INDIANAPOLIS — Playing with a short bench, Pendleton Heights girls basketball was crushed in a 61-36 loss to Pike on Tuesday, Dec. 18.

Several players were out for various reasons, so the Arabians (8-6) had only 11 players to take part in both the junior varsity and varsity games against the Red Devils (10-5).

Still, the Arabians managed to compete and even outscore the Red Devils in the second half.

But it was not enough to win.

Pike players came out on fire, scoring 19 points in the first quarter, knocking the Arabians back on their heels. The Pike defense was just as strong, as Pendleton Heights could muster only 3 points in the first quarter, digging a hole too big to climb out of.

The second quarter wasn’t any better as the Arabians scored just 4 to the Red Devils’ 16. Pendleton Heights trailed 35-7 at the half.

The Arabians got going in the third, scoring 10 points to the Red Devils 12. They finally found their groove in the fourth, outscoring Pike 19-14, but by then the game was out of reach.

Kailyn Graham led the Arabians in scoring with 13 points. Leonie Wilson added 8. Brynn Teague chipped in 5. Kylie Davis and Niyah Loomis each had 4 points, and Kylea Lloyd completed the scoring with 2.

The Arabians return to play on Monday, Dec. 31, in the opening round of the Madison County Tournament in a 1 p.m. visit to Frankton. The Pendleton Heights boys game follows at 3 p.m.