Midway through the third quarter and clinging to a five-point lead, Shawnee’s boys basketball team dug deep with four consecutive 3-pointers from four different players. In the process, Shawnee put Tippecanoe in a hole.

Shawnee stormed to a 19-point lead late in the third, then held off another Tipp rally for a 64-56 win Friday night. The Central Buckeye Conference win helped Shawnee (7-1, 3-0 CBC) keep pace with Tecumseh (4-0) atop the Kenton Division. Tipp (7-2, 1-2) fell two games back.

“I love coming in here and winning. It’s the best feeling,” said Shawnee senior Jaelin Williams, who had 22 points and three intimidating blocks. “There’s only 10 games in the CBC so if you can get ahead it’s good. (The league) is still open though.”

Shawnee — which hosts Tecumseh next Friday — used a 15-2 run in the third to grab its largest lead, 45-26, with 1:38 left in the quarter. After sophomore Jaden Greenwood scored Shawnee’s first three baskets to start the half, teammates Andrew Young, Williams, Andrew Tincher and Greenwood hit consecutive 3-pointers to blitz the Red Devils.

Greenwood’s season-high 23 points led the Braves.

“(Greenwood) played well, he played assertive and we need that from some guys,” said Shawnee coach Chris McGuire.

Tipp rallied in the fourth behind senior Nick Fischer’s four 3-pointers. He scored 14 of his 19 points in the fourth and junior Sean Ford added 10 of his team-high 21 points in the quarter as Tipp pulled within seven twice, the last coming with 52 seconds left.

“We’ve had a lot of close games and I think that’s helped us,” said McGuire, whose team’s previous three games had been decided by four, one and two points. “When the Fischer kid is knocking down the 3s, we kept our poise and got a couple good buckets. Good team win for us.”

The loss was a blow to the Red Devils’ CBC title chances. Tipp already lost to co-leader Tecumseh 44-43 on Dec. 14.

“We’ve got a lot (of basketball still) to play,” Tipp coach Marcus Bixler said. “We’ll get back to work and we’ll get better. I can sense the frustration with the guys tonight and the urgency.”