JOHN CURTIS - Daily Union Sports Editor
For the second time in three days, Sullivan beat Shelbyville in what was essentially a home-and-home series. Sullivan beat Shelby in a regular season contest in Shelbyville on Tuesday, then played the Rams again in Sullivan on Friday in the first round of the OVC tourney and won, 67-56.
Sullivan shot the lights out right out of the gate, scoring 29 points in the first 8:00. Shelby scored 15 points, but were reeling. Both teams caught their breath in the second period, but Sully still pushed the lead out to 17 points at the break, 41-24.
After the pause, Sullivan still had the momentum and extended the lead out to 22 points. The Rams were given up for dead, but they weren't dead yet. They put on their own charge to try close the gap. They went on a 23-12 run and did close the gap to eleven points, before the bell tolled defeat.
Even though Sullivan won the game, Caine Cloe once again tried to put the team on his back, and carry the offense. Cloe scored a game-high and season-high 28 points. Cloe scored 16 of his points in the final 8:00, 16 of the Rams' 23 points in the late comeback attempt, including 6-of-7 from the line in crunch time.
OVC Tourney
Sullivan 67, Shelbyville 56
Sully 29-12-14-12--67
Shelby 15-9-9-23--56
Ram stats: Cloe 28 (6-2s, 3-3 pt FGs,7/8 FTs), Fathere 14 (6 FGs, 1/2 FTs), Pruemer 6 (3 FGs), Langan 6 (3 FGs), Baker 2 (FG). Team FGs 20 (3-3 pt: Cloe 3). Team FTs 9-of-14.
Sully stats: Frerichs 19 (4-2s, 3-3 pt FGs, 2/2 FTs), Bowman 16 (5-2s, 1-3 pt FGs, 3/5 FTs), Marks 13 (4 FGs, 5/5 FTs), Righter 9 (2-2s, 1-3 pt FGs, 2/4 FTs), Pearcy 4 (2 FGs), Raboin 4 (2 FGs), Pugear 2 (FG).
*Watch for web updates and the Daily Union print edition for complete story, stats and photos.
