PENDLETON — The Pendleton Heights Arabians have found success this season by shooting well and outrebounding their opponents more often than not. On senior night, they did neither. But thanks to a concerted defensive effort, the shorthanded Arabians fought off a tough opponent and collected their 17th win of the year.
Senior Mark Albers and sophomore Karsten Windlan scored 16 points each, and senior Eston Stull helped shut down Guerin Catholic’s top 3-point shooter as the Arabians held on late for a 59-55 win against the Golden Eagles.
Pendleton Heights improved to 17-5 and will host fifth-ranked North Central Tuesday evening in the regular season finale, while Guerin Catholic fell to 13-9.
Despite shooting just 38 percent for the game and 24 percent from 3-point range, the Arabians led by eight at halftime and by 12 early in the third quarter. The difference-maker on offense for Pendleton Heights was the fact they turned the ball over only six times, compared to 14 by the Golden Eagles. Stull led the way, handing out seven assists with zero turnovers while collecting three steals.
“His defensive effort was phenomenal,” Arabian coach Kevin Bates said of Stull. “They have two great shooters, and he did an excellent job on (senior Matthew) Godfrey. He and (junior) Justin Shupe did a great job guarding him and forcing him to take quick shots.”
Godfrey, who averages 11 points per game and shoots 38 percent from 3-point range, was held to seven points and made just one of eight from behind the arc.
With two players out for the game, junior Trent Miller with an injury and sophomore Eli Pancol due to a violation of a team rule, Pendleton Heights’ depth was tested once again. The team rose to the occasion.
Shupe scored six points, and sophomore Dameion Warrum came off the bench and added eight points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots.
“I thought Dameion played his best game of the year,” Bates said. “He was very aggressive, by far the most aggressive I’ve seen him play. He was a big factor in the reason why we won. He played an all-around great game.”
The Arabians were outrebounded 43-29, but held the Golden Eagles to just 4-20 shooting from 3-point range. Bates felt holding off a quality opponent in a close game was good for the team with sectional around the corner.
“It was a great win, they’re a great team,” Bates said. “Our defensive effort was phenomenal, it took a lot of heart, effort, and intelligence to play that defense. To win with us shooting like that was great. It was a great sectional feel where every possession mattered, especially down the stretch. It helped prepare us for a sectional type of game.”
The Arabian seniors — Albers, Stull, Brandon Helpling and Clay Stout — were honored prior to the game. Helpling scored 11 points and pulled down five rebounds, while Stout was a big part of the Arabian fast start, even if he didn’t fill the stat sheet.
“You’re talking about a kid who rarely plays and he played the first seven minutes,” Bates said of Stout. “His defensive presence on the inside was a key reason why the first quarter was our best of the night.”
Windlan scored half of his 16 points on 8-10 free throw shooting.
