Dragons shut down Golden Bears for sectional semifinal round win

TRAFALGAR – Despite hanging by a thread much of the second half, Shelbyville still had hope for a comeback against New Palestine in the Class 3A, Sectional 28 semifinal game at Indian Creek.

That thread was finally cut when Kendra Moore hit a 3-pointer from the wing to push the Dragons’ lead back to 12 with three minutes to go.

New Palestine’s zone defense and physicality around the rim made life tough on the Golden Bears, who shot just 13% in the game and went 0-for-19 from the 3-point line over the final three quarters.

“We were really off tonight,” said Shelbyville head coach Becca Hoefler. “Our shooting percentage had to be one of the lowest of the season.”

Shelbyville led 8-6 after one quarter despite getting outrebounded 14-5 in the opening eight minutes. Six of the rebounds pulled down by Kylee Beranek and Sadey Hughbanks were on the offensive end, extending possessions for New Palestine.

Shelbyville forward Jayla Ash gets a shot off in the lane while surrounded by New Palestine's Sadey Hughbanks (32) and Kylee Beranek (23) during the Sectional 28 semifinal game Friday at Indian Creek High School.

The Golden Bears quickly led 8-2 on 3s from Jayla Ash and Hannah Baker and a drive and score by Addy Marshall.

New Palestine settled in from there and scored the next 15 points for a 17-8 lead that left Shelbyville chasing the rest of the contest.

“I think we got a lot of body contact that we weren’t used to getting with no foul calls,” said Hoefler. “I think we prepared for it but it’s different when you get into it. Once we missed a couple it was hard for us to get back into the swing of things. I felt we got good looks and got to the basket, much more in the second half than we did in the first half, we just couldn’t convert.”

The Dragons again outrebounded the Golden Bears in the third quarter 11-4 while Shelbyville made just 1-of-11 shot attempts.

Trailing 30-17 going into the fourth quarter, Shelbyville’s defense did everything possible to get the offense opportunities, but points were too difficult to come by.

Shelbyville guard Addy Marshall gets in front of her New Palestine defender to get a shot off during the first half Friday.

An Ash score in the lane and two free throws from Baker cut the lead to 30-21 midway through the quarter.

Moore, the daughter of New Palestine head coach Craig Moore, finally drilled a key 3 for her team’s first points of the quarter.

Ash again scored on a baseline drive and Baker hit two more free throws to cut the lead to 33-25 but the clock was now under two minutes.

Tylar Whitaker scored her only field goal of the game with 61 seconds left and the Golden Bears could not hit shots to cut deeply into the lead.

The game would not have been close if New Palestine hit more free throws. The Dragons only made 8 of 23 attempts (35%) but made five 3s and outrebounded the Golden Bears by 15.

The duo of Beranek and Hughbanks each finished with 11 points and combined for 23 rebounds (10 offensive).

Ash and Baker led the Golden Bears with nine points apiece. Shelbyville had just four field goals over the final three quarters but made 11 of 14 free-throw attempts.

With the win, New Palestine (12-11) will face Indianapolis Roncalli (15-8), winners of eight of their last nine, in the Sectional 28 championship game tonight. The Royals won at New Palestine, 46-36, on Jan. 21.

Roncalli defeated Beech Grove, 62-38, in the first semifinal game Friday. Elliot Leffler led the Royals with 18 points. Sara Rosko finished with 15.

There is no reload for Shelbyville at the end of a 14-11 season. There are no seniors graduating meaning the entire roster will use the sting of a postseason loss to a team it defeated in the regular season as motivation for the 2025-26 season – the program’s last as a member of the Hoosier Heritage Conference.

“I told the girls in the lockerroom that fire that we feel right now we can carry on right into next season,” said Hoefler. “At 14-11, I don’t think a lot of people thought we would get 14. It goes to show just how much work the girls have put in. We will put in just as much work in the offseason to make sure we get more than 14 next year.”

Steve Bush photos

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