Shelbyville takes sting out of Hornets to improve to 16-5

Shelbyville has proven all season it will not dwell on losses.

Following a disappointing loss Friday to Class 3A, No. 5 New Palestine (63-42), the Golden Bears put together a 23-1 run over the second and third quarters Saturday against Beech Grove to cruise to a 67-39 victory.

“I thought we came out with excellent energy. We stressed that at pre-game (practice) this morning,” said Shelbyville head coach John Hartnett. “We knew we couldn’t come out flat because we took a tough loss the night before. We have to keep the energy going. The intensity rises every single game.”

The Golden Bears, now 16-5, have lost two games in a row just once all season.

Caden Claxton led Shelbyville with 23 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals. Mar Nicholson had 16 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three blocked shots.

The Golden Bears shot 61% from the field and outrebounded the Hornets, 34-13.

Shelbyville started slow against potential Sectional 28 opponent Beech Grove, a program the Golden Bears have not played since Nov. 23, 2011. But a 14-9 lead after one quarter grew to 27-16 by halftime.

Claxton (photo) drove to the rim and scored with 4:58 left in the second quarter and that proved to be the start of the game-deciding run.

Shelbyville scored 11 of the final 12 points of the first half and the first 12 points of the third quarter which was punctuated by back-to-back three-pointers from Claxton, who has been fighting illness.

“Caden has been pretty sick the last few days,” said Hartnett. “This morning, he went to the doctor to get checked out. He is feeling a little better. He is just trying to shake it off and get his strength back.”

Claxton and Nicholson (photo) combined for 20 points in the third quarter as the lead extended to 50-27.

Six different Golden Bears scored in the fourth quarter to seal the win against a future Hoosier Legends Conference opponent.

TyQuan Lee led Beech Grove (7-13) with 11 points. Tyris Reid had eight points.

Shelbyville’s junior varsity improved to 6-11 with a 54-38 victory over the Hornets. Nick Fischer led the Golden Bears with 12 points. Austin Martzall had 11 and Jackson Myers finished with eight.

The Golden Bears close out a 5-game homestand and their Hoosier Heritage Conference schedule Friday against Delta (13-5, 3-3 HHC). The Senior Night contest will start at 6:30 p.m. with the JV game.

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