Fast start leads Class 3A, No. 6 Shelbyville over 3A No. 8 Greenwood

A jump into the top 10 state rankings came with a test against another top 10 team.

On Tuesday at Garrett Gymnasium, Class 3A, No. 6 Shelbyville passed that test with a 67-58 win over 3A No. 8 Greenwood.

“What a good win for our guys,” said Shelbyville head coach John Hartnett. “They deserve that with how hard they work every day and with (Greenwood) spoiling our 5-0 trip last year, getting those guys back and a potential sectional opponent. Our guys deserved that.”

Shelbyville used an aggressive Mar Nicholson and a pair of three-pointers to build a quick 10-2 lead. Nicholson twice scored at the rim while Caden Claxton and Brody Runnebohm each hit 3s to give the Golden Bears (5-0) a lead they would not relinquish.

Greenwood (4-2) settled in and cut the lead to 19-17 after one quarter, though.

A 9-0 run to start the second quarter opened a 28-17 advantage. The Woodmen shot 56% in the second quarter and still did not cut much into Shelbyville’s lead.

Nicholson finished with 12 points in the first half, matching his total from last year’s loss at Greenwood, 63-61.

“Mar is definitely playing with more of a chip on his shoulder in the post,” said Hartnett. “All it takes is one or two times of him missing a layup off a bump and he will get mad and start using his strength. He has gotten a lot stronger, along with Caden. He is so difficult to guard because he can get to the basket and with all the upper body strength he has put on, there are not a lot of guys that can run him over or knock him down. He is finishing well against contact.”

A 9-0 run in the third quarter got Greenwood within a chance to steal the lead but Claxton would not be denied in the low post, scoring off a pair of offensive rebounds, and Brody Runnebohm hit his fourth 3 to quickly create separation.

“I will say it every single night. I will put my shooters up against almost anybody around,” said Hartnett. “Brody Runnebohm, Caden Claxton and Gavin Reed, I will put them up against anybody. They can really shoot. It doesn’t just happen with these guys. They’ve put countless hours in the gym getting shots up. You don’t know how many times we’ve been for hours while they get shots up.”

Shelbyville needed to show it could close out a quality opponent in the fourth quarter and did just that with a 7-0 run. The Golden Bears then ran over one minute off the clock and forced the Woodmen to start fouling with hope Shelbyville would miss free throws.

Runnebohm, Gavin Reed and Cole Schene hit 8 of 12 free throws over the final 2:38 to secure the victory.

Runnebohm made five 3s to score a team-high 21 points. Claxton finished with 19 points. Nicholson had 18.

Acen Swain led Greenwood with 22 points. Parker Doolin finished with 19.

Shelbyville won the junior varsity game, 50-40. Jasper Hahn led the Golden Bears (4-1) with 17 points.

For Shelbyville to challenge for a HHC title in its final season in the conference, it will need a stellar performance Friday at Class 4A, No. 7 Mt. Vernon (5-1, 2-0 HHC), led by Mr. Basketball candidate and Purdue recruit Luke Ertel (22.8 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 6.0 apg).

Notes: Claxton now has 983 career points. … Shelbyville is at Yorktown (1-1, 0-1 HHC) Saturday. … The Golden Bears do not return to Garrett Gymnasium for a home game until Jan. 10 against Greensburg (2-2). … Shelbyville closes out the 2025 portion of the schedule at the Wettig Tournament in Richmond Dec. 29-30.

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