Shelbyville is finding success with an athletically-rangy defense. A complimentary offense with a killer instinct is still needed before the Golden Bears can take the next step and anticipate postseason success.

Leading 25-9 at halftime Tuesday at William L. Garrett Gymnasium over a winless Greenwood team, a strong third quarter would have allowed the Golden Bears to cruise to an early-week win with a trio of Hoosier Heritage Conference games on the schedule later this week.

Instead, the Woodmen used a 24-14 run to cut Shelbyville’s lead to 44-39 with 1:45 left in the fourth quarter.

The Golden Bears did not commit a turnover over the final eight minutes and sank 16-of-23 free-throw attempts for a 53-44 victory to improve to 4-1. It’s the best start for the program since the 2009 season.

“We got a big lead on them early and then they came back a little bit in the third quarter. Then we extended that lead again and they just made it a little interesting at the end,” said Shelbyville head coach John Hartnett. “I told our guys in the huddle that I don’t know if you guys just like making things interesting or you like the thrill of trying to close a team out and make it interesting but we have to start putting these guys away when we have big leads like that.”

Caden Claxton scored 10 of his game-high 21 points in the fourth quarter and Luke Brinkman and Damon Badgley hit 9-of-12 free throws in the period.

Greenwood (0-6), under first-year head coach Keith Witty, started strong Tuesday, building a 7-4 lead in the game’s first three minutes. Claxton sparked a 9-0 run to finish the quarter by attacking the rim.

“That is something I’ve been trying to get better at over these last few years,” said Claxton of attacking defenses in the lane. “When you jump into their chest it takes away their height. You get a good look if you do that.”

The Woodmen did not make a shot in the second quarter and fell behind by 16 points at halftime. Greenwood’s only points in the quarter came on a pair of Isaac O’Neal free throws.

Brinkman scored half of his 10 points early in the third quarter but the Golden Bears managed just one field goal over the next five-and-a-half minutes.

“It was the same thing against New Castle last week, we had a great first half offense. We found our mismatches. We found our advantages,” said Hartnett. “Then, in the third quarter and the start of the second half, we kind of went away from that and tried to do a few things we weren’t doing in the first half.”

After shooting just 18% from the field in the opening 16 minutes, Greenwood shot 75% in the third quarter and four different players scored to start the comeback attempt.

Senior Jake Mosemann, who scored 18 points in Greenwood’s win last season over Shelbyville, scored eight of his team’s first 10 points of the fourth quarter.

“I knew Mosemann coming in was a player and he has hurt us for the last few years,” said Hartnett. “He’s a great outside shooter and he did a good job tonight of doing some things he is not comfortable with and that is getting to the basket and scoring a little bit more. He did a terrific job helping bring them back.”

Claxton sank a 3-pointer at the 5:23 mark of the final quarter to extend Shelbyville’s lead to 37-28, and he converted a free throw after a drive and score just over two minutes later to make it 42-33. But Greenwood kept using the clock efficiently and hanging around.

The Golden Bears’ final 11 points came from the free-throw line. Shelbyville made just 2-of-11 3s (18%) but converted 21 of 30 free throws (70%).

“I thought even though we didn’t execute the way we wanted to down the stretch to finish it off, it’s always good when you finish it out,” said Hartnett.

Mosemann led Greenwood with 15 points. Ethan King finished with 11 points and three rebounds.

Shelbyville’s junior varsity improved to 5-1 with a 42-33 victory over Greenwood. Brody Runnebohm led the Golden Bears with 15 points. Kenny Owens had 12 points and Gavin Reed finished with 10 points.

New Castle will return to Garrett Gymnasium Thursday to conclude the HHC contest that was suspended Friday with 4:19 left in the fourth quarter following the serious leg injury suffered by New Castle junior forward Landon Thompson.

After an offensive rebound and score by Shelbyville’s Mar Nicholson, Thompson landed awkwardly from contesting Nicholson’s shot and broke both lower leg bones in his right leg. The Golden Bears were leading 42-35 when the game was postponed.

On Friday, Shelbyville travels to Mt. Vernon (2-2, 1-0 HHC) and follows that with another conference road game Saturday at Yorktown (1-3, 0-1 HHC).

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