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The Mt. Vernon Marauders wouldn't be denied this time. Sydney Shelton and Erica Moore made sure.

The Marauders, in their second consecutive appearance in the Class 3A championship game, used Shelton's 29 points and Moore's 3A-record 15 rebounds to fuel a 61-47 victory over the Hamilton Heights Huskies. Mt. Vernon fell to Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran, 42-39, in last year's title game.

Shelton, the niece of Mt. Vernon coach Julie Shelton and only a freshman, turned in a sterling effort on the finals' big stage. She hit 8-of-14 shots, including a 3A-record 5-of-9 from 3-point range, and added four assists. Moore totaled 14 points to go with her dominance on the glass.

Mt. Vernon, which lost a regular-season meeting to Hamilton Heights (70-61), opened a 24-point lead with 5:10 left in the game. The Marauders outshot the Huskies (46.3 percent to 34 percent) and outrebounded them, 38-22.

The Huskies, making their first appearance in the girls basketball state finals, were led in scoring by Kiley Walters' 13 and Dakota Weatherford's 12. Katelyn Rednour collected six rebounds.

Coach Shelton's Marauders, ranked sixth in the Class 3A ICGSA poll, finished 23-4. Coach Tod Windlan's Huskies, ranked No. 2, ended at 23-3.

 Listen: Mt. Vernon (Fortville) Coach Julie Shelton | Hamilton Heights Coach Tod Windlan

Rachel Houck of Mt. Vernon named Roy Mental Attitude Award Winner
Following the game, members of the IHSAA Executive Committee named Rachel Houck of Mt. Vernon High School as the winner of the Patricia L. Roy Mental Attitude Award in Class 3A Girls Basketball.

The award is presented annually to a senior participant in each classification who was nominated by her principal and coach and has demonstrated excellence in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability.

Houck maintains a 3.8 GPA through honor and Advanced Placement courses at her school ranking in the top 15% of her class. She has attended the IHSAA Student Leadership Conference three years, is a DARE Role Model and been a NASA Council Representative.

Rachel holds the school record for steals in a season and over a career, was a Hoosier Heritage All-Conference selection the last two seasons and was part of two Mt. Vernon state finalist teams. She has also been a member of the Marauders softball team for four years and earned team MVP last year.

She is the daughter of Ken and Mary Houck of Greenfield and will attend the University of Louisville on a softball scholarship. She plans to study Exercise Science.

Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, the IHSAA’s corporate partner, will present a $1,000 scholarship to Mt. Vernon High School in the name of Houck.

The award is named in honor of the former IHSAA assistant commissioner Patricia L. Roy, who oversaw the girls basketball state tournament from its inception in 1976 until her retirement in 1999.