Pendleton Heights is preparing for their first conference matchup of the season on Friday. They will welcome the Mt. Vernon Marauders at 7:30 p.m. Pendleton Heights is currently enjoying a perfect season and no doubt wants to keep things rolling.
While Pendleton Heights didn't have the best season last year (they finished 9-15), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past. They secured a 52-47 W over Lapel on Friday.
Clark Emly had a dynamite game, dropping a double-double with 20 points and 13 rebounds. Cooper Sims was another key player, going 6-for-15 to rack up 15 points.
On Saturday fans watched as two of the best teams in the nation hit the court. Mt. Vernon took a 57-48 hit to the loss column at the hands of Fishers. The defeat continues a trend for the Marauders in their meetings with the Tigers: they've now lost six in a row.
Pendleton Heights will have to keep a close watch on Luke Ertel and Max Vise, a pair of players who had a big impact on Mt. Vernon's prior game. Ertel dropped a double-double with 25 points and ten boards, while Vise shot 60% from the field on his way to 15 points. Ertel's big performance that evening made it four games in a row in which he has scored at least 16 points.
Having lost for the first time this season, Mt. Vernon fell to 3-1. As for Pendleton Heights, their victory bumped their record up to 4-0.
Rebounding is likely to be a big factor in this contest: Pendleton Heights has been crashing the boards this season, having averaged 24.2 rebounds per game. However, it's not like Mt. Vernon struggles in that department as they've been averaging 30.8 boards. With both teams battling to corral missed shots, we'll see if one team can grab an edge.
Pendleton Heights came up short against Mt. Vernon in their previous meeting back in December of 2024, falling 44-39. Will the Arabians have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other basketball content.
