By Chris Siers
csiers@bedfordcountypost.com
SHELBYVILLE — A sluggish second and fourth quarter ultimately proved costly for Shelbyville Central in its home opener against Giles County.
The Eagles fell on the short side of a 16-3 run in the second quarter and never could recover as the Bobcats took the 71-47 win over Shelbyville.
The Eagles played an inspired first quarter, battling the visitors within a possession after the first eight minutes of regulation.
Terrance Johnson led Shelbvyille with five points in the opening quarter, including a 3-pointer.
But while the first quarter showed a closely fought contest between the two, in the second quarter, Giles County took full control of the game’s momentum.
The Bobcats surged ahead with a 16-point effort, putting five players in the scoring column and knocking down a pair of treys in the process.
Shelbyville, on the other hand, was held scoreless from the floor and connected on just 3-of-4 attempts from the free throw line.
Following the sluggish second quarter, and trailing by 15 entering the third, the Eagles got a big pick me up from Kyler Trice, who knocked down 7 of his team-high 15 points in the quarter.
Shelbyville went on to match the Bobcats’ point production with 19 points in the third and chipped in 15 more in the fourth.
But even with a more efficient second half on the offensive end of the court, the Bobcats slammed the door shut on any comeback try with a 24-point fourth quarter.
Giles Co. 12 16 19 24 — 71
Shelbyville 10 3 19 15 — 47
Giles Co.: Casen Howard 18, KT Turner 17, Jaccion Coffey 12, Dashaun Howard 6, Jakiyah Englette 6, Kareem Bryant 5, Carter Kelley 4, Malachi Brown 2, Demarie Holt.
Shelbyville: Kyler Trice 15, Terrance Johnson 13, Tae’shawn Shelton 9, Shamarion Draper 5, Rocky Chandler 3, Zachariah Minor, Markael Simmons.
3-Point goals: Giles Co. (7): Turner 5, C. Howard, D. Howard; Shelbyville (3): Johnson 2, Trice.
Halftime score: Giles Co. 28, Shelbyville 13.