Shelbyville defense leads way in 47-23 win over North Decatur

Shelbyville needed a win ahead of the upcoming sectional. A stifling defensive effort produced just that Thursday at William L. Garrett Gymnasium.

The Golden Bears limited North Decatur to 19% shooting on the way to a 47-23 victory to close out the regular season schedule.

Shelbyville improved to 13-10 -- its third-straight winning season under head coach Becca Hoefler.

“We wanted to make sure we felt really good going into (the sectional), especially since we’ve already beaten (Rushville) and it’s hard to beat a team twice,” said Hoefler, who saw her team struggle to hit shots Tuesday in a lopsided 74-13 loss at Pendleton Heights.

After building a 12-7 lead after one quarter Thursday against the Chargers (15-8), Shelbyville settled for long-range jump shots in the second quarter and didn’t extend the lead.

North Decatur’s Kelsey Haley hit back-to-back three-pointers late in the first half to cut Shelbyville’s lead to 17-13 at the break.

“I was pretty mad about the 3s because against a zone (defense) you have to get the ball into the middle and we were just chucking it up there,” said Hoefler of her team’s 1-for-10 performance behind the arc in the second quarter.

Madi Allen hit a pair of free throws to start the third-quarter scoring and cut Shelbyville’s lead to two. After a missed Jayla Ash jump shot, the Golden Bears maintained possession but Hoefler had seen enough.

During the ensuing timeout, as she has several times this season, the fiery coach lit into her team for its lack on mental focus and execution. And as it has several times this season, the Golden Bears responded positively.

Shelbyville went on a 9-0 run and outscored the Chargers 15-3 from there to the end of the quarter. That effort carried into the fourth quarter where the Golden Bears scored 30 of the game’s final 38 points.

“This is my biggest issue with my girls,” said Hoefler. “I tell them they make me look crazy because I have to yell at them. If I am cool, calm and collected with them, they don’t play hard. The minute I yell at them, they go hard. It’s like they have to be yelled at.”

It is a different coach-player dynamic bred by familiarity – Hoefler is in her sixth year at the helm of Shelbyville. The current junior class that makes up much of the varsity roster was in fifth grade when she arrived.

Hoefler’s first winning season came in 2023 (15-9) with two dynamic scorers in senior Kylee Edwards and junior Ava Wilson. Edwards graduated as the program’s career scoring leader and Wilson surpassed 1,000 career points her senior season while leading the Golden Bears to a 15-8 record.

Expectations were tempered for a group with no seniors and no option No. 1 for an opposing defense to key on. Now, four Golden Bears are averaging between 7-11 ppg and the program has 13 wins and momentum heading to the Indian Creek Sectional.

Maddy Jones (11 ppg) hit a pair of 3s in the final minute of the third quarter Thursday to give Shelbyville a 32-18 lead. She finished with 13 points and eight rebounds.

Hannah Baker (8.6 ppg) had consecutive baskets that were part of the 9-0 run that pushed Shelbyville’s lead to double digits. She also had 13 points and contributed eight rebounds and four assists.

Savannah Collins (6.9 ppg) finished with eight points and five rebounds. Jayla Ash (9.2 ppg) had five points.

Five teams in Class 3A, Sectional 28 have double-digit wins including the host Indian Creek (15-7). The Braves open the sectional Tuesday against Beech Grove (11-11). The winner faces Indianapolis Roncalli (14-8) Friday in the first semifinal game.

Shelbyville (13-10) makes its return to Class 3A postseason play Wednesday at 6 p.m. against Rushville (7-17), who has lost 10 straight. The Golden Bears defeated the Lions, 46-42 on Jan. 14.

The second quarterfinal game Wednesday pits Greenwood (3-18) against New Palestine (10-11).

“Rushville is someone we can compete with and then, going off that, Greenwood or New Palestine, either one of those I would love to play,” said Hoefler. “We just have to get past Rushville first.”

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