By RICHIE HALL
NOBLESVILLE – The Noblesville girls basketball team was feeling sentimental going into its regular-season finale with Pendleton Heights Wednesday at The Mill.
The Class 4A No. 8 Millers channeled that emotion into a dominating performance on the court. After a tight first quarter, Noblesville turned up the heat and ran away from the Arabians 73-36. The Millers finished the regular season on a four-game win streak and head to Zionsville next week to begin play in Class 4A Sectional 8.
Pendleton Heights came into the game with an 11-8 record, and gave Noblesville a challenge in the first quarter. The two teams traded the lead six times in that opening period, with the Arabians up 7-6 midway through. Emily Wood scored the Millers’ six points, keeping her team close.
Brooklyn Smitherman scored on a putback to put Noblesville up 8-7, and Kaitlyn Shoemaker added a free throw to give the Millers a 9-7 lead. Halle Brunnemer made two foul shots to tie the game at 9-9 with 29 seconds left in the quarter.
“We were just a little tight as a group,” said Noblesville coach Donna Buckley. “They were really excited and sentimental about it being their last game, so they came out just wanting to play really well and I think we were just a little bit tight from that.”
Then Ashlynn Shade got going. The sophomore star scored on a putback to give Noblesville an 11-9 lead at the end of the quarter. She completely took over in the second period, pouring in 14 points in a row to put the Millers up 25-9. Shade hit two free throws, back-to-back 3-pointers, a fadeaway, a jumper and scored off a steal.
“We made a couple shots and then got on a roll,” said Buckley. “Ashlynn obviously went wild there in the second. But other kids also hit shots and just blew the game wide open.”
Reagan Wilson helped out with eight points in the second quarter, a layin and a pair of 3s. Meanwhile, Shade added nine more points late in the quarter, including another triple. Shade had 23 points in the second, and Noblesville held a 42-16 halftime lead.
It was Wilson’s turn to dominate in the third quarter, as she scored 12 points during that period. Wilson had two additional 3s in the third, giving her four long-range baskets for the game.
“She was awesome in the third and she’s been playing so well,” said Buckley.
Mallory Miller also hit a 3 during the third quarter, which ended with Noblesville up 63-26. The Millers bench took care of business in the fourth: Jayla Jones drained a 3 and Dani Mendez also added three points.
“Brooklyn Smitherman played really well for us,” said Buckley. “Dani was awesome tonight, she played hard and really more aggressive than she’s been in a while. It was fun just to see have so many different kids contributing.”
Shade totaled 27 points for Noblesville, with Wilson scoring 20 points. Wood finished with eight points. Mendez led the rebounds with seven, followed by Wilson and Smitherman with six each. Shade handed out six assists, Wilson had four assists and four steals and Smitherman blocked three shots.
The Millers completed the regular season with an 18-4 record and will play Hamilton Southeastern Tuesday in the first game of the Zionsville sectional.
NOBLESVILLE 73, PENDLETON HEIGHTS 36
Noblesville FG FT TP PF
Ashlynn Shade 10-21 4-4 27 1
Reagan Wilson 8-11 0-0 20 1
Mallory Miller 1-7 0-0 3 3
Brooklyn Smitherman 2-3 0-0 4 2
Emily Wood 4-5 0-0 8 2
Kaitlyn Shoemaker 0-4 1-2 1 2
Jayla Jones 1-4 0-0 3 0
Dani Mendez 1-3 1-3 3 2
Brooklyn Ely 0-3 0-0 0 0
Makenna Mundy 1-2 0-0 2 0
Emery Denison 0-1 0-0 0 1
Carly Motz 0-1 0-0 0 1
Ava Shoemaker 1-1 0-0 2 0
Totals 29-66 6-9 73 15
Score by Quarters
Pendleton 9 7 10 10 – 36
Noblesville 11 31 21 10 – 73
Noblesville 3-point shooting (9-24) Wilson 4-5, Shade 3-8, Jones 1-3, Miller 1-3, K. Shoemaker 0-3, Ely 0-1, Motz 0-1.
Noblesville rebounds (42) Mendez 7, Wilson 6, Smitherman 6, Shade 4, Miller 4, K. Shoemaker 3, Ely 2, Mundy 2, Wood 2, Jones 1, Denison 1, A. Shoemaker 1, team 3.