The best sharpshooters find ways to get open for their stroke.

It can come off many scenarios: a screen, an extra pass, a size mismatch or an isolation move to find the perfect shot.

When their name is called for a score, they deliver.

They thrive on pressure. Consistently.

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During the 2014-15 boys basketball season, few shooters in Jackson County compared to Brownstown Central’s Jacoby Shade.

Shade, listed at six-foot and 190 pounds, shot an impressive 52 percent from the field and 43 percent from 3-point range. He also shot a single-season school-record of 89 percent from the free throw line this season to tally 362 points.

“(Shade) has got a high, quick release that he can get his shot over smaller players,” Braves coach Dave Benter said. “He’s so efficient, he doesn’t need a lot of shots to get his points. I’ve coached some really good shooters and he’s as good, or better than them, when he gets that space.”

On top of leading the Braves in scoring, Shade also led the Braves with 128 rebounds.

Shade made the 1st team All-Mid-Southern Conference and Graber Post All-Tournament team by the end of the season on top of team awards.

With his accomplishments this season, The Tribune has named Shade the 2015 Boys Basketball Player of the Year.

Stepping into a bigger role

Following a successful sophomore season, Shade exploded onto the Class 3A basketball scene during this recently completed season.

In his sophomore year, Shade scored 270 points, paired with 94 rebounds, 15 assists and 25 steals. He averaged 11.3 points and 3.9 rebounds.

Heading into this season, the Braves had to replace 18-point-per-game scorer Chaz Schneider, who graduated.

Once this year’s roles were established by the Braves’ coaching staff, Shade’s name was immediately put to the forefront for carrying the scoring load.

“That’s one of the first things we do (in the season), is establish roles,” Benter said. “I think everyone on the team knows (Shade’s) ability to shoot and score. He knows we need that, and I challenged him early on to step up that and rebounding. As the season went on he got better in that department.”

The campaign

Following a 10-point performance in the Braves’ opener against Salem, Shade scored 19 on Dec. 5 against Seymour.

From then-on, he and fellow-junior Zach McCory nearly led the Braves in scoring every night, mixed in with a few top performances from big man Cam Shoemaker.

Shade scored in double-figures in all but one game during the season with his highest-point total coming Feb. 6 against Clarksville.

On the night, he netted 28 points behind three 3-pointers while making all three of his free throws from the line for a career-high performance.

The Braves finished 17-4 on the season.

From Dec. 12 to Jan. 9 the Braves won seven-straight games, including the team’s third Graber Post Buildings Classic Championship.

Two of the team’s losses came to conference-rival Silver Creek, who went on to beat the Braves before winning the sectional and gaining a regional appearance.

The other losses came to Class 4A schools Bedford North Lawrence in overtime and Columbus East.

Top-scorer, team player

At any level of basketball, the best shooters need a strong supporting cast for team success.

While Shade often looked for his shot, he also distributed the ball finishing with 43 assists.

Many of Shade’s points came off assists from guards McCory, who led the team with an impressive 108 dimes, and senior Collin DeHart.

If it didn’t come from the wings, the passes came out of the post from Shoemaker.

One of the area’s coach Benter wanted to see Shade improve upon was his defensive abilities.

Shade got better defensively as the season progressed, Benter said, and he was pleased with the growth.

The Braves rely on stout defense every year, as it’s one of Benter’s highest-priorities for on-court success.

A versatile guard-forward combo, Shade picked up 27 steals on the defensive end.

Now, in a new upperclassmen position, Shade found new leadership roles.

“He’s a very polite and unselfish guy,” Benter said. “He would never cause any waves on the team. He gets along well with everyone.”

Heading into senior year

With all but one starter returning to the Braves’ lineup for 2015-16, Shade is poised for another big year.

A handful of the Braves’ players, including Shade, will play travel basketball leading up to the season to stay sharp.

With the young group’s roles tentatively established, the Braves have a lot to get excited about in the coming year.

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Zach McCory, Jr. – Brownstown Central

275 total points, 13.8 ppg

97-196, FG 49%

53-65, FT 82%

86 rebounds, 4.3 rpg

108 assists, 5.4 apg

36 steals, 1.75 spg

1st team All-Mid-Southern Conference, Graber Post Buildings All-Tournament team

Cam Shoemaker, Jr. – Brownstown Central

266 total points, 12.7 ppg

100-178, FG 56%

58-83, FT 70%

126 rebounds, 6.0 rpg

55 assists, 2.7 apg

26 steals, 1.3  spg

All-Mid-Southern Conference Honorable Mention,Graber Post Buildings Classic All-Tournament team

Eli Mollet, Jr. – Crothersville

233 total points, 10.6 ppg

82-168, FG 49%

68-99, FT 69%

179 rebounds, 8.1 rpg

22 assists, 1.0 apg

23 steals, 1.0 spg

Jordan Schoenfelder, Sr. – Crothersville

231 total points, 9.6 ppg

79-185, FG 43%

71-109, FT 65%

151 rebounds, 6.3 rpg

28 assists, 1.2 apg

24 steals, 1.0 spg

1st team All-Southern Athletic Conference

Kam Flynn, Jr. – Medora

276 total points, 12.0 ppg

100-258, FG 38.2%

28-46, FT 61%

66 rebounds, 2.9 rpg

72 assists, 3.1 apg

36 steals, 1.6 spg

Jalen Beesley, Jr. – Medora

225 total points, 9.4 ppg

74-199, FG 37.2%

48-65, FT 74%

68 rebounds, 2.8 rpg

37 assists, 1.5 apg

22 steals, 0.9 spg

Toriek Miller, Jr. – Seymour

382 total points, 18.2 ppg

105-252, FG 42%

125-154, FT 81%

58 rebounds, 2.2 rpg

assists 62, 3.0 apg

39 steals, 1.9 spg

1st team All-Hooiser Hills Conference

Isaiah Thomas, Sr. – Seymour

207 total points, 9.4 ppg

77-140, FG 53%

52-78, FT 67%

119 rebounds, 6.1 rpg

7 assists, 0.3 apg

10 steals, .5 spg

All-Hoosier Hills Conference Honorable Mention

Toby VanLiew, Sr. – Trinity Lutheran

285 total points, 11.9 ppg

101-188, FG 54%

72-105, FT 69%

164 rebounds, 6.8 rpg

52 assists, 2.2 apg

31 steals, 1.3 spg

Luke Stuckwisch, Sr. – Trinity Lutheran

260 total points, 10.8 ppg

88-200, FG 44%

48-61, FT 79%

66 rebounds, 2.8 rpg

126 assists, 5.3 apg

66 steals, 2.8 spg

Daniel Horton, Jr. – Trinity Lutheran

378 total points, 15.8 ppg

134-262, FG 51%

102-137, FT 74%

167 rebounds, 7.0 rpg

45 assists, 1.9 apg

37 steals, 1.5 spg

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Collin DeHart, Sr. – Brownstown Central

Dakota Mount, Sr. – Crothersville

Ty Christensen, Sr. – Seymour

Kirk Stewart, Sr. – Medora

Jacob Christopher, Sr. – Trinity Lutheran

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Jackson County Player of the Year

Jacoby Shade

Brownstown Central

Junior

2014-15 boys basketball season

362 total points, 17.2 ppg

129/246, FG 52%

53/122, 3 pt FG 43%

51/57 FT 89% (BCHS school record)

128 rebounds, 6.1 rpg

43 assists, 2.0 apg

27 steals, 1.3 spg

1st team All-Mid-Southern Conference, Graber Post Buildings Classic All-Tournament team

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“He’s so efficient. He doesn’t need a lot of shots to get his points. I’ve coached some really good shooters and he’s as good, or better, when he gets that space.”

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