Shelbyville produced its most complete offensive performance of the season Thursday night to defeat Class 3A, No. 9 Indian Creek, 68-57, at William L. Garrett Gymnasium.

Caden Claxton scored 15 of his game-high 26 points in the fourth quarter and Mar Nicholson had 24 points, five rebounds and four blocks to improve the Golden Bears to 10-6.

Shelbyville shot 51% from the field and hit 18-of-26 free-throw attempts to score a season high against the Braves (11-4).

“Our goal tonight was to push the basketball and get it up the floor,” said Shelbyville head coach John Hartnett. “Mar Nicholson is a really good rim runner along with Kohen Myers. When we have Kohen Myers in the game, he is our best guy at pushing the ball and looking up the floor along with Caden Claxton. 

“That lineup we started tonight is pretty much our run lineup. We’ve been seeing that lineup in second quarters of games and we would go on runs. So we’ve switched it up a little bit to see if we can get off to good starts and its worked out for us.”

An 11-2 run by Shelbyville in the opening quarter was countered by Indian Creek’s 8-2 run that left the game tied at 13-all.

Nicholson scored seven straight points in the second quarter to get Shelbyville a 20-15 advantage. The sophomore scored again in the low post with 81 seconds left in the half to put the Golden Bears up for good.

The Golden Bears have struggled this season putting together strong third quarters but that was not the case Thursday. Shelbyville hit 8-of-15 shots to open a 46-30 lead going into the final quarter.

Indian Creek twice got the lead under double digits in the fourth quarter but Shelbyville overcame five turnovers by hitting 11-of-17 free-throw attempts to seal the victory.

“We have to take care of the basketball even if they throw the 1-3-1 or the trapping zones — just move the basketball like we know how to do,” said Hartnett. “Stay calm and stay collected and get the ball moving, and when they trap you, find the open guys and take care of it. If we do that in the fourth (quarter) earlier I think we extend that lead.”

Adam Crouch topped Indian Creek with 23 points and six rebounds. Bobby Emberton finished with 10 points and six rebounds.

Shelbyville’s junior varsity improved to 11-5 this season with a 63-42 victory Thursday. Brody Runnebohm scored 18 points to lead the Golden Bears. Gavin Reed (13 points), Tyler Gwinnup (12) and Kenny Owens (10) also reached double digits in the scoring category.

Shelbyville is at Speedway (6-6) tonight. The game will air if GIANT fm with the pregame show beginning at approximately 7 p.m.

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