Rushville Lady Lions fall short against Shelbyville
The Shelbyville Lady Golden Bears took the 20-mile drive to Rushville on Tuesday evening to face the Lady Lions. The two squads remained tied up after the first quarter and were only separated by a basket at the half. A trio of Lady Bears scored in the third period as they held onto a six-point lead. 17 more points from Shelbyville in the final quarter gave them a 55-42 win that knocked Rushville’s record to 9-11.
Belle Gossett and Gracie Buzzard got the Lady Lions off to a 4-0 start and the Rushville defense shut down the Shelbyville top scorers to start the game. Five minutes later Gossett scored again, and Rushville was up 7-0 with the opening run. Shelbyville finally scored with 2:00 to go in the first period, Kylee Edwards drained a three from downtown, she repeated the shot two more times, and with 28 seconds to go it was a tie game at 9-9 after one period.
Kylee Herbert got the Lady Lions first three-point basket of the evening to start the second quarter. Four-points from the Lady Bears and a Briley Munchel floater in the lane for RCHS, had the score at 14-13 in the Lady Lions favor midway through the second frame. Shelbyville’s Abigail Brenner got her team in the lead with a pair of free throws, Edwards extended the lead knocking down her own pair from the line. Leonie Boyer tied the game back up at 17-17 with 2:30 to go in the half, Shelbyville finished the half on a 5-0 run. The Lady Bears errored when they fouled Munchel on a three-point shot with five seconds to go. Munchel went to the line and drained all three freebies, taking the Lady Lions into the locker room down by just two, with the score 22-20.
Herbert hit from deep to regain the lead for the Lady Lions opening the second half. The Lady Bears got a pair of free throws putting them back on top by one. Rushville started a scoring run when Gossett found an open Boyer who dropped in a layup, Gossett then scored, and the Lady Lions were on top 27-24. Shelbyville got two-points stopping the run, but Gossett scored again. Brenner pulled it back to a one-point contest with 3:00 to go in the period, then she hit again on a fast break and the Lady Bears took the lead. A pair of Ellie Simpson baskets finished off an 8-0 Shelbyville run that was ended by a Boyer free throw. A pair of baskets by both teams ended the third quarter and Shelbyville was on top 38-31.
A 6-2 Shelbyville run to start the final quarter put them up by 10. A three-point basket from Munchel cut it to seven, and the score was 44-37. Edwards scored for the Lady Bears then Gossett landed a longball and it was a six-point game with 3:30 to go. A Shelbyville run put them up 50-40 before a Munchel two-pointer was hit. The Lady Bears finished the game on a 5-0 run and earned the 55-42 win.
Gossett led Rushville with double-double (15 points, 10 rebounds) she also chipped in with two assists. Munchel scored 10-points, Herbert 6, Boyer 6, Buzzard 4, and Carly Senour 1. RCHS will play next on Saturday at Pendleton Heights. The game will take place at Pendleton Heights Middle School.
