Golden Bears excited for return trip to 16-team Wettig Tournament

Shelbyville boys basketball will play four games in two days in Richmond over Christmas break.

The Golden Bears are one of 16 teams competing in the 2025 Bob Wettig Tournament on Jan. 2 and Jan. 3.

The schedule release has Shelbyville (3-0) opening against North Decatur (1-2) at noon on Jan. 2 at Earlham College in Richmond. Win or lose, the Golden Bears will play again at 6 p.m.

If Shelbyville wins, it will play at Richmond High School against either Phalen Academy or Indianapolis Shortridge (2-3). If Shelbyville loses, it will stay at Earlham College to face either Phalen or Shortridge.

“It’s something new for us to do this year just because we haven’t played in a holiday tournament in awhile,” said Shelbyville head coach John Hartnett Jr., who has the Golden Bears 3-0 for the second consecutive season. “We are really excited to see where we stand with some of these teams. All the information just came out and some of the teams in this tournament are really good. It will give us an idea where we stand.”

Shelbyville’s day-two schedule at the Wettig Tournament could start as early as 8 a.m. on Jan. 3. The tournament championship game is scheduled for 8 p.m. on Jan. 3.

Here are the opening-round games on Jan. 2:

• Class 4A, No. 6 Warsaw (3-0) vs. Class 2A, No. 3 Fort Wayne Luers (1-0)
• Fort Wayne North (1-1) vs. Purdue Poly Englewood (2-0)
• Centerville (2-2) vs. Class 4A, No. 11 Ben Davis (1-2)
• Indianapolis Washington (2-2) vs. Class 3A, No. 12 Northwood (3-0)
• Shelbyville (3-0) vs. North Decatur (1-2)
• Phalen Academy vs. Indianapolis Shortridge (2-3)
• Indianapolis Home School at Richmond (1-2)
• Seton Catholic (0-4) vs. Heritage Christian (1-2)

“Warsaw, Ben Davis … we played Northwood over the summer and they are really good,” said Hartnett. “There are some good teams in this tournament and it’s a good test to see where we are against those good teams.”

Shelbyville opens its Hoosier Heritage Conference schedule Friday at New Castle (1-3) then hosts Whiteland (1-2) Saturday at William L. Garrett Gymnasium.

The 2024 portion of the schedule concludes next week with a road trip Tuesday to Greenwood (3-1) then HHC home games Friday and Saturday against Mt. Vernon (3-1) and Yorktown (3-0), respectively.

Then Shelbyville will have nearly two weeks to prepare for its first Wettig Tournament appearance since 2017 when it went 3-1 and its only loss came against Indianapolis Cathedral.

“The good news is during the December break we will get some time off where we are not playing constant games,” said Hartnett. “We get to rest up for that week-and-a-half then play four games in two days.”

Morristown’s girls basketball program is the only Shelby County program not competing in a holiday tournament.

Wings and Rings Winter Classic

Northeastern High School in Fountain City is the site of an 8-team tournament on Dec. 27-28 that includes two current unbeatens.

Game one features Lafayette Central Catholic (7-2) taking on Class A, No. 7 Tri (7-2). Class 2A, No. 3 Brownstown Central (9-0) battles Indianapolis Cathedral (4-5) in game two.

Shelbyville (4-4) debuts at noon on Dec. 27 against the host Knights (11-0), ranked No. 5 in Class 2A.

The final first-round game pits Fort Wayne Wayne (8-2) vs. Kokomo (7-2).

All eight teams will play a second game on Dec. 27 to set up the seventh-place, fifth-place, third-place and championship games on Dec. 28.

Johnson Memorial Health Classic

Southwestern is one of eight teams traveling to Edinburgh for a two-day event on Jan. 2 and Jan. 3.

The Spartans (2-8) will close out the first round of games on Jan. 2 against Class 2A, No. 2 Austin (8-1) at 4 p.m.

The host Lancers (5-5) are in the opener at 10 a.m. against Hagerstown (0-10). Indianapolis Tindley (6-4) and South Dearborn (2-7) follow at noon. Columbus Home School takes on Shawe Memorial (6-2) at 2 p.m.

All eight teams will play a second game on Jan. 2 then return Jan. 3 for one more contest to determine the place winners.

Greenwood Tournament

Triton Central will make the short trip to Greenwood for a one-day girls basketball tournament on Dec. 27.

The Tigers (4-5) will face Yorktown (5-3) at 10 a.m. The other semifinal game pits Greenwood (0-8) against East Central (5-3).

The consolation game follows at 6 p.m. The championship game is scheduled for 8 p.m.

Waldron Tournament

The Mohawks will host three teams for a one-day event on Dec. 27 at Waldron.

Franklin County (3-6) opens the tournament against Waldron (4-5) at 10 a.m. The second semifinal features Hamilton Heights (1-9) taking on Union County (6-2).

Both the consolation and championship games will take place at 4 p.m. in separate gyms on campus.

Morristown Holiday Tournament

The Hive is the site for a one-day, four-team event on Dec. 28.

Morristown’s boys basketball team (1-3) will open the semifinal round against Indianapolis Herron (1-3) at noon.

Tri-Central (1-1) and Western Boone (1-3) meet in the second semifinal at 2 p.m.

The consolation game tips off at 5 p.m. with the championship game to follow.

Crothersville Tournament

Waldron and Southwestern are part of the 7-team field in Crothersville.

The Mohawks (0-3) open the two-day event at 10 a.m. on Dec. 27 against Rock Creek Academy (2-1). The winner faces New Washington (0-3) at 2:30 p.m.

The second game features Tri-Township (1-3) at Crothersville (2-2) at 11:30 a.m.

Southwestern takes the court at 1 p.m. against Traders Point Christian (2-2). If Southwestern wins, it will play again at 4 p.m. against the winner of the Tri-Township/Crothersville game.

All other games will be played on Dec. 28, starting at 10 a.m. The tournament championship is slated for 5:30 p.m.

JC Bank Holiday Tournament

Greenwood High School is the site for a one-day tournament on Dec. 28 involving four strong squads.

Class 2A, No. 19 Triton Central (3-1) drew the first semifinal game at 10 a.m. against the host Woodmen (3-1). The second semifinal is Yorktown (3-0) vs. Columbus East (3-0).

The consolation game is scheduled for 5 p.m. The championship game follows at 7 p.m.

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