Shelbyville seniors shine in Garrett Gymnasium victory over Batesville

Batesville head coach Aaron Garrett knew Shelbyville would get off to an electric start Thursday following Senior Night honors and introductions.

When four different seniors scored in the opening four minutes to create a 13-0 lead, the Bulldogs were in trouble.

The lead grew to 20-5 after a Gavin Reed three-pointer and Batesville never got the lead under double digits the rest of the way.

Mar Nicholson scored a game-high 27 points and added six rebounds, seven assists, one steal and two blocks in Shelbyville’s 84-69 win in the regular-season finale at Garrett Gymnasium.

All seven seniors scored to lead Shelbyville to a season-high point total.

The Golden Bears, tied with Batesville at No. 9 in this week’s Class 3A poll, improved to 19-5 – the most regular season wins since the 2006 team that finished 23-1 and was honored in this year’s season opener on Nov. 26.

Batesville (18-4) came into Garrett Gymnasium averaging 26 3-point attempts per game and with four players scoring at least 10 points per game. The Golden Bears’ defensive game plan was to keep the Bulldogs’ offense inside the arc.

“We knew this was going to be a fast-paced game. We knew we could not let them get to the 3-point line and get a bunch of free shots,” said Shelbyville head coach John Hartnett. “We knew that was their strength coming in and we were going to make them beat us at the rim.”

In the opening quarter, Nicholson, Reed, Brody Runnebohm and Caden Claxton – all seniors – each hit a 3, the fast-break opportunities were effective, and Batesville made just 1 of 4 3s. That led to a 25-12 lead at the first break.

Batesville shot 50% in the second quarter, but only took two more 3s and fell further behind, 46-30.

Foul trouble plagued the Golden Bears in the third quarter and the Bulldogs capitalized with a 9-of-13 performance at the free throw line. Trenten Luers and Kamryn Holcomb combined for 16 points to cut the deficit to 11 late in the quarter.

“I didn’t like when we let them get to the basket to easy,” said Hartnett. “I did not like how we fouled them when they attacked the basket. Part of that was us not getting our hands out and using our chest. We were putting our hands on them and putting them at the line.”

A Brayden Maple offensive rebound and score cut Shelbyville’s lead to 11 again early in the fourth quarter before the seniors put together a 10-0 run to seal the outcome.

Claxton finished with 15 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Reed had 11 points, two rebounds and two assists. Runnebohm added nine points, three rebounds and three assists.

Fellow seniors Cole Schene (six points, two assists), Gavin Hall (nine points, five rebounds) and Nick Fischer (two points) all contributed to the final outcome.

James Hughes led Batesville with 18 points and five rebounds. Luers finished with 15 points and six rebounds. Maple had 13 points.

Batesville took just 13 3s in the loss, hitting six.

Shelbyville’s junior varsity closed out a 9-11 season with a 63-49 victory Thursday. A 21-point third quarter extended a 4-point halftime lead to 50-35 after three quarters.

Jasper Hahn led Shelbyville with 17 points. Austin Martzall had 14. Nolan Cord and Bram Kolkmeier each had eight points.

Shelbyville drew the bye in Sectional 28 and will wait until March 6 to face either Rushville (8-15) or the host Greenwood (13-9) in the first sectional semifinal game.

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