It was an foot-stomping recitation of “We Are Proud Of You” from the Mansfield Pep Club as the boys basketball squad ran back into the locker room after a solid 20-point victory over the Ava Bears on Homecoming Night.
The Lions, who entered the contest with a 6-4 record, didn’t start the game with a 20-point jump. They led their southern neighbors 12-9 after the end of the first quarter, and held steady to that 3-point lead through the half with a 24-21 lead going into the third quarter.
“We competed really hard, especially early in the game,” said longtime Mansfield head coach Terry Writer. “I thought the third quarter was really the turning point. Our defense held them and we had some kids step up and hit some key shots for us.”
Mansfield outscored Ava 16-2 in the third frame to take a 40-23 lead going into the final quarter of play. That quarter would prove to be the downfall for the Bears, leaving Mansfield with a 57-37 victory.
“I thought we matched their intensity in the first half, then in the third quarter we had a big scoring drought that pushed their lead out and it was hard to recover from that,” said Bears head coach Scott Payne.
Writer attributed some of the victory to his squad’s ball handlers.
“I thought Mason Roy and Justin Campbell, our two primary ball handlers, did a really good job of penetrating and making things happen,” he said.
Payne, conversely, gave his center extra accolades.
“Our starting center Austin Potts played pretty well. He was aggressive on the boards all night. he was guarding Caruso most of the night, which is kind of a tough assignment,” he said.
He also noted that senior Jessie Slavens hit key three-pointers for the Bears.
Mansfield junior Mason Roy led all scorers with 18 points. Senior Justin Campbell netted 15 points for the Lions, followed by 6’8” freshman Dylan Caruso with 14 points. Sophomore Trenton Emerick scored 4 points, while Bret Berry and Michael Tate each netted 3 points.
Senior Jessie Slavens scored 11 points for the Bears, followed by classmate Austin Potts with 6 points and junior Anthony Rosas with 5 points. Takoma Dobbs, Wyatt Gastineau, Caleb Johnson, Chase Dobson and Colton Skyles each netted 3 points.
The Ava Bears travel to Conway next Tuesday, Jan. 12, then host Thayer next Friday, Dec. 15, for their first SCA contest of the 2015-2016 season.
The Lions host the Sparta Trojans next Tuesday, then travel to Bradleyville next Friday.
