Andrews powers Eagles to big win

LEBANON -- It would be hard to convince Wilson Central that Emmanuel Andrews is not the best Class AAA player in the state after his 30-point performance Saturday night led Shelbyville Central to a 58-47 win in its gym in front of a large crowd.

Andrews started the game with a 3-pointer with less than a minute gone and then finished the quarter with a catch-and-shoot from deep in the corner off an inbounds pass to give his team a 16-14 lead.

The pace slowed somewhat as defenses began to take away some shot selection for both teams in the second frame. The Wildcats did manage a 9-0 run on the strength of Dee Oldham's six points and a trey by Nick Roy to take a brief lead but Andrews was having none of it.

The Mr. Basketball candidate scored 12 of the Golden Eagles' 13 points in the period with a variety of impressive moves and the visitors trotted to the locker room with a 29-26 halftime lead.

Shelbyville's defense stepped up in the third period with Bobby Wilson, Nathan Jefferies and Seth Jarrell dominating the paint and the boards to hold the opponent to a meager six points while Scotty Archibald, Jarrell, Jefferies, Andrews and Wilson contributed baskets to open a 41-32 advantage.

The Wildcats were not going to go away and Oldham and Malcolm St. Louis willed their teammates to within six points with four minutes to play. But they couldn't overcome the Eagles' combination of Wilson and Andrews, who combined for 12 points to maintain the lead.

Forced to foul, the Wildcats could only stand and watch as Shelbyville (13-9) connected on 8-of-9 shots from the charity stripe.

Andrews was the game's high scorer, including four 3-pointers. Wilson netted 11.

Oldham had 12 and Vanlandingham contributed 10 for the Wildcats.

District 8-AAA rival Tullahoma visits Shelbyville tonight.