Columbia, Tenn. – The Shelbyville Central Golden Eagles (9-12, 4-1) kept pace with the District 9-AAAA leaders, Warren County, on Tuesday night with a hard-fought road win, 64-56, at Columbia Central (2-18, 1-5).

Jevon Lee led the way with a game-high 25 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter to help the Golden Eagles complete the second-half comeback. Jordan Taylor pitched in with 11 of his 15 points coming in the second half while Tae’Shawn Shelton was the only other Golden Eagle to reach double-digits, finishing with 10 points on the night. 

For Columbia Central, Isiah Humes scored a team-high 15 points in the loss as Shelbyville held him to just two points in the fourth quarter. DK Armstrong was the only other Lion to score in double-figures with 10 points. Akai Hunt finished with nine points as well.

The opening period saw both teams start slow offensively, and the score was tied, 11-11, at the end of the first quarter. Four different Golden Eagles scored a bucket, including Billy Brown Jr. knocking in his only three of the night off the bench after starting guard Malek Johnson was saddled with early foul trouble. Humes led all scorers in the frame with six points.

In the second quarter, Shelbyville continued to struggle offensively, scoring only eight points as a team. Lee led the way with six of his eight first-half points coming in the period, but Shelton was the only other Golden Eagle to register a field goal in the entire eight-minute stretch. The Lions held a three-point lead, 22-19, going into the halftime locker room.

To start the second half, both teams began to find their groove on offense. Six different Golden Eagles scored at least two points in the third quarter, highlighted by Lee’s team-high five points, but the Lions countered with five players of their own putting in at least one bucket apiece. Hunt, who scored all nine of his points in the second half, led the way for Columbia Central with five points while Armstron and Humes each connected on a pair of two-point field goals. Shelbyville outscored the hosts, 19-17, but still trailed by one point, 39-38, entering the final frame.

In the fourth quarter, both Lee and Taylor recognized the moment and began to take over. The lefty Lee exploded for 12 points in the period to finally put Shelbyville ahead for good, and then Taylor closed out the Lions by going 5/5 from the free-throw line. The visitors locked in defensively just long enough to outscore Columbia Central by nine points in the fourth, 26-17, to come away with the win, 64-56. 

Shelbyville was efficient at the free-throw line, finishing 13/17 at the charity stripe while the Lions were held to just nine attempts all night, finishing 7/9. 

The Golden Eagles improve to 9-12 (4-1) and will stay on the road on Friday night when they take on Coffee County in a rematch of the OT thriller from January 14th, LIVE on WLIJ 98.7 and AM 1580 starting at 5:45 p.m.