Shelbyville secures tenth-consecutive season opening win at Rushville

RUSHVILLE -- Shelbyville could not find a higher gear to get away from the low-octane Rushville Lions until late in the third quarter but were never in jeopardy of losing the lead in a season-opening 54-29 victory Wednesday at the 100-year-old Memorial Gymnasium.

The Golden Bears nearly made as many shots as Rushville attempted and hit 15 of 18 free throws to secure their 10^th-consecutive season-opening win – all against Rushville.

“It’s always good to get a win and start the season 1-0,” said Shelbyville boys basketball head coach John Hartnett Jr., now in his sixth season leading the Golden Bears. “I thought our kids did a really good job adjusting to the style (of Rushville) at the start of the game. We hit the first bucket and then a minute-and-a-half came off the clock and I thought we stayed pretty engaged and locked in on the defensive end. It’s not always easy playing defense for two minutes.”

Rushville ran two minutes off the scoreboard clock after Brody Runnebohm hit a pair of free throws just 21 seconds into the contest. The result was a turnover and Damon Badgley quickly splashed a 3-pointer for an early 5-0 lead that the Golden Bears would never surrender.

Shelbyville led 14-5 after one quarter and 24-12 at halftime but shot just 33% from the field in the opening 16 minutes.

“We saw some advantages in the first half that we missed,” said Hartnett. “Getting a switch on Caden (Claxton) and Mar (Nicholson) and getting the ball to Mar in the low post which we did more of in the second half and Mar picked up the scoring from there.”

Shelbyville limited the Lions to five field-goal attempts in the third quarter and just six points to open up a 43-18 lead.

Claxton sparked a run after making a 3-pointer then driving the lane and scoring while being fouled. He converted the traditional three-point play and then delivered the assist to Gavin Reed on the wing for another 3 which turned a 31-15 lead into a 41-15 gap.

Claxton finished with 14 points, five assists and three rebounds. Nicholson had 12 points and three rebounds.

Brody Runnebohm finished with eight points and two steals. Cole Schene had two points and six rebounds (five offensive).

Badgley, one of two seniors on the roster, saw his night end very early in the third quarter when he rolled his right ankle and went to the floor. He had seven points, two assists and two steals before being helped off the court and, eventually, out of the gymnasium to get his ankle examined at a medical facility.

“We don’t know anything yet. We are hoping it’s just a high ankle sprain,” said Hartnett after the game. “He looked pretty uncomfortable out there once he stepped on somebody’s foot. We are all thinking of him. He is a huge part of this team. He is our senior leader.”

Rushville shot 41% from the field in the loss but only took 22 shot attempts, converting nine.

Owen Zachery led the Lions with nine points, two assists and two rebounds.

Shelbyville won the junior varsity game, 34-23. Cooper Thoman led the Golden Bears with 10 points. Eli Davis added eight points.

Rushville did convert a field goal inside the 3-point line. The Lions hit seven 3s and two free throws for 23 points.

The Golden Bears make their home debut Saturday against Triton Central (1-0). The junior varsity game tips off at 6 p.m.

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