Golden Bears keep rolling with first win in Franklin in two decades

FRANKLIN – Shelbyville needed overtime to secure its first win in Franklin since Dec. 17, 2005.

Brody Runnebohm hit a 3-pointer 90 seconds into the overtime period to give Shelbyville a 57-56 lead, then sank two free throws with 12 seconds left to secure a 63-58 victory.

The Golden Bears improved to 13-3 and can now focus on a Hoosier Heritage Conference showdown with one of the top teams in the state.

Damon Badgley scored 11 first-half points Tuesday to keep Shelbyville in the game. Franklin shot 50% from the field in the opening 16 minutes to build a 34-24 lead.

“Franklin came out on fire and had shooters hitting shots that we hadn’t seen them hit yet this year,” said Shelbyville head coach John Hartnett. “They executed early and hit some big shots and got us in a hole early.”

A 23-point third quarter punctuated by back-to-back 3s from Caden Claxton cut that deficit to one at 48-47.

“Damon got hot early and kept us in it then Caden, after not scoring in the first quarter, got hot and hit some really big shots down the stretch.”

Shelbyville got its first lead since early in the first quarter when Mar Nicholson found Cole Schene for a layin with 2:35 to in the fourth.

Drew Wertz answered with a pair of free throws at the other end to put Franklin up 54-53.

Claxton (photo) made the first of two free throws and Nicholson chased down a long rebound after the second attempt and the Golden Bears held for the final shot with the game tied.

Claxton missed a long 3 and Jayce Nielson nearly stole the win but missed a baseline floater as time expired.

“We hung around and hung around and then we struck in the end,” said Hartnett. “We had the ball in the final possession and we took a little bit of a quick shot which is something we will review and talk about.

“We managed to get to overtime and finished the job.”

Nielsen, who scored a game-high 24 points, scored first in overtime before Runnebohm hit a 3 from the wing.

Kolt Nelson scored off a Schene pass that hit the bottom of the backboard as he tried to pass up court.

Claxton hit a long 2-point jumper with 83 seconds left and the Golden Bears never trailed again.

Shelbyville got a stop of the defensive end and Runnebohm (photo) was fouled with 12.3 seconds on the clock. The junior hit both to finish with seven points – all in the second half.

“Brody is another guy that is very capable of scoring for us,” said Hartnett. “He has to keep playing with confidence. He is a tremendous shooter that can hit from outside. And he hit those free throws late in the game.”

Franklin tried to get a final shot but Claxton intercepted a Nelson cross-court pass and scored just before time expired.

Claxton led Shelbyville, winners of eight of their last nine, with 17 points, five rebounds and five assists.

Badgley (photo) finished with 14 points and Nicholson had 11 points, four rebounds and four assists.

Nelson, a Spring Arbor University (Michigan) recruit, finished with 13 points, nine rebounds and four assists for Franklin (4-8).

Franklin won the junior varsity game, 48-45. Omari Thomas led the Grizzly Cubs with 29 points.

Jasper Hahn (photo) topped the Golden Bears with 13 points. Eli Davis made three 3s for nine points.

Shelbyville (13-3, 3-1 HHC) is one of three HHC teams with one loss in the standings. The Golden Bears are at Class 4A, No. 3 Greenfield-Central (11-2, 4-0 HHC) Saturday.

“We are really excited to go in there and compete and go up against one of the best players in the state,” said Hartnett. “Braylon Mullins is a tremendous player. He is one of the nation’s best players in high school basketball. We are really looking forward to it.”  

Mullins, committed to the University of Connecticut and the leading candidate for Indiana Mr. Basketball, is averaging 34.5 points and 7.6 rebounds per game this season.

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