SHELBYVILLE, IL. — Warrensburg was quicker than Shelbyville and it caused some problems for the Rams on Friday. Nevertheless, Shelbyville came back from a 5-point deficit at the half to win the defensive battle, 49-40.

Warrensburg ran out to a 7-0 lead to start the game, driving for two, getting up Hardin 3, and two free throws from Hardin. Ram Center dished to Jake Keown for two on the other side of the basket to get the Rams on the board after almost minute and a half of play, 7-2.

Warrensburg pressed the whole game, but the Rams handled it well. Warrensburg scored off a Ram turnover in the half court, but Bence once again cut to the basket. He missed but Darin Breeden made the put back. The Cardinals missed a 3 and Bence grabbed it and got it to Spencer Shadwell who was fouled on a drive. He made one free throw, 9-5 Cards.

W-L used their quick first step drive and dish to score. On the next trip Tucker Schwengel defended, then W-L missed a trey. In the Ram half-court, Bence got the ball at the free throw line and the lane was wide open. He broke to the basket and slammed a dunk, which wowed the fans and pumped up the Rams.

After another W-L 3 miss, Breeden was fouled in transition and made one shot, 11-8 Cards. W-L scored twice and the Rams trailed 15-8 after one.

The Rams had their feet under them and they further asserted themselves to start the second. Nate Standerfer buried a 3-pointer. W-L missed another 3 and Breeden was fouled in transition again, making both free throws to pull within two, 15-13.

W-L drove and dished again for two. The Rams got two offensive rebounds and Standerfer was fouled, makng both shots, 17-15. The Crads mad a free throw and then scored on a fast break to go up five again, 20-15.

Bence scored on a put back, W-L drove for two, then Shadwell made both ends of a 1-and-1. W-L stopped and popped and led at the half, 24-19.

W-L missed a 3 again to start the 3rd and Jake Keown threw a long pass to Breeden who scored on  reverse lay up, 24-21. W-L had a fast break off a turnover, but Breedn caught him and defended it out. Schwengel defended a shot and then grabbed the rebound. Bence was fouled at the Ram, made the field goal, but missed the free throw, making it a 1-point game, 24-23.

The Rams turned the Cards away with a foul then a Schwengel rebound. W-L made 1-of-2 foul shots on the next possession and led by two, 25-23. Breeden got a defensive board and Schwengel scored in transition. With 4:00 left in the 3rd, Shadwell faked a 3, drove and dished to Bence for a lay-up and the first Ram lead of the game, 26-25.

W-L scored twice for a 29-26 lead. Bence was fouled and made both free throws. W-L answered again, then Bret Peifer sank two Ram free throws. Shadwell stole the ball from a guard at the point and brought it back for two and the lead with 50 seconds in the 3rd, 32-31.

W-L scored to start the 4th, then Standerfer found Schwengel inside for a 34-33 lead. Two free throws put the Cards up for the final time with 6:31 to play. Standerfer answered with a 3-pointer and the Rams  took the lead for good, 37-25 with 6:08 to play.

Bence was fouled in transition and made both shots, 39-35. Schwengel got another defensive board and Shadwell scored in transition for a 6-point lead. Bence defended a shot and was fouled. He made both super bonus free throws and capped a 9-0 run for a 43-37 Ram lead with 4:00 to play.

Shelbyille had Warrensburg down, they just had to make sure they didn't let them up. They led 44-37, when Shadwell got a rebound at the rim and blew by the Cards coast to coast for two, proving the Cards may have been quicker side-to-side, but not faster end to end, 46-37.

W-L called time-out with 2:29 to play. The Cards missed another long shot and Standerfer made 1-of-2 free throws for a 10-point Ram lead, 47-37.

W-L missed another long shot and Standerfer split another pair at the stripe. Standerfer was hacked on a steal attempt and made 1-of-2 more foul shots for the largest Ram lead of the game with 37 seconds remaining, 49-37. The Cards got a free throw and a late steal for two to no avail.

Shelbyville finished the last six minutes of the game with a 15-5 run.

Bence led all scorers with 14 points, includng 6-of-7 at the line. Standerfer followed in double figures with 11, includng two treys and 5-of-8 from the line. Shadwell had nine with three buckets and 3-of-5 at the line.

Shelbyville shot 21-of-34 at the stripe and W-L shot just 9-of-12, giving the Rams an 11-point edge at the line in a 9-point win.  Warrensburg out-scored the Rams from the floor, 31-28.

Friday

Shelbyville 49, Warrensburg 40

W-L        15-9-7-9--40

Shelby   8-11-13-16--49

Ram stats: Bence 14 (4 FGs, 6/7 FTs), Standerfer 11 (2-3 pt FGs, 5/8 FTs), Shadwell 9 (3 FGs, 3/5 FTs), Breeden 7 (2 FGs, 3/4 FTs), Schwengel 4 (FG , 2/4 FTs), Keown 2 (FG), Peifer 2 (2/2 FTs). Team FGs 13. 3-Pointers: 2 (Standerfer). Team FTs 21-of-30.

W-L stats: Hardin 10 (1-2, 1-3 pt FGs, 5/6 FTs), Tucker 8 (4 FGs), Shea 8 (4 FGs), Bird 7 (2 FGs, 3/4 FTs), McKenzie 5 (2 FGs, 1/2 FTs), Duff 2 (FG). Team FGs 15. 3-Pointers: 1 (Hardin). Team FTs 9-of-12.