Shelbyville Lady Golden Bears Basketball

Katie Douglas turns a solid performance with a career-high 18 points and 6 rebounds for the game.

Gretchen has a career game with 29 points, 4-5 from behind the three point line, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals.

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.

Katie comes up big with 18 points and five rebounds.

SPORTS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Print this Article Email this Article SHS sophomore ahead of curve By BRIAN HARMON bharmon@shelbynews.com Playing alongside Sarah Laird last year on the Shelbyville girls’ basketball team, Gretchen Haehl wasn’t expected to be the Golden Bears’ “go-to” player. Laird averaged almost 18 points per game from the shooting guard position, while the freshman Haehl ran the point guard spot and averaged 10.5 points and 3.9 assists. It was, by all accounts, Laird’s team. If Haehl struggled, as freshmen are apt to do, it was expected. With Laird now playing collegiately in Missouri, Shelbyville no longer has the luxury of waiting for Haehl to mature as a basketball player. And after three games this season, it appears Haehl is well ahead of the learning curve. The 5-foot-5 sophomore is averaging 21 points, six rebounds, five steals, and four assists per game — all while shooting 61 percent from the field. Not bad for a player who a year ago was the youngest starter on the team. “I thought at times last year that, with having Sarah, Gretchen sometimes went in peaks and valleys,” Shelbyville coach John Fair said. “This year, she knows she can’t do that. “Gretchen is ultra competitive and when the team needs her ... she knew she had to step up this year.” Haehl agreed that Laird’s loss meant increased responsibility for her, as well as the rest of the squad. “I kind of knew I had to (score more), but there is also eight other people on the team that can score, that I know I can trust and get the ball to.” While Haehl has excelled from the point guard position, it could be that “point-guard mentality” that remains her biggest hurdle. Fair said he wants Haehl to take charge late in tight games, which sometimes means not passing the ball as much. “She still has a lot to learn, like when the game gets close. She is the main ball handler and she’s the best free throw shooter. She’s got to take control of the team. She’s got to know her personnel a little bit better, who does what things correctly,” Fair said. “And she will. Gretchen is a very heady player. As soon as she knows exactly what we want from her, she’ll get everything together.” Considering the way she’s playing right now, Haehl getting “everything together” must be a scary thought for opponents who probably think Haehl is good enough as it is. But Haehl herself is quick to point out that she has room for improvement. “I can always get better, just like anyone can. I want to get a little quicker. I want to improve my defense a little, because I had a little trouble with that tonight,” Haehl said after Shelbyville’s 88-23 win over Oldenburg Tuesday. A game in which Haehl recorded 10 steals.