The term “rebuilding” is not always looked at as a positive.
For Shelbyville, the process has been slow. For Southwestern, it’s a given after graduation took the school’s most decorated senior class.
On Friday, the Class 4A Golden Bears and the Class A Spartans met at Southwestern in an early-season assessment game for both programs.
And the news was good for both squads after Shelbyville secured a 50-39 win.
Alexis Tackett fought off foul trouble that started early in the first quarter to finish with a game-high 15 points. And Taylor Perry had 12 points and four rebounds.
“I’m really proud of our kids. I thought we fought through some adversity,” said Shelbyville coach Scott Larrabee. “That was a back-and-forth game. We got up double digits in the first half then they cut into lead and I thought we kept our aggressiveness.”
While Southwestern (1-3) struggled hitting close range shots and free throws, Shelbyville (2-2) slowly creeped away late in the second quarter, opening up a 28-15 lead.
An Emma Abel three-pointer with 70 seconds left until halftime cut the Golden Bears’ lead to 10.
Abel, who hit 6-of-13 shots to lead her team with 14 points, knocked down a pair of jumpers in the third quarter as the Spartans sliced Shelbyville’s lead to 33-30 heading into the fourth.
That’s when Tackett, Shelbyville’s leading scorer through its first three games at 14 points per game, impacted the game.
The sophomore grabbed a rebound and barreled all the way to her own goal and scored. She followed that up with a steal near mid-court which she converted for two more points and Shelbyville’s lead grew back to seven within the first 40 seconds of the quarter.
Another Abel jumper and five straight points from Logan DeArmitt, who finished with nine and five rebounds, pulled the Spartans within four with 1:54 to go and coach Bill Taylor called timeout.
“We chipped away and chipped away and chipped away and, maybe, we had to extend too much energy to get there,” said Taylor.
Out of the timeout, Tackett was able to drive through the lane, get a shot on the rim that rolled in and drew a foul. She converted the 3-point play to give the Golden Bears some breathing room.
“You can see why we want to push the ball. She is a special talent,” said Larrabee.
After Southwestern failed to convert, Cassady Skipton was fouled and went to the free throw line in an attempt to extend Shelbyville’s lead. The junior made the first but missed the second which allowed Tackett to grab the rebound and draw a foul. With two more free throws made, the lead grew to 47-37 with 1:15 left.
Southwestern shot just 27 percent (15 of 55) from the field and made only 7 of 19 free throws (37 percent).
“It’s been our bane this year being able to hit point-blank layups and finishing around the rim... and making free throws,” said Taylor.”We’ve preached from day one we have to hit free throws and layups.
“A certain amount of jump shots are going to fall but games are determined by who hits those layups and free throws. Until we get better at that, it will be hard for us to win basketball games.”
Shelbyville was only slightly better, shooting 33 percent (15 of 46) but hitting 17-of-28 free throw attempts (61 percent).
Kimmie Griffin had seven points, seven rebounds and three blocked shots for Shelbyville.
“Kimmie battled. I mean she battled,” said Larrabee. “What I like about Kimmie is you tell her one thing and it gets done.”
Both teams played without key sophomores.
Shelbyville guard Cora Reinhart is still in a walking boot after suffering an injury during cross country season. Courtney Raymer, Southwestern’s best low post player, is expected to return late next week from a leg injury that worsened during volleyball season.
In the junior varsity game, the Spartans rallied in the fourth quarter to pull out a 37-34 victory.
A.J. Kessler led Southwestern with nine points. Brenna Jackson had seven.
For Shelbyville, Madalyn Toll finished with a game-high 12 points. Lauren Pike and Shey Tillison each had eight.
