Much like Friday’s semi-final match, the opponent lost the tip and the Dragons started with a stop. Unlike in their previous victory, Shelbyville did not capitalize and Lipan scored the first eight points of the game, including a pair of 3-pointers. With 4:41 to go in the 1st period, DJ Barnes got the scoring started with a floater in the lane. There was a lid on both baskets from that point on as both teams missed their next 12 shot attempts, finishing the quarter shooting a combined 23% from the field and Shelbyville trailing 10-3. 

To open the 2nd quarter, the patented Mathis to Frick assist got the scoring started and the Dragons drew first blood at the 7:27 mark. Shelbyville would get a big 3-pointer from Eli Ferguson off a Barnes assist with 4:45 to go in the 1st half. The next possession would see the Dragons extend their run to 8-0 with a Barnes steal, finish, and free throw. The Dragon faithful felt energized for the first time in the contest, but Lipan would answer with an Alberto Andreatta bucket. Barnes would add another steal and score with 2:55 to go in the half to make the score 17-15 Indians. That would be the score going into the locker rooms at halftime.  Shelbyville’s DJ Barnes and Lipan Indian guard Court Gaylor led the game with seven points a piece at the break. Ferguson and Frick each added 4 points for the Dragons. 

A potential Barnes 3rd steal and score was negated by a foul call two minutes into the half. Barnes then assisted to Ja’Davian Mathis for the first basket of the 2nd half at the 5:28 mark. Mathis’s free throw would give the Dragons their first lead of the contest at 18-17. A little over a minute later, Lipan would go up on a Tyson Tarpley 3-pointer. Mathis would answer on the ensuing possession to tie it at 20. The scoring kept heating up as Gaylor would connect with another three ball, and Barnes would score five straight to put Shelbyville up two. Lipan would respond with yet another 3-point basket. Barnes, who scored seven straight for Shelbyville, got a tough basket. After a Dragon turnover, Gaylor would put an exclamation mark on his hot shooting quarter with a deep bomb at the buzzer to make the score 32-27 Lipan after 24 minutes of game play. He ended the quarter going 3-4 from long range and scoring 9 points. 

With 8 minutes left to decide the season’s champion, Jon Jon Mathis would start the scoring with a three to close the gap and make the score 32-30. With limited scoring over the next 5 minutes, Tarpley would push the Indians lead to 42-32 with 2:09 to play. With no quit in them, the Dragons would respond with a Barnes assist to Frick and Coach Colton Wager would call a timeout to set up his full court press for the final 1:47. Having to foul down the stretch, the Dragons would put Lipan on the free throw line where they closed out the game 47-36. Shelbyville would only have one player score in double figures, Junior sensation DJ Barnes with 14 points.  

Although they did not bring home the gold, the Shelbyville Dragons boys basketball team made an impressive run through these UIL State Playoffs and made Shelby County proud. Congratulations to Coach Wager, the Dragons, and the entire Shelbyville community on a successful season.