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Announcement
By Jeff Brown
Sports editor
ARCADIA — Shelbyville’s best defensive effort of the season resulted in its first sectional victory in four years.
The Golden Bears limited New Palestine to 28 percent shooting and a 4-point fourth quarter in a 56-52 win Tuesday in Sectional 27 at Hamilton Heights.
Chelsey Skipton and Ashley Bush each had 13 points for Shelbyville (5-15), and Eryn Hopper added 12 for a Shelbyville team that shot 47 percent from the field.
While the offensive output was impressive from a program that has struggled throughout the season to put points on the scoreboard, it was the defensive effort that stifled the Dragons (10-10) the entire game.
“We’ve said all season was preparation for the postseason and it’s so true,” said Shelbyville coach Amanda Norris. “We had so many games this season that we felt like we should have won. Fouls cost us and not playing defense cost us. We talked all week about not wanting to be that team. We wanted to be the team that buckled down.”
New Palestine shot 24 percent from the field in the opening quarter and saw a 7-2 lead quickly evaporate when Shelbyville countered with balance.
Six different Golden Bears scored in the first quarter, and it was seven by halftime.
“We’ve had players all season long be confident in their shooting but not necessarily look for their shots,” said Norris. “Tonight, everyone was looking for their shots.”
Shelbyville led 21-11 at the first break and maintained a 34-31 lead at halftime despite seven second-quarter turnovers.
With Bethany Murrell, New Palestine’s leading scorer, in check and in foul trouble, Shelbyville tried to tighten its grip on the lead but never pulled away. Just past the midway point in the third quarter, the Dragons evened the score and took the lead. That would usually be enough to put the Golden Bears away for good.
Bush responded with a baseline jumper to tie the score. And a Skipton drive nullified another New Palestine lead two minutes later.
New Palestine led 48-44 when Hopper drove into the lane and scored just before the final horn to cut the lead to two with eight minutes to go.
Hopper again cut a 3-point lead to one early in the fourth quarter. Caitlin Mills scored to get Shelbyville the lead, and the confidence started to grow.
Murrell hit a short jumper to tie it at 51 with 1:40 left. Emily Curry added a free throw seconds later for the lead. But the Dragons would not score again.
Bush drove with the left hand and banked in a runner with 1:03 to go. Then Skipton hit 3-of-4 free throws over the final 24 seconds to seal the win.
Murrell led New Palestine with 13 points – nearly four below her average. Curry had 11.
Bush and Skipton each had 10 rebounds for Shelbyville.
With the win, Shelbyville advances to Friday’s semifinal to take on the host Hamilton Heights Huskies (18-2). That game will follow the opener between Rushville (13-6) and Mount Vernon (18-1).
The Golden Bears limited New Palestine to 28 percent shooting and a 4-point fourth quarter in a 56-52 win Tuesday in Sectional 27 at Hamilton Heights.
Chelsey Skipton and Ashley Bush each had 13 points for Shelbyville (5-15), and Eryn Hopper added 12 for a Shelbyville team that shot 47 percent from the field.
While the offensive output was impressive from a program that has struggled throughout the season to put points on the scoreboard, it was the defensive effort that stifled the Dragons (10-10) the entire game.
New Palestine shot 24 percent from the field in the opening quarter and saw a 7-2 lead quickly evaporate when Shelbyville countered with balance.
Six different Golden Bears scored in the first quarter, and it was seven by halftime.
“We’ve had players all season long be confident in their shooting but not necessarily look for their shots,” said Norris. “Tonight, everyone was looking for their shots.”
Shelbyville led 21-11 at the first break and maintained a 34-31 lead at halftime despite seven second-quarter turnovers.
With Bethany Murrell, New Palestine’s leading scorer, in check and in foul trouble, Shelbyville tried to tighten its grip on the lead but never pulled away. Just past the midway point in the third quarter, the Dragons evened the score and took the lead. That would usually be enough to put the Golden Bears away for good.
Bush responded with a baseline jumper to tie the score. And a Skipton drive nullified another New Palestine lead two minutes later.
New Palestine led 48-44 when Hopper drove into the lane and scored just before the final horn to cut the lead to two with eight minutes to go.
Hopper again cut a 3-point lead to one early in the fourth quarter. Caitlin Mills scored to get Shelbyville the lead, and the confidence started to grow.
Murrell hit a short jumper to tie it at 51 with 1:40 left. Emily Curry added a free throw seconds later for the lead. But the Dragons would not score again.
Bush drove with the left hand and banked in a runner with 1:03 to go. Then Skipton hit 3-of-4 free throws over the final 24 seconds to seal the win.
Murrell led New Palestine with 13 points – nearly four below her average. Curry had 11.
Bush and Skipton each had 10 rebounds for Shelbyville.
With the win, Shelbyville advances to Friday’s semifinal to take on the host Hamilton Heights Huskies (18-2). That game will follow the opener between Rushville (13-6) and Mount Vernon (18-1).
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