Shelley holds off Century to pick up its first win of the season and avenge an earlier loss

IDAHO FALLS – How much can that first win of the season jump-start a team?

The Shelley boys basketball team is about to find out.

“We’ve been through the gauntlet,” Shelley coach Keegan Keller said after the Russets held off Century 52-48 in Saturday’s seventh-place game of the TitleOne Tip-off Classic. “We played three 6A schools and we played Century before, and Sandpoint is a good team.”

The 0-5 start is now history. The win also comes with a bit of redemption after Century beat Shelley 60-47 last week.

Shelley led 36-35 entering the fourth quarter on Saturday as Century’s offense went cold. The Russets took advantage, putting together a 9-2 run early in the fourth.

Alex Beck’s layup off a steal put Shelley up 45-37 and forced a timeout by the Diamondbacks (3-5).

Shelley hit just