The Shelbyville Rams returned home for the first time since before Christmas and extended to a 3-game winning streak by beating Tuscola on Tuesday, 59-51.

Shelbyville posted a 7-point lead through one quarter, 17-10, then Tuscola chipped through the second and third periods, cutting it to six points at the break, 26-20, then four points heading into the fourth, 41-37. In the Ram win over Neoga on Saturday, it was free throws and rebounds that put them over the top. But in the second and more in the third periods on Tuesday, Shelby was missing free throws two at a pop and Tuscola was out-rebounding the Rams and scoring in the paint.

After two more missed Ram free throws to start the fourth, Tuscola got a wide-open 3-pointer and pulled to within one 41-40. Cody Boarman and Caine Cloe then started to impose their will on the game.

Cloe drove and drew a foul. Boarman got the ball on a baby lob in the lane and was fouled. Boarman hit both shots. Tuscola also got to the line and it was a free throw contest for several minutes. Cloe got a rebound two to make it 47-43, but then Weinke got a putback for Tuscola Shelby missed two free throws and Tuscola made two foul shots to tie the game at 47-47 with 4:33 to play. Boarman made 1-of-2 free throws and the Rams took the lead for good, 48-47.

The turning point of the fourth quarter, with the game in the balance, came when Tuscola missed and Dustyn Fatheree grabbed the board. After almost a minute of Ram possession, Fatheree flashed to the free throw line and got the ball. She hit the shot and Tuscola called time-out, 50-47 with 3:17 to play. The Rams would finish what would be a 10-0 run over 3:30 to take control in crunch time, 57-47.

Tuscola traveled driving into a double team and Cloe lobbed the ball to Boarman at the dish for two. Tuscola drove again and was defended. Cloe had the ball at the point, put a move on the defender to get separation and rose up for a jumper, 55-47. Cloe then got a steal at Tuscola's end. Boarman missed a 3, but Cloe got rebound position and scored inside against two defenders, 57-47 with 1:50 to play.

Tuscola made a pair of free throws, but Boarman and Smith followed with 1-of-2 trips each to still lead by ten with 1:13 to play, 59-49. Over the last minute Tuscola missed a pair at the stripe, hit a two and Shelby missed a pair of free throws. None of that changed the outcome as the late Ram run did the job.

Boarman led all scorers with 24 points, including four from downtown. He had eight in the first (2 treys) and eight in the fourth (6-of-10 free throws). Caine Cloe scored 17 of his 19 points in the second half. he had ten in the third, including 2 treys, then seven in the fourth (1 trey).

Shelbyville plays at Maroa on Friday, then returns home for a make-up game against Clinton on Saturday.

Varsity

Shelbyville 59, Tuscola 51

Shelby 17-9-15-18—59

Tuscola 10-10-17-14—51

Ram stats: Boarman 24 (3-2s, 4-3 pt FGs, 6/10 FTs), Cloe19 (4-2s, 3-3 pt FGs, 2/4 FTs), Fatheree 8 (4 FGs), Levi Pruemer 7 (2-2s, 1-3 pt FGs, 0/3 FTs), Smith 1 (1/2 FTs). Team FGs 21 (8-3 pt: Boarman 4, Cloe 3, Pruemer 1). Team FTs 9-of-19.

Tuscola stats: Lehman 14 (5 FGs, 4/4 FTs), Yoakum 12 (3-3 pt FGs, 3/4 FTs), Wienke 10 (5 FGs, 0/2 FTs), Shelmardine 5 (2 FGs, 1/3 FTs), Stark 4 (FG, 2/2 FTs), Pflum 2 (FG, 0/1 FTs), Meyer 2 (FG), Chas Little 2 (FG), Scribner (0/2 FTs). Team FGs 19 (3-3 pt: Yoakum). Team FTs 10-of-18.

Prior to the varsity tilt, the Rams JV lost a heartbreaker, 50-49.

It was a close game throughout, with the Rams taking a 2-point lead after one, 18-16. Tuscola cut it to one at the break, 28-27, then tied the game after three, 40-40. Down the stretch, Tuscola scored one better and got the win.

Clayton Baker led all scorers with 20 points, followed by Tuscola's Pankav with 18.

JV

Tuscola 50, Shelbyville 49

Tuscola 16-11-13-10—50

Shelby 18-10-12-9—49

Ram stats: Baker 20 (5-2s, 1-3 pt FGs, 7/10 FTs), Cody Langan 8 (3 FGs, 2/2 FTs), Brody Bence 7 (2 FGs, 3/4 FTs), Nate Standerfer 6 (2 FGs, 2/2 FTs), Jake Keown 4 (FG, 2/2 FTs), Darin Breeden 4 (2 FGs), Team FGs 16 91-3 pt: Baker). Team FTs 16-of-20.

Tuscola stats: Pankav 18 (8 FGs, 2/4 FTs), Meyer 10 (3-2s, 1-3 pt FGs, 1/2 FTs), Chas Little 8 (3 FGs, 2/3 FTs), Wienke 6 (2 FGs, 2/3 FTs), Ransom 5 (1-2, 1-3 pt FGs), Scribner 3 (3/4 FTs). Team FGs 19 (2-3 pt; Ransom, Meyer). Team FTs 10-of-16.