The top-seeded Mansfield Lions picked up win number 20 on Thursday night as they held off a second-half surge from the Norwood Pirates in the Class 2, District 10 semifinals, 61-42.
“It was pretty much a team effort,” said Mansfield head coach Terry Writer. “Jonah Williamson hit some big shots for us in the first half, and then we struggled there for a while in the third quarter and missed a bunch of free throws that really gave them an opportunity to get back in it. I thought Justin Campbell also played well and wanted the ball late and did a good job there, but it was pretty much one of those team effort type of wins.”
After handily defeating Dora in the first round of district play Tuesday night, it looked as though the Lions were going to cruise to another victory.
Norwood wouldn’t go quietly, however.
Down by as many as 17 points early in the second half, the Pirates came soaring back thanks in large part to the hot-shooting and stellar play of Weston Chadwell and Rodney Dawson throughout the third quarter.
After scoring three of his eight points in the quarter on a shot from the wing, Chadwell and the Pirates suddenly found themselves down only six.
But Mansfield wouldn’t back down.
After missing five of their eight free throw opportunities in the third quarter, the fourth quarter saw the Lions feed 6’8” freshman Dylan Caruso inside, while also hitting 14 of their 18 free throw shots to ultimately put the game away.
“We just needed to hit some shots and start making a few free throws, and we did in the fourth quarter that really helped spread the score a little bit late,” Writer said.
Caruso finished with a game high 23 points and Williamson added 14 for the Lions, while Chadwell ended the game with 16 points with Dawson adding 13.
Even though it was not what Writer would class a “pretty” win for his Lions, when it comes tournament time, a win is a win.
“This time of the year you just have to survive,” Writer said. “You just want to win and sometimes you look real good winning and sometimes you don’t but getting the win is the main thing.”
Mansfield will play for the Class 2, District 10 championship on Feb. 27 at 7:30 pm against the Bakersfield Lions who defeated Sparta in their semifinal game.
Norwood 11 5 18 8—42
Mansfield 18 11 10 20—61
Norwood: Weston Chadwell 16, Rodney Dawson 13, Max Malone 9, Joel Ogletree 4
Mansfield: Dylan Caruso 23, Jonah Williamson 14, Mason Roy 12, Justin Campbell 10, Shelby Greene 2
