The bad news for Pendleton Heights is that four
freshmen will start or see significant playing time for the Arabians this
season. The good news is that these are no ordinary freshmen.They proved that conclusively Tuesday evening
in PendletonHeights
season opening 76-54 victory over Alexandria.
The four rookies combined for 43 points and showed
remarkable composure in their first varsity game. The outburst included 22
points from guard Kendall Waters who can best be described as precocious. Maybe
the best news of the evening for the Arabians was the leadership given to the
freshmen by junior Nathan Hendershot. Hendershot drained 10 of 19 shots on way
to a game high 26 points.
The victory by Pendleton Heights spoiled the return to the
sidelines of legendary Alexandria
coach Garth Cone who took over the reigns of the Tigers in the off-season after
having been retired for several years. The contest turned on a 17-4 run by the
Arabians bridging the final minutes of the first quarter and the beginning of
the second. It turned a 9-8 deficit into a 25-13 lead and the Arabians were
never threatened the remainder of the evening.
Things will get tougher for the Arabian youngsters Saturday
night. PendletonHeights visits Delta for an early season
Hoosier Heritage showdown… After the game, Arabian coach Brian Hahn was
generally pleased with the play of his young troops. His remarks are in the
video on this page.
PENDLETON — Hannah Douglas scored 19 points Saturday, and the Pendleton Heights girls
basketball team ran past visiting Muncie Central 56-31 to improve to 2-0 on the
young season.
The
Arabians also got 11 points from Jamie Hubble and 10 from Mur Hagerman.
Pendleton
Heights is idle until hosting Hoosier Heritage Conference rival Shelbyville on
Nov. 29.
The first
quarter of a season opening game is seldom a very pleasant thing to watch. It
certainly wasn’t Tuesday evening at Pendleton Heights as the Arabians opened
their campaign against New Castle. Both teams struggled mightily to find the
basket. However, one quarter was all Pendleton Heights needed to make the
necessary adjustments that led to a comfortable 52-41 victory over the Trojans.
Mike McGraw Hoosier Authority
New Castle
opened in a zone defense that caused the Arabians serious problems in the first
eight minutes. The Trojans also used a dribble penetration offense that caused
trouble early. In the latter minutes of the quarter, Coach Shaeri Dowd put her
troops in a 1-2-2 ¾ court zone trap designed to take New Castle out of that
offense. To say that it worked would be an understatement. A three pointer in
the waning seconds of the period gave Pendleton Heights an 11-7 lead at the
first break and they never looked back.
In fact, the
Arabians outscored New Castle 18-6 in the first seven minutes of the second
quarter. A little sloppiness allowed the Trojans to score the last five points
of the half and draw within striking distance at 29-18.
Some
adjustments on the offensive end made by the hosts at halftime insured that
strike never took place. New Castle felt obliged to abandon the zone defense in
the third quarter and the Arabians talented trio of guards took over the game.
Pendleton spread out the Trojan defense and used a penetrate and pitch approach
that led to one open jumper after another. By the end of the quarter the lead
had ballooned to 16 at 40-24 and the outcome was no longer in doubt. Pendleton
led by as many as twenty in the final period and only some early season
sloppiness from the bench allowed for the final margin.
Pendleton Heights was led by the double figure
scoring of the three guards. Mur Hagerman dropped in fifteen to lead the assault
while Hannah Douglas added 13. Hubble pitched in 11. Hoosier Authority talked
with Dowd after the game and her reflections are in the video player on this
page. The Arabians move on to a date with Muncie Central on Saturday.
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