PENDLETON, Ind. —
The Pendleton Heights boys basketball team is riding an 11-game winning streak and rose to No. 4 in the Class 4A state rankings Monday.
But, with the sectional set to begin exactly two weeks from today, coach Brian Hahn isn’t about to let the Arabians (18-2) get too comfortable.
“Rankings are one of those things this time of year that just don’t mean a whole lot,” Hahn said. “There are a lot of really good teams in the state, especially in 4A. The key for us is to keep improving.”
Both of Pendleton Heights’ losses this season have come against No. 1-ranked Hamilton Southeastern, and the Arabians will close the season Feb. 21 at third-ranked Indianapolis North Central.
But the team has a big week in front of it first, beginning tonight with a home game against sectional host New Castle (14-3). The Trojans’ losses have come against North Central Conference rivals Muncie Central, Kokomo and Richmond — teams with a combined record of 48-9.
Mr. Basketball candidate Kellen Dunham and his four senior teammates — Matt Wehner, Parker Aul, Nick Swartz and Brandon Hart — then will cap the week with the last home game of their careers on Saturday against county rival Frankton (10-8).
The Arabians are 11-0 at home this year, and the finale promises to carry an emotional resonance unmatched in recent seasons.
“Saturday’s going to be a great night,” said Hahn, who is two wins shy of 100 in his sixth season at Pendleton Heights. “It’s going to be great to recognize all five of our seniors and what they’ve meant to this program.”
The Arabians were 13-10 in 2007-08, the year before this senior class began to arrive at the varsity level. Pendleton Heights is 68-23 since.
The class has won three consecutive Madison County Tournament titles and back-to-back Hoosier Heritage Conference crowns. It also collected the program’s first sectional title since 2004 last March.
This year the Arabians have developed into legitimate state championship contenders.
Pendleton Heights began the season with Aul, Swartz and junior Brogan Gary each nursing injuries, and it played without Wehner and junior Nick Moore for the first four games.
But the team seems to be getting healthy at the right time, and Hahn said that’s one of the keys to its success.
Another is its collective attention to detail. It can be easy for players’ minds to wander, especially at the high school level, but the Arabians have done an admirable job this season of paying attention to the task at hand.
“They’re focused on getting better week-to-week and game-to-game,” Hahn said.
Pendleton Heights has allowed just 44.4 points per game this season, and that number has fallen to 42.8 during the current win streak.
The string began with a 69-53 victory against Kokomo in the consolation game of the annual Hall of Fame Classic on Dec. 30.
Since then the Arabians have swept the county tournament and beaten highly regarded foes in Lawrence North and Fishers.
Pendleton Heights also scored a 68-64 overtime victory at then-Class 3A No. 1 Muncie Central on Feb. 4.
“I think the team’s played well all year,” Hahn said. “But I hope we’re rounding into our best play right now.”
Sports
Related Photos
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Pendleton Heights' Kellen Dunham shoots during a game earlier this season. Don Knight
Discussion
Arabians still on rise
Pendleton Heights leaps to No. 4 in Class 4A rankings
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