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| Shelbyville guard Chelsey Skipton gets a step ahead of Greensburg’s Clare Owens (24) during the second half of the Golden Bears’ season-opening win Tuesday at Greensburg. Skipton led all scorers with 21 points. (Steve Bush photo) |
Bush, Skipton produce double-doubles in 48-36 victory
By Jeff Brown
Sports editor
GREENSBURG — For Shelbyville to be successful on the basketball court this season, senior Ashley Bush and junior Chelsey Skipton are going to have to be productive in many positive ways.
On Tuesday in the home opener for Greensburg and the season opener for the Lady Golden Bears, Bush and Skipton were a dynamic duo.
The pair combined for 34 points and 23 rebounds in a 48-36 victory for Shelbyville.
With a little help from Allison Gobel, Chelsee Simerly and Riley Achenbach, Shelbyville jump-started head coach Amanda Norris’ third season with a solid first quarter that left the Lady Pirates (0-2) frustrated.
Achenbach opened the scoring with a 3-pointer just over 30 seconds into the contest. Bush followed with a score in the lane and the Golden Bears were up 5-0 while Greensburg struggled to find its offense.
After a rebound basket by Jennifer Redelman got the Lady Pirates on the scoreboard, Shelbyville went on a 7-0 run that led to a 14-4 advantage after the first quarter – one in which Greensburg was 2-of-9 from the field and had nine turnovers.
“We had a phenomenal start,” said Norris, now 2-1 against Greensburg in her short career. “I couldn’t be more pleased with the team. Our press looked really good. We have worked a lot on that. We want to be a pressing team. We want to be a running team. Then, I think we ran out of gas a little bit there.”
Shelbyville maintained its double-digit lead for most of the rest of the game, although Greensburg got to the free-throw line often in the fourth quarter and mounted a comeback.
After three quarters, the Golden Bears were up 34-17 but saw that lead drop to 40-31 with 78 seconds left. Shelbyville missed several opportunites, both from the 3-point line and around the basket, to put the game away.
Norris puts some of the blame on the coaching staff, who has to be efficient in its rotation of players with just seven full-time varsity players.
“I don’t think we did a very good job of getting rotations,” explained Norris. “It’s something we’re not really used to. We have seven solid varsity players that have four quarters. And then one quarter here (from a junior varsity player), and one quarter there. We’re not used to that rotation. We, as a staff, have to do a better job with that.
“I think we had a couple of rotations that weren’t very good where we were trying to get kids breaks and it ended up costing us some points. Part of it is, we need to sharpen our minds a little bit too.”
With seniors Meghan Thornburg and Raven Hibbard, the Golden Bears utilized all seven varsity players to keep attacking Greensburg throughout the game. In fact, Norris felt her team looked more comfortable pushing the pace. That’s what led to Shelbyville taking a 34-17 lead after three quarters.
Greensburg worked its way into the free-throw bonus very early in the fourth quarter and used that advantage to cut into the Shelbyville lead. But it was Bush and Skipton that connected on 7-of-8 free throws over the final 1:13 that sealed the victory.
Skipton, who has barely had time to transition from a volleyball semistate run into basketball readiness, led all scorers with 21 points. She also had 10 rebounds, four assists and five steals.
“Chelsey was very solid across the board,” said Norris. “We need that out of Chelsey every night. We’ve known for years that she is capable of that. She’s finally putting her solid work ethic, her hustle and putting that in with control. She played with control and poise. Nothing really rattled Chelsey. She had fun. She came off the floor laughing. She was carrying on. The atmosphere of this team was so much different from the past.”
Bush also opened the season with a double-double, scoring 13 points and grabbing 13 rebounds.
Gobel added five points and six steals, while Achenbach connected on a pair of 3s on the way to seven points.
Shelbyville has its home opener Friday at William L. Garrett Gymnasium against Southwestern (2-0).
In the junior varsity contest Tuesday, Shelbyville defeated Greensburg, 28-25.
Taylor Pierce led the Golden Bears (1-0) with 11 points. Allyson Conner finished with seven. Kay Brokering and Megan Limecooly each had five for new Shelbyville coach Ellen Burklow.
Lillie Wolter led Greensburg (0-2) with eight points.
On Tuesday in the home opener for Greensburg and the season opener for the Lady Golden Bears, Bush and Skipton were a dynamic duo.
The pair combined for 34 points and 23 rebounds in a 48-36 victory for Shelbyville.
With a little help from Allison Gobel, Chelsee Simerly and Riley Achenbach, Shelbyville jump-started head coach Amanda Norris’ third season with a solid first quarter that left the Lady Pirates (0-2) frustrated.
After a rebound basket by Jennifer Redelman got the Lady Pirates on the scoreboard, Shelbyville went on a 7-0 run that led to a 14-4 advantage after the first quarter – one in which Greensburg was 2-of-9 from the field and had nine turnovers.
“We had a phenomenal start,” said Norris, now 2-1 against Greensburg in her short career. “I couldn’t be more pleased with the team. Our press looked really good. We have worked a lot on that. We want to be a pressing team. We want to be a running team. Then, I think we ran out of gas a little bit there.”
Shelbyville maintained its double-digit lead for most of the rest of the game, although Greensburg got to the free-throw line often in the fourth quarter and mounted a comeback.
After three quarters, the Golden Bears were up 34-17 but saw that lead drop to 40-31 with 78 seconds left. Shelbyville missed several opportunites, both from the 3-point line and around the basket, to put the game away.
Norris puts some of the blame on the coaching staff, who has to be efficient in its rotation of players with just seven full-time varsity players.
“I don’t think we did a very good job of getting rotations,” explained Norris. “It’s something we’re not really used to. We have seven solid varsity players that have four quarters. And then one quarter here (from a junior varsity player), and one quarter there. We’re not used to that rotation. We, as a staff, have to do a better job with that.
“I think we had a couple of rotations that weren’t very good where we were trying to get kids breaks and it ended up costing us some points. Part of it is, we need to sharpen our minds a little bit too.”
With seniors Meghan Thornburg and Raven Hibbard, the Golden Bears utilized all seven varsity players to keep attacking Greensburg throughout the game. In fact, Norris felt her team looked more comfortable pushing the pace. That’s what led to Shelbyville taking a 34-17 lead after three quarters.
Greensburg worked its way into the free-throw bonus very early in the fourth quarter and used that advantage to cut into the Shelbyville lead. But it was Bush and Skipton that connected on 7-of-8 free throws over the final 1:13 that sealed the victory.
Skipton, who has barely had time to transition from a volleyball semistate run into basketball readiness, led all scorers with 21 points. She also had 10 rebounds, four assists and five steals.
“Chelsey was very solid across the board,” said Norris. “We need that out of Chelsey every night. We’ve known for years that she is capable of that. She’s finally putting her solid work ethic, her hustle and putting that in with control. She played with control and poise. Nothing really rattled Chelsey. She had fun. She came off the floor laughing. She was carrying on. The atmosphere of this team was so much different from the past.”
Bush also opened the season with a double-double, scoring 13 points and grabbing 13 rebounds.
Gobel added five points and six steals, while Achenbach connected on a pair of 3s on the way to seven points.
Shelbyville has its home opener Friday at William L. Garrett Gymnasium against Southwestern (2-0).
In the junior varsity contest Tuesday, Shelbyville defeated Greensburg, 28-25.
Taylor Pierce led the Golden Bears (1-0) with 11 points. Allyson Conner finished with seven. Kay Brokering and Megan Limecooly each had five for new Shelbyville coach Ellen Burklow.
Lillie Wolter led Greensburg (0-2) with eight points.
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