Chris Ingles walked into a dark lockerroom Friday to find his team waiting to ambush him and celebrate his first coaching victory.
Southwestern hit 27 of 41 free-throw attempts to defeat Brown County, 56-49.
The Spartans improved to 1-11 this season and got Ingels his first victory as a head coach.
The game was close throughout but the Spartans hit 13 of 21 free throws in the fourth quarter to seal the win.
Ben Kahler led Southwestern with 19 points. Conner Jewell had 10 and Eli Stone finished with nine.
Cash Harden topped Brown County (0-12) with 17 points. Matt Horn had 16.
The Eagles finished 8 of 11 from the free throw line.
Southwestern nearly put together a two-game win streak Saturday but came up short to South Decatur, 64-60 in overtime.
The Spartans hit 10 three-pointers in the loss, including four in the fourth quarter to send the game to overtime tied at 57-all.
Jacob Scruggs scored five of his game-high 26 points in overtime to lead the Cougars (8-5, 3-1 MHC) to the win. Dale Peters finished with 16 points.
Carter Snepp his four 3s on the way to a team-high 18 points for Southwestern (1-12, 0-2 MHC). Kahler finished with 12 points and Matt Clements had 10.
The Spartans travel Friday to Class 3A, No. 9 Scottsburg (12-2).
In other prep basketball games:
Boys basketball
Triton Central 84, Milan 55
At Triton Central, five Tigers scored in double figures to lead Triton Central to its 11th win of the season.
Silas Blair finished with a game-high 19 points. Eli Sego followed with 15. Max Crouse had 14 while Luke Faust and Isaac Morgan scored 13 and 12, respectively.
Triton Central (11-3) scored at least 20 points in three of the four quarters.
Micah Norman and Ben Riehle each scored 15 points to lead Milan (3-9).
Triton Central returns to Indiana Crossroads Conference competition Saturday at Class A, No. 5 Indianapolis Lutheran (8-3).
Jac-Cen-Del 52, Waldron 46
At Jac-Cen-Del, Lucas Mitchell scored 24 points but the Mohawks (6-7) could not overcome a potential sectional opponent in Class A, No. 13 Jac-Cen-Del (8-6).
Lucas Shaw added 11 points for Waldron.
The Mohawks host Hauser (6-7) Friday.
Rushville 59, Morristown 34
At Morristown, the host Yellow Jackets struggled in the second quarter Friday which allowed Rushville to open up a 24-10 halftime advantage. After an even third quarter, the Lions outscored Morristown, 19-6 over the final eight minutes to seal the win.
Kameron Morton led Rushville (3-9) with 16 points. Nick Jarman had 12 points.
Jameson Palmer led Morristown (1-12) with 15 points. Mathew Carlton added 12.
On Saturday, Hauser held the Yellow Jackets to less than 10 points over the final three quarters to pull away for a 72-36 victory.
Palmer led the Yellow Jackets with 21 points.
The Jets improved to 6-7 while Morristown fell to 1-13.
Morristown hosts North Decatur (9-4) Friday.
Girls basketball
Mt. Vernon 56, Shelbyville 33
At Shelbyville, Ellery Minch scored a game-high 22 points to keep the visiting Marauders (13-6, 4-0 Hoosier Heritage Conference) unbeaten against HHC foes.
Ava Wilson topped Shelbyville (12-7, 1-5 HHC) with 19 points.
Kylee Edwards finished with 12 points to push her program career scoring record to 1,507 points. She is the first girl in Golden Bears history to surpass 1,500 career points.
Shelbyville travels Wednesday to Whiteland (11-8).
Morristown 37, Edinburgh 15
At Morristown, the host Yellow Jackets collected their third win in six days with a Mid-Hoosier Conference victory over the Lancers (6-13, 0-2 MHC).
Raegan Kleine led Morristown (8-10, 3-2 MHC) with 17 points, 11 rebounds and three steals.
Danika Rutledge had nine points, 12 rebounds and five steals. Maggie Lutes had five points and nine rebounds.
Morristown hosts Greenwood Christian (2-14) Tuesday.
Eastern Hancock 84, Waldron 28
At Waldron, the Class 2A, No. 9 Royals hit nine 3s to improve to 16-3 this season.
Sammie Bolding led Eastern Hancock with 21 points. Grace Stapleton finished with 18 and Mackenzie O’Neal added 16.
Alivia Fischer led Waldron (4-15) with 10 points. Cendall Sheaffer finished with eight points.
Waldron hosts New Palestine (8-10) Thursday.
Jac-Cen-Del 58, Southwestern 18
At Jac-Cen-Del, the host Eagles got off to a fast start and had three players score in double figures to defeat the Spartans.
Julia Meyer scored a game-high 19 points and Reagan Hughes and Olivia Neal scored 11 and 10 points, respectively, to lead Jac-Cen-Del (9-10).
McKinley Correll led Southwestern (3-15) with eight points.
Southwestern hosts Herron (7-7) Tuesday.
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