Shelbyville Lady Golden Bears Basketball

Shelbyville guard Gretchen Haehl dribbles around Pendleton Heights defenders Tonye Hall (21) and Liz Kovach (20) during first-half action at Garrett Gymnasium Friday. Photo for The NEWS by GREG BASTIN Shelbyville rolls to victory, 76-39 By JEFF BROWN jbrown@shelbynews.com There was no truth to the rumor that Pendleton Heights coach Shari Doud had one of her reserve basketball players pull a fire alarm at Shelbyville High School Friday to slow down Gretchen Haehl. The fire alarm that sounded in the second quarter was about the only thing that slowed down the Shelbyville sophomore. For the second time this season, Haehl set a new career high with 29 points in the Lady Golden Bears 76-39 Hoosier Heritage Conference win over Pendleton Heights (1-5, 0-2 HHC). The Lady Arabians took a 7-6 lead two minutes into the first quarter but Shelbyville (3-1, 1-0 HHC) went on a 31-2 run over the next 6:45 that resulted in an insurmountable 50-18 halftime lead. Haehl poured in 11 points in the first quarter as Shelbyville shot 10 of 18 from the field. Haehl got hotter in the second quarter hitting three 3-pointers as the Lady Golden Bears hit 6 of 7 from behind the 3-point line and shot 10 of 13 from the field in building the 32-point halftime advantage. “It was the best 16 minutes we’ve put together in the first half,” Shelbyville coach John Fair said. “We put it all together. Our defensive pressure really stifled them. And Gretchen was amazing.” In four games this season, Haehl has scored 19, 25, 19 and 29 as she becomes the focal point of Shelbyville’s offensive system. “Gretchen knows she has to step up and the kids are getting her the ball really well,” Fair said. “Gretchen is a very, very good ballplayer. Her shooting has (improved) tremendously and her defense has picked up.” Haehl finished the game with five rebounds, three assists and three steals to complement her new career high. Ashley Matney (10 points), Susan Kolls (10) and Katie Douglas (12) each scored in double figures. Haley Wise came off the bench to get a game-high nine rebounds. Pendleton Heights was led by Jessica Barnes’ 11 points. Carly Clendenen added 10 as no other Lady Arabian scored more than four points. The fire alarm sounding inside Garrett Gymnasium reportedly came from an overheated skillet inside one of the concession stands. Shelbyville was in the midst of its game-breaking first-half run when play came to a halt. The gymnasium was eventually evacuated as the situation was investigated. Play resumed less than 10 minutes later. Shelbyville senior Susan Kolls nailed back-to-back 3-pointers off the extended timeout in play that pushed the lead to 37-9 with 5:01 left in the first half. Pendleton Heights was outscored in the third quarter 18-9 before winning the fourth quarter scoring battle, 12-8. In her second game back from off-season knee surgery, Gwen Haehl scored two points, had four rebounds and three assists. Two other players — juniors Allison Berger and Samantha Himes — did not play against the Lady Arabians due to injury. Berger, who is suffering from an ankle sprain, was a game-time decision, but could play Tuesday at Greenfield-Central according to Fair. Himes, suffering from a stress fracture, may not play until Shelbyville travels to Columbus East Dec. 6.