SHELBY — The Shelby Whippets never suffered a loss on their home court this season.
Shelby (21-2) earned its 10th and final home victory Friday with a 76-40 dismissal of Vermilion in a Division II sectional championship.
Senior Casey Lantz led the Whippets with a team-high 15 points to go with 5 rebounds, 3 steals and 3 assists.
Entering their postseason journey on a 14-game winning streak, the top-seeded Whippets punched their ticket to a district semifinal game next week.
Shelby coach Greg Gallaway said his team is hungry for more.
“This is step one,” he said. “It’s what we wanted to take care of. Our goal was to not lose on this court all year and they were able to accomplish that tonight.”
Homan gives Shelby a ‘huge spark’
The Sailors (6-17) led 6-5 halfway through the first quarter before Shelby began to hit its stride offensively.
Outscoring Vermilion 18-7 in the final five minutes of the first quarter, the Whippets fought to a 12-point advantage.
Shelby jogged to the locker room up 36-24 at halftime after both teams added 12-points in the second quarter.
The Whippets forced 21 Vermilion turnovers and grabbed 13 offensive rebounds. Shelby won the rebound battle 35-16.
Shelby junior Karsen Homan was responsible for 14 of his teams’ 35 boards.
A 6-foot-4 forward, Homan snatched 8 offensive rebounds and 6 defensive boards to go with 14 points, 4 assists, 3 steals and a block.
Gallaway said the junior provided a huge spark for his team in the second half.
“That’s what he does,” he said. “It’s usually contagious when he plays so hard. It was good to see him get other guys going.”
Brayden DeVito backed Homan with 14 points, while Alex Bruskotter and Issaiah Ramsey each had 11. Four additional Whippets scored at least a bucket.
Whippets sail past Vermilion in second half
After a 23-point third quarter, the Whippets’ lead ballooned to 31-points as Shelby’s fast-paced offense continued to flex its muscles.
Shelby drained 27-of-55 field goals and shot nearly 83 percent from the free throw line.
The Whippets were challenged to exit halftime energized, said Gallaway, who was proud of the way his team responded.
“Vermilion did a good job finishing the second quarter on a run,” he said. “They got a little bit of momentum going into the second half.
“We challenged our guys at the half to try to answer the call and come out with increased physicality. I thought we did that.”
Under a running clock, Shelby cruised to victory in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Sailors 17-12.
Shelby ready for ‘next step’
The Whippets’ sites are now set on March 7 when they’ll take on fifth-seeded Mansfield Senior in a Division II district semifinal at 6 p.m.
The game will be the first of a doubleheader at Ontario High School. The Tygers defeated fourth-seeded Bellevue 57-48 Friday night.
Second-seeded Lexington will face #3 Willard in the evening’s second game around 7:30 p.m.
After cutting down the net Friday night, Gallaway said preparation for their meeting with Mansfield Senior starts Saturday morning.
“I think playing through physicality is one thing we’ve got to get better at,” he said. “We’ll need to take care of the basketball. We know we’re going to see pressure.
“We’ll need to find ways to get energy on a neutral court. Our guys have got to be locked in this week and be ready for that challenge.”
Vermilion at Shelby Highlight Reel
