Golden Bears salvage long week with HHC win over Yorktown

Shelbyville used a 10-5 run over the final four minutes Saturday night to seal a 48-46 victory over Yorktown.

Playing its third game in six nights, the Golden Bears struggled with tired legs and a pesky Yorktown squad that played with more energy.

“We could tell our guys were tired. You could see it on their faces in the second quarter and then late in the third they were dog tired,” said Shelbyville head coach John Hartnett Jr.

The Golden Bears did not play well in the first half but scored the final four points of the second quarter to cut Yorktown’s lead to 20-19.

Damon Badgley (photo) hit back-to-back three-pointers to start the third quarter which gave Shelbyville its first lead of the game.

Yorktown put together an 8-0 run late in the quarter to build a 35-30 lead but Badgley sank his third 3 and Gavin Reed (photo) scored off an offensive rebound to bring the game even at the break.

Shelbyville did not lead in the fourth quarter until Reed hit a 3 and Mar Nicholson scored in the low post for a 43-41 advantage.

Jabin Barnes answered at the other end to tie the game for the sixth time, but the Golden Bears sank five free throws in the game’s final 2:13.

Badgley sealed the win with a pair of free throws with 4.9 seconds to go for a 48-43 lead and Mason Trammell hit a 3 just before the buzzer to set the final score.

“I thought our defense in the first half was not our best,” said Hartnett. “Late in the game, we figured out ways to get stops.”

Nicholson led the Golden Bears (6-2, 2-1 Hoosier Heritage Conference) with 13 points, eight rebounds and two assists.

Badgley finished with 11 points. Caden Claxton, who shot just 1 of 10 from the field but was 7 of 10 from the free throw line, added nine points and six assists. Reed had eight points.

“We had a couple of tough ones and probably two we should have won,” said Hartnett referencing Tuesday’s loss at Greenwood (63-61) and Friday’s loss to Mt. Vernon (64-57). “This was so important to get this win. We told the guys we cannot walk out of here with a loss.”

Austin Kates scored a game-high 14 points to lead Yorktown (3-4, 0-3 HHC), who has lost four straight. Barnes had 10 points and five rebounds.

In the junior varsity game, Yorktown outscored Shelbyville 18-6 in the fourth quarter to secure a 51-39 victory. Gavin Hall led the Golden Bears (2-6) with 11 points. Josue Isaac finished with seven.

Shelbyville will enjoy a Christmas break early this week then start preparing for the 16-team Bob Wettig Tournament played in Richmond, Indiana, beginning Jan. 2.

“The good thing is we have some time off but we are going to treat this Bob Wettig Tournament like a mini-sectional,” said Hartnett. “We are going to go up there and try and get as far as we can and see if we can win that thing.”

Shelbyville opens the tournament against North Decatur (2-5) at noon on Jan. 2 at Earlham College’s Druley Performance Gymnasium (photo). Win or lose, the Golden Bears will play at 6 p.m.

If Shelbyville defeats North Decatur, it will face the winner of the Phalen Academy (1-4) vs. Indianapolis Shortridge (3-5) game at Richmond High School. If Shelbyville loses to North Decatur, it will play the loser of the Phalen-Shortridge game at Earlham College.

Shelbyville will finish the tournament with two more games on Jan. 3 with opponents and game sites to be determined.

With 15 potential opponents, the Golden Bears coaching staff that includes Brady Claxton, Zach Phelps, John Hartnett, Bryan Fischer, A.J. Hounshell and Doug Brown will be busy creating multiple scouting reports.

“My coaches do an excellent job. I have a tremendous coaching staff who works very hard and are very dedicated to Shelbyville basketball,” said Hartnett. “We will split up the scouts. One person will hit it head on and we all chip in and watch film. We all try to do as much as possible so we are ready for our opponent.”

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