Connersville’s come back falls short, Spartans now at .500
SHELBYVILLE- The Connersville Spartans took on the Shelbyville Golden Bears on Saturday evening. The Spartans fell behind fast after a 14-0 Shelbyville run. Coach Kerry Brown’s team battled back over the next three quarters to tie the game up with just two minutes remaining. Connersville sent SHS junior Luke Brinkman to the line and he won the game from the charity stripe for his team. The Golden Bears held off the Spartans for a 44-42 win.
Braxton Myers started the game hitting a three-point shot for Connersville to take a 3-0 lead. Ollie Sandman then hit two long balls as the Golden Bears went on a 12-0 to end the first frame up 12-3. Over the remainder of the first quarter CHS went 0-5 shooting with four turnovers. Shelbyville started the next period with Damon Badgley increasing the lead and another two minutes before Connersville was able to add to the scoreboard. After an eight-minute scoreless draught Josh Williams drained an open three and the Spartans were off and running. Josh and James Williams combined for 11 points in the quarter and went into halftime down by just five points, Shelbyville led 19-14.
Myers started Connersville off scoring five points and Jo. Williams hit a two-point jumper and then found himself at the line. He hit the freebie to tie the game at 22-22 with 3:40 to go in the frame. Sandman paced the Golden Bears for the rest of the quarter scoring nine points while Jo. Williams matched Sandman with nine in the frame. A Jackson Parker three pointer was the difference maker as Shelbyville led 34-30 after three quarters of play.
The final period started with Lucas Barron getting his first basket of the contest, but two baskets from the Golden Bears had them up 40-32. With five minutes to go Ja. Williams put in two-points and Gavin Pearson hit from downtown and Connersville was within three points of the hosts. Shelbyville got two free throws to pull back ahead by five, Jo. Williams went to the line sank both shots, got a steal on the next possession, and went coast to coast hitting the shot and drawing a foul. With 1:52 left on the clock, Jo. Williams tied the game at 42-42 with the freebie. Both squads remained scoreless over the next 1:30 when Brinkman went to the line and hit one of two. Down by one point and with 4.1 seconds left Blaine Hornsby drew a foul sending the Spartan to the line but he missed both his attempts. A quick foul sent Brinkman back to the line where he again hit one of two giving Shelbyville the 44-42 win.
The Spartans were led in scoring by Josh Williams he put up 24, Myers finished with 8, James Williams 5, Pearson 3, and Barron 2. Sandman led Shelbyville with 25 points. Connersville is now 2-2 on the season and will host Pendleton Heights (1-3) this Saturday, December 10.