JOHN CURTIS - Daily Union Sports Editor
Shelbyville and Pana play every year for a traveling trophy, representing their rivalry when they were in the Mid-State Conference together. On Tuesday night, Pana claimed the trophy for this year, with a dominating 73-46 win.
Pana shot the lights out in the first quarter, while Shelbyville shot just 2-of-13, and fell behind 26-6. Derek Ade got off early for Pana and fueled the early rout. Ade scored 12 points in the first 8:00. He hit a deuce, then a trey, made a 3-point play, then two more twos. But that was less than half Pana's 1st quarter points.
Six other Panthers scored from all over the floor. Dakota Rudow scored twice, and Adam Metzger, Phillip Arnold, Nick Spracklen, Jared McMilland and Jake Adock all had solo twos. Shelby had just two field goals, a trey from Austin Smith, a deuce from Dustyn Fatheree and 1-of-2 free throws from Caine Cloe. Cody Boarman, the Rams leading scorer did not play in the first half.
In the second period, Ade was at it again. He scored eight of Pana's 15 points, a pair of deuces, another trey and 1-of-2 at the line. Clint Epley dialed in from long distance, Adcock scored again and Lucas Rochkes went to the line twice, making 2-of-4 free throws.
Levi Pruemer asserted himself for the Rams in the second, scoring six points on a pair of twos and making both ends of a 1-and-1. Cloe added a two and Smith 1-of-2 free throws.
The Panthers missed some shots in the second period, but still shot over 50% for the first half, while Shelbyville shot just 22 percent. Pana led 41-15 at the break.
The Rams had a hard time getting inside and getting good looks. That's why they only shot nine free throws (5-of-9)for the game. Pana trapped all over the floor and caused several turnovers.
The die was cast in the first half and there wasn't any way the Rams could undo the damage, barring a Pana meltdown. That didn't happen.
The Rams did add one ingredient on the floor in the second half and it helped. Cody Boarman came of the bench and made back-to-back threes, then a slam dunk two, for eight of the Rams 13 points in the third. Preuemer and Fatheree scored again and Cloe split a pair at the stripe for the Rams first double-diigt period of the night, 13 points.
However, Pana continued their dominance with a 20-point third. Ade completed his trey hat trick to and then made two more buckets for good measure, totaling a 27-point night. He took his bows and had a seat. Nick Spracklen got loose inside for three buckets and Epley rang up another three. McMillan and Adcock scored again for the 33 point lead heading into the fourth, 61-28.
In the fourth, Pana dialed it down, substituting freely and the Rams were able to do something President Obama hopes to do, cut into the massive deficit. Shelby out-scored Pana 18-12 in the fourth to only lose by 27, the same number of points Ade had.
Pruemer rang up a trey and then a two. Boarman hit a deuce, then a trey, for his trey hat trick. Cloe, Clayton Baker Fatheree and Darin Breeden had solo scores down the stretch.
Pana got a pair of scores from Mitchell Beyers and 2-of-2 foul shooting, then solo twos from Max Schmitz, Arnold, and McMillan to cap their score at 73 points, their most in the first three games of this season. Ade's 27 was also a season-high.
Pana had eleven players score in the game. Shelbyville had seven, led by Levi Pruemer, and Cody Boarman with 13 each. Pruemer stepped up his play offensively to match his usual defensive play and board work. Boarman's third period was all highlights, two treys and a dunk. But, it was too little too late for the Rams.
Shelbyville (1-3) has one more traditional rivalry to play on Friday, traveling to Stew-Stras, before starting the conference season. Pana plays their second SCC conference game on Friday, hosting Litchfield.
Pana 73, Shelbyville 46
Pana 26-15-20-12—73
Shelby 6-9-13-18—46
Ram stats: Pruemr 13 (4-2s, 1-3 pt FGs, 2/3 FTs), Boarman 13 (2-2s, 3-3 pt FGs), Cloe 6 (2 FGs, 2/4 FTs), Fatheree 6 (3 FGs), Smith 4 (1-3 pt FG, 1/2 FTs), Breeden 2 (FG). Team FGs 18 (5-3 pt: Boraman 2, Pruwemer 1, Smith 1). Team Fts 5-of-9.
Pana stats: Ade 27 (8-2s, 3-3 pt FGs, 2/3 FTs), Spracklen 8 (4 FGs, 0/2 FTs), Epley 6 (2-3 pt FGs, 0/2 FTs), Beyers 6 (2 FGs, 2/2 FTs), McMillan 6 (3 FGs), Adcock 6 (3 FGs, 0/1 FTs), Arbold 4 (2 FGs), Rudow 4 (2 FGs), Metzger 2 (FG), Ruchkes 2 (2/4 FTs), Schmitz 2 (FG). Team FGs 31 (5-3 pt: Ade 3, Epley 2). Team FTs 6-of-14.
Pana also ran away with the JV game, pitting juniors and sophomres against mostly Ram freshman. Pana also continued to press after they were clearly in control. They pressed with a 20-point lead in the third and on into the fourth quarter, winning 56-25.
JV
Pana 56, Shelbyville 25
Pana 18-14-16--56
Shelby 4-6-6-9--25
