The Mansfield Lions (11-5) came into the Sparta Trojans Basketball Classic semifinals with the intention of being the first team this season to knock off the Class 1 #2 state-ranked Walnut Grove Tigers. Sophomore guard Logan Thomazin and the rest of the Tigers (18-0), however, would have none of that as they cruised past the Lions 77-59 and into tomorrow night’s finals.
The Lions had no answer for Thomazin as he hit six threes and racked up a game-high 39 points. Thomazin was also able to get to the free throw line where he was 11-for-11 on the evening.
Thomazin was proud of his team’s performance against a tough Mansfield squad.
“I thought we played really well,” said Thomazin after the win. “We set the momentum. We set the pace. We like to run fast, and we like to shoot, and I feel like we shared the ball really well and got some good open shots.”
It took about a quarter for Thomazin to find his rhythm, but when he did, he made sure not to lose it.
“Shooter’s shoot, and I just kept shooting,” said Thomazin. “My teammates did a good job getting me open. I just kept shooting and eventually they fell.”
Mansfield looked like they were going to give Walnut Grove all they could handle when they took a one-point lead late in the first quarter. After the Tigers went on to score the next seven points and end the quarter with a three-point buzzer beater by junior guard Kyle Keith, Lions junior guard Mason Roy hit two free throws that brought the two teams to within one point early in the second quarter. That was as close as Mansfield would get the rest of the night as the Tigers were too much for them to handle and they proceeded to go on a 17-6 run to end the half and take a 44-30 lead into the locker room.
“I thought our kids played hard,” said Walnut Grove head coach Darin Meinders. “We hit shots. Logan [Thomazin] shot the ball extremely well and really carried us tonight.”
According to Meinders, Walnut Grove played the kind of game that they expect to play every night that they hit the hardwood. Walnut Grove forced Mansfield into 17 turnovers (with some of
those turnovers being caused by the Tigers aggressive full-court press), and Meinders had nothing but praise for his team for how well they played, especially defensively.
“The thing I was most proud of was our defensive effort, and the way that we went to the boards,” said Meinders. “Our kids play at a pace that we expect we are going to keep that pace up for four quarters. We hope at some point that we wear them down with our depth and defensive pressure. They believe in themselves, and they believe in the system, and they are seeing the rewards of what hard work will do for them.”
Jonah Williamson led the way for Mansfield with 14 points.
In what is sure to be an entertaining and hard-fought battle, Walnut Grove will meet the Fair Grove Eagles at 8:00 pm Saturday night in the tournament final.
Box Score
Mansfield 15 15 8 21—59
Walnut Grove 22 22 14 19—77
Mansfield – Jonah Williamson 14, Mason Roy 12, Justin Campbell 8, Spencer Greene 8, Dylan Caruso 6, Michael Tate 4, Trenton Emerick 3, Payton Watterson 3, Sean Neal 1
Walnut Grove – Logan Thomazin 39, Ryan Keith 10, Dallas Meinders 7, Kyle Keith 6, Cory Countryman 5, Hunter Gilkey 5, Jaron Dishman 5
The Forsyth Panthers (10-7) came into the Sparta Trojans Basketball Classic semifinal game wanting to avenge the 22-point loss to the Fair Grove Eagles suffered on Nov. 23 and secure a date with the Walnut Grove Tigers in the finals on Saturday night. The Eagles (15-3, ranked #3 in Class 3), though, proved once again to be too much for the Panthers as they dominated the game from start to finish and won 78-48.
The story of the game belonged to Fair Grove senior guard Kyle Cavanaugh as he scored 27 of his game-high 31 points in the first half. It was clear it was his night when he hit a desperation three at the buzzer to end the first quarter that put the Eagles ahead 27-13.
Fair Grove head coach Tim Brown understands that he has a special player in Cavanaugh.
“He’s a winner,” said Brown. “He’s a guy that any program would be lucky to have, whether high school or college, and I think people are taking note of that now. He’s got a big ‘W’ on his chest now because he’s a winner. He guarded one of their best players and caused havoc for us. He got out in transition and got to the basket and made some plays for his teammates. All of our guards did a good job of finding him. He can score in bunches, but when he is making plays for others, that’s what separates him from a lot of guards in our area.”
After halftime, the Panthers showed signs of life as they went on a 9-0 run early in the third quarter. Looking to slow down the momentum and settle down his team, Brown called a timeout that sparked a 17-2 run to end the quarter and end any chance the Panthers had at a comeback.
“[During the timeout], we just talked about doing your job,” said Brown. “The last thing we talked about coming out of the locker room was the most insignificant thing in basketball is the score at halftime, and we knew that the style and pace that Forsyth played that they were capable of scoring points. We talked about not allowing that to happen, and we just came to the bench and were accountable for it.”
The fourth quarter saw the Eagles gain their biggest lead of the night when junior forward Evan Fullerton hit a two-pointer that put them ahead 73-39.
Even though Cavanaugh may have grabbed the headlines, Brown knew it was a total team effort that led to the dominant victory.
“I thought our guys really came out and defended well and really rebounded the basketball,” said Brown. “We feel like when we get down in a stance and get five guys collectively guarding as a unit and rebounding the basketball it allows us to get out in transition and allows our athletes and our guards to use their strengths and abilities.”
Cavanaugh focused on his teammates and had only good things to say about his opponent.
“I thought we executed well,” said Cavanaugh. “We did very well on the offensive and defensive glass, and we passed the ball very well. I really enjoyed the intensity the other team brought. They are a good team, and I appreciate their game.”
Chase Davidson led Forsyth with 13 points.
The Fair Grove Eagles will take on the Walnut Grove Tigers in the championship game on Saturday night at 8:00 pm.
Box Score
Forsyth 13 14 11 10—48
Fair Grove 27 21 19 11—78
Forsyth – Chase Davidson 13, Jett Schanda 9, Cade Coleman 8, Trey Henson 6, Micaiah Rocha 6, Robbie Huggins 3, Austin Padgett 2, Risten Grady 1
Fair Grove – Kyle Cavanaugh 31, Evan Fullerton 15, Steven Huskey 11, Garrett Kesterson 10, Mason Kesterson 6, Jaryd Maggard 5
