-0 0, Stockdale 1-3 0-0 3, Pile 0-2 0-0 0. Totals: 11-29 9-12 33.

WA: Had. Ross 1-4 0-0 2, Shaw 4-7 0-0 8, Bogemann 4-9 2-2 14, Garner 1-6 2-2 4, B. Larrison 7-13 2-2 17, J. Larrison 1-1 0-0 2, Fewell 1-1 0-0 2, Hal. Ross 0-4 0-0 0, Sheaffer 0-1 0-0 0, Benson 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 19-48 6-6 49.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

SW (7-7)      0  10    8  15  --  33

WA (15-1) 10  10  22    7 – 49

Three-point field goals: SW 2-6 (Rooks 1-1, Kelley 0-1, Stockdale 1-3, Pile 0-1), WA 5-25 (Shaw 0-1, Bogemann 4-9, Garner 0-4, B. Larrison 1-6, Hal. Ross 0-3, Sheaffer 0-1, Benson 0-1). Rebounds: SW 20 (Correll 3, Muck 5, Kerber 5, Rooks 4, Kelley 2, Pile 1), WA 18 (Had. Ross 6, Shaw 1, Bogemann 1, Garner 1, B. Larrison 2, J. Larrison 2, Fewell 2, Hal. Ross 3). Assists: SW 5 (Correll 3, Rooks 1, Pile 1), WA 10 (Had. Ross 1, Garner 7, B. Larrison 1, Hal. Ross 1). Steals: SW 9 (Kerber 2, Rooks 7), WA 7 (Shaw 1, Bogemann 1, B. Larrison 3, Hal. Ross 2). Blocks: SW 2 (Kerber 1, Kelley 1), WA 1 (Hal. Ross 1). Total fouls: SW 10, WA 13. Turnovers: SW 26, WA 15.

Shelbyville won 10 matches Thursday to defeat Triton Central in their annual dual wrestling match.

At Fairland, the Golden Bears prevailed 60-18.

Shelbyville got a strong run in the lowest weight classes with Ian Barajas (106 pounds), Isaiah Havens (113), Angel Kreider (120), Ethan Watkins (126) and Cael Lux (132) stringing together consecutive victories.

Also securing points for the Golden Bears were Braxton Mills (145), Bohdan Rollo (152), Carson Linville (170), Jacob Harker (220) and Elias Jones (285).

Shelbyville and Triton Central are in action Saturday.

Shelbyville will compete in the Guerin Catholic Invitational while Triton Central will travel to the Maconaquah Invitational.

Triton Central opened the season with four straight wins over Shelby County-based schools with an average winning margin of 22 points.

The Tigers traveled to Greenfield-Central on Dec. 8 knowing it was the best team in Shelby County. In a matter of minutes, Triton Central’s entire season changed.

Aiden Lindsey, TC’s leading scorer (14.8 ppg), went down with a serious knee injury. The senior’s season ended in game five. Surgery is scheduled for next week.

“We’re trying to find our game again,” said Triton Central coach Kyle Ballard. “It’s hard for kids to adjust to losing a teammate to injury.”

Winning another Shelby County Tournament title could go a long way to putting the Tigers back on track. Triton Central is the defending champion as the 2022 tournament begins Friday at Waldron High School.

The host Mohawks (5-4) open the semifinal round Friday against Southwestern (3-6) at 6 p.m. Triton Central (5-6) follows against Morristown (1-8).

The Shelby County Tournament championship game will tip off at approximately 8 p.m. Saturday following the conclusion of the girls championship game and celebration.

Triton Central’s roster was already depleted when it arrived at Greenfield-Central and the Lindsey injury made things worse. The Tigers lost 57-29 and took a 61-43 loss at Greensburg two days later.

With much of its roster returning to full health, Triton Central opened its conference schedule with a 65-55 win over Cascade but four straight losses have the Tigers searching for confidence.

“We have to get back to having confidence in the things we do well,” said Ballard. “We have to trust ourselves and trust our system and everyone do their job just a little bit better.”

Lindsey and Josiah Blair were a formidable problem for opposing teams before the injury. Blair (11 ppg, 5.3 rpg) has to take on a much larger role in Lindsey’s absence.

Triton Central has better scoring depth than the other three teams in the tournament with Josh Kemper (8.8 ppg), Isaac Morgan (7.3 ppg), Caleb Miller (6.8 ppg), Alex Crouse (5.4 ppg) and Luke Faust (4.8 ppg) all contributing to the team’s scoring average of 54 ppg.

“Last year we got off to a strong start but we didn’t play well coming out of (the Christmas break),” said Ballard. “Winning the county tourney spring boarded us into the second half of the season.”

Ballard noted that despite being 5-6 the Tigers’ goals of winning the county tourney, the conference title, and repeating as sectional champs are all still viable.

Morristown will get the first chance to avenge an early season loss to Triton Central. The two teams met in the season opener which was Morristown’s first game under new head coach Collin McCartt.

In the Yellow Jackets’ first five losses, the offense averaged just 31.4 ppg. In the next four, including a 43-39 win over New Washington, the offense has improved to 42 ppg.

Nolan Laster leads Morristown in scoring at 15.3 ppg. He had a season-high 28 points Tuesday in a 53-47 loss to Union County.

Nick Stidham follows at 11 ppg which means the duo accounts for 73% of the Yellow Jackets’ offensive output.

Morristown will need players like Chase Theobald and Cade Mahin to contribute against a deeper Triton Central squad.

The last time Waldron and Southwestern met, the Mohawks prevailed in three overtimes, 61-56. Lucas Mitchell and Bryce Yarling combined for 57 points to lead the Mohawks.

For Southwestern, Jordan Jones and Aiden Hartsell combined for 43 points.

That sets the stage for a potential barnburner of a rematch. Waldron is the only team above .500 at the start of the county tournament but drew a Spartans squad ready to avenge a loss.

“It was such a memorable game and such a weird game,” said Waldron coach Beau Scott, who missed the game due to illness. Junior varsity coach Tommy Coy led the Mohawks that night at Southwestern. “We had a kid go for 37 (points). They made a ton of 3s. There were just a lot of weird things. I think both teams played super hard and played well.”

Four of the top five scorers in Shelby County are in this game. Hartsell tops a dynamic quartet at 19.7 ppg followed by Yarling (19.4 ppg), Mitchell (18 ppg) and Jones (17 ppg). Only Shelbyville’s Ollie Sandman (21.6 ppg) is averaging more points per game this season.

The two Spartans and two Mohawks combined for 100 of the 117 points scored in the first meeting. Expect more of the same Friday which means their teammates may decide the outcome.

“We haven’t shied away from outright saying you need to look to score, look to create and be a part of our offense,” said Scott.

Yarling and Mitchell have combined for 72% of the Mohawks’ offense this season. Scott believes Lucas Shaw (4.8 ppg), Bryant Becker (4.1 ppg) and Caden Sheaffer (3.9 ppg) can contribute more when needed.

Southwestern is in a similar situation with Hartsell and Jones making up 73% of its offense. Scott believes Grant Emerick is a player to watch on the Spartans’ roster.

“I like Emerick. He plays hard,” said Scott. “He is willing to do anything offensively and defensively.”

Emerick is averaging 3.7 ppg while Matthew Clements follows at 3.6 ppg and a team-high 4.6 rpg.

The Spartans enter the tournament following a 1-2 performance at the Monrovia holiday tournament which ended with a pair of losses to Tri-West and Tipton.

The Mohawks were 5-2 before losing a pair of games at the Batesville holiday tournament to the host Bulldogs and North Harrison – both 3A programs.

“We played some physical teams (at Batesville),” said Scott. “We lost both games and didn’t play particularly great but there were some positives to take away.”

Another shot at Triton Central is certainly worthwhile to Waldron but Scott will be satisfied with advancing to Saturday’s championship. The Mohawks have not won a Friday night county tourney game since 2017.

“You always want another shot but playing for the title is more important,” said Scott.

Waldron’s last county tourney title came in 2016.

Indiana University South Bend’s women’s basketball team improved to 13-4 Monday with an 82-43 win at Judson in Elgin, Illinois.

Triton Central graduate Bailey Stamper had one rebound, two assists and one blocked shot for the victorious Titans.

Here is a look at other Shelby County graduates competing at the collegiate level.

Brooklyn Langkabel

The Morristown graduate had three points Tuesday in Marian University’s 80-53 win over Goshen College.

The Knights improved to 13-2 this season and 5-0 in Crossroads League games.

Riley Stephens

The Triton Central graduate had one rebound, one assist and one blocked shot Sunday for Evansville in a 93-56 loss at No. 21 Iowa.

The loss dropped the Purple Aces to 6-6 this season.

On Saturday, Evansville lost at Drake, 97-54. Stephens had four points and one assist in the Purple Aces’ Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) opener.

Maya Chandler

The Triton Central graduate finished with seven points and two rebounds for Loyola in a 63-50 loss Sunday at Southern Illinois.

On Friday, Loyola lost at Missouri State, 55-38. Chandler had three points, two rebounds and two assists in the Ramblers’ MVC opener.

Loyola is 8-5 this season and 0-2 in the MVC.

Triton Central, winner of the last seven Shelby County girls basketball tournaments, enters the 2022 edition in a unique role.

Following a 46-39 loss to Waldron on Dec. 3, the Mohawks took possession of the Victory Bell – the county’s traveling trophy – and ascended to the No. 1 ranking in Class A.

That left Triton Central, a perennial top 10 team in 2A, as the hunter for just the third time in head coach Bryan Graham’s 14^th Shelby County Tournament.

Waldron is the host site this week and the Mohawks (14-1), currently ranked No. 2, open the semifinal round Thursday at 6 p.m. against Southwestern (7-6). Waldron won the regular-season meeting with the Spartans, 59-39, on Nov. 12.

Triton Central (14-2), ranked No. 6 this week, takes on Morristown (8-6) in the second semifinal. The Tigers doubled up the Yellow Jackets, 42-21 on Nov. 24.

The championship game is scheduled for Saturday at 6 p.m.

Graham has won 11 county tournament titles during his tenure in Fairland. The only two losses came to Southwestern in 2014 and Waldron in 2010. In both seasons, Triton Central lost the regular season game to Southwestern and Waldron ahead of the county tournament.

“The underdog stuff in the county tourney, in my opinion, is kind of overrated,” said Graham. “It all depends on who puts their stuff together that night.”

A win by a Shelby County school over Triton Central is rare though. Graham is 61-5 against Morristown, Southwestern and Waldron in his career. Waldron’s win earlier this season snapped Triton Central’s 35-game win streak against county foes while the Mohawks ended a 17-game losing streak to TC.

Graham is still getting the Tigers settled into rotations following the season-ending injury to point guard Jenna Cox and lesser health issues with Hallie Schweitzer and Maddy Brown.

Triton Central has struggled offensively at times this season but is still averaging 54.4 points per game. Where the Tigers have excelled is defensively, allowing 34.1 ppg.

“This team has to rely more on its defense,” said Graham. “The last couple of years we’ve had so many scorers.”

Triton Central has three players averaging in double digits – Olivia Faust (13.1 ppg), Lizzie Graham (12.4 ppg) and Maddy Brown (10.4 ppg) – and a fourth in Brooklyn Bailey (8.1 ppg) that has been a spark off the bench.

Faust is averaging a team-high 7.2 rebounds with Bailey at 5.3 rpg.

In 12 games, Cox was averaging four assists per game. With the injury, Faust (4 apg), Brown (3.7 apg) and Schweitzer (2.5 apg) have taken on stronger roles.

Morristown arrives in Waldron following a pair of wins in the Cambridge City Classic. The challenge for the Yellow Jackets will be to put points on the scoreboard to keep pressuring Triton Central.

Raegan Kleine leads Morristown in nearly every statistical category this season, topping the team in points (11.5 ppg), assists (3.6 apg) and steals (2.1 spg). She is second in rebounds (5.4 rpg).

Gracie Laster follows at 8.7 ppg and 2.3 spg with freshmen Nevaeh Sanders (6.1 ppg, 2.6 rpg) and Danika Rutledge (5.9 ppg, 5.7 rpg) producing quality minutes at the varsity level.

Like Morristown, Southwestern enters the county tournament on a three-game win streak and fresh off a tournament championship in Edinburgh.

The Spartans are led offensively by Lily Kerber (10 ppg, 6 rpg) and Lilly Rooks (9.5 ppg, 2.6 spg). For the Spartans to stay up with Waldron, solid contributions will be needed from Alison Muck (6.3 ppg, 6 rpg), Cy Stockdale (5.6 ppg, team-high 15 3s) and McKinley Correll (4.9 ppg, 6 rpg).

Waldron enters the tournament as the favorite for the first time since 2010, the last time the Mohawks won the county title.

Waldron opened the season with 13 straight wins – a program record – before suffering its first loss of the season to Tri-West, 46-42, in the championship game of Waldron’s holiday tournament.

The Mohawks rebounded two days later to rout Oldenburg Academy, 56-15.

The senior-driven program is balanced. Bella Larrison leads the team in scoring (11.1 ppg) with Megan Bogemann (10.6 ppg) and Nichole Garner (10.1 ppg) close behind. Four more Mohawks average between 4-6 ppg.

Hadlie Ross leads the team in rebounds (5.7 ppg). Larrison follows at 4.9 rpg. Mackenzie Shaw gets 4.3 rpg.

Garner has a team high 3.7 apg. Larrison is at 2.9 apg.

Head coach Anthony Thomas has closed the gap on Triton Central in each of his first four seasons. In 2018, TC defeated Waldron in the county championship, 52-24.

In 2019, it was a 52-35 semifinal-round loss to the Tigers. Another semifinal loss followed in 2020, 79-35.

And last season, Triton Central collected its seventh straight title in a hard fought 45-43 victory over Waldron.

Now the Mohawks have the mental edge, the Victory Bell, and home court advantage.

“It is nice motivation to say we want the bell back,” said Graham. “I’m looking forward to a good tourney. We have been blessed and spoiled to be in that situation.”

A pair of top-10 ranked teams are headed to the Shelby County Tournament.

In the most recent Indiana Coaches of Girls Sports Association state basketball poll, Waldron sits at No. 2 in Class A while Triton Central is No. 6 in 2A.

The two teams could meet Saturday night at Waldron if each wins their semifinal round matchup Thursday.

Lanesville (16-1) is ranked No. 1 in Class A for the second time this season followed by Waldron (14-1), Lafayette Central Catholic (12-3), Jac-Cen-Del (13-3), North White (12-4), Vincennes Rivet (12-3), Tecumseh (9-6), Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian (13-4), Northeast Dubois (12-3) and Trinity Lutheran (11-5).

Unbeaten South Central (Union Mills) (16-0) is No. 1 in 2A for the first time this year. Winchester (14-1) is No. 2 ahead of Tipton (13-1), Eastbrook (12-1), Fairfield (13-2), Triton Central (14-2), Forest Park (13-2), Eastern Hancock (12-2), Cascade (11-2) and University (11-2).

South Bend Washington (15-2), coming off two wins at the Hall of Fame Classic in New Castle, remains No. 1 in Class 3A.

Silver Creek (15-1) is No. 2 with Garrett (15-1), Benton Central (17-0), Mishawaka Marian (14-3), Norwell (12-4), Hamilton Heights (12-3), Twin Lakes (14-3), Jay County (12-2) and Washington (14-3) rounding out the top 10.

Bedford North Lawrence (15-1) rises to No. 1 in Class 4A with Noblesville (14-3), Franklin (17-1), Homestead (13-1), Crown Point (13-2), Westfield (13-3), Fishers (12-3), Columbia City (15-0), North Central (13-5) and Fort Wayne Snider (10-2) completing the top 10.

Boys basketball

In this week’s Associated Press boys basketball state poll, unbeaten Edinburgh (10-0) is No. 2 in Class A.

North Daviess (11-1) is No. 1 ahead of Edinburgh, Bloomfield (9-1), Loogootee (10-3), Gary 21^st Century (6-2), Barr-Reeve (7-4), Lutheran (6-1), Triton (6-1), Jac-Cen-Del (5-2) and Orleans (8-2).

The top 10 in Class 2A has six unbeatens. Central Noble (9-0) leads the way with Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian (10-0), Linton-Stockton (11-1), Carroll (Flora) (8-0), Monroe Central (8-0), Eastside (10-0), Eastern Hancock (7-1), Southmont (7-0), Clinton Prairie (10-1) and South Spencer (7-2) in pursuit.

Mishawaka Marian (8-2) is No. 1 in Class 3A ahead of Brebeuf (8-1), Leo (7-1), NorthWood (11-1), John Glenn (9-0), Chatard (10-0), Brownstown Central (8-1), Sullivan (9-1), Peru (9-0) and Connersville (9-3).

In Class 4A, Carmel (8-2) is No. 1 with Fishers (12-1), Zionsville (8-1), Chesterton (10-0), Penn (7-0), Terre Haute North (12-0), Westfield (7-2), Cathedral (8-3), Valparaiso (9-2) and Tech (10-2) completing the top 10.

For three quarters Tuesday, Morristown and Union County could not create separation.

Following a 15-point third quarter from Nolan Laster, the Yellow Jackets sat tied 41-all with the visiting Patriots.

Laster was held to a pair of free throws over the final eight minutes and Union County outscored Morristown, 10-6, to secure a 51-47 victory at the Bee Hive.

Laster finished with a game-high 28 points and Nick Stidham had 13 in the loss for the Yellow Jackets (1-8).

Ragen Bias and Austin Wollyung each hit a pair of three-pointers in the third quarter to keep the Patriots (4-4) even with Morristown.

Bias matched Mason Stewart with a team-high 14 points and Wollyung finished with 13.

Stidham had eight points in the first quarter, including a pair of 3s, but Union County held a 15-14 advantage at the break.

Laster and Stidham each had five in the second quarter to help Morristown take a 26-24 lead at halftime.

Laster erupted in the third quarter but he was the only Yellow Jacket to score.

Union County hit 4 of 8 free throws in the final eight minutes and finished 11 of 19 for the game while Morristown was 6 of 7.

Morristown travels to Waldron Friday for the semifinal round of the Shelby County Tournament. The Yellow Jackets will face Triton Central following Waldron’s semifinal against Southwestern.