There's clutch and then there's what Spencer Greene did on Saturday.
He's not the most athletic player ever, but the son of longtime coach Gary Greene understands shooting the basketball.
Despite attempting just 16 free throws all year, making just 63% of them, the younger Greene knocked down four clutch free throws to help Mansfield knock off Bakersfield 52-47 to win the Class 2 – District 10 championship.
Mansfield was 1-for-3 at the foul line in the quarter before Greene stepped up.
“I’ve shot quite a few free throws in my time and we’ve spent a lot of time in the gym shooting,” said Greene. “I knew I was going to hit them. We’d missed a few in a row and I figured it was my turn. I knew I could make them so I just held the ball until they fouled me.
You want to cry because you’re so happy and excited but you can’t. To hit those free those to keep us up and help win a district championship, at home, is the greatest feeling of my life so far.”
Setting up Greene's free throws was one of the best quarters Mansfield has played this season.
Fueled by 6-foot-8 freshman Dylan Caruso, the host Lions rallied from a 42-36 deficit entering the fourth quarter, taking their first lead of the game on Caruso's jump hook, 45-43.
After battling early foul trouble, Caruso scored six of his 11 points in the pivotal fourth quarter. He also blocked eight shots for Mansfield.
“He’s a talented kid, but he get down on himself because he wants to do everything perfectly but he’s just a freshman and he puts so much pressure on himself,” said Writer. “He relaxed and really got going there late and with him success just leads to more success.”
Bakersfield senior Wyatt Summers kept the Lions in position to tie the game late, with his layup bringing Bakersfield within one, 48-47 with 30 seconds to play.
The 6-foot-4 senior scored 14 points for Bakersfield, including the only five fourth-quarter points the Lions scored.
“Wyatt is a really good player and he’s really unselfish which means he’s just a great kid,” said Writer. “We got in foul trouble with our bigs so we ended up putting Mason Roy, our point guard, on him and he did a great job. We also gave him some great backside help. Wyatt is a fine player.”
On the ensuing possession Greene swished home a pair of free throws. On the game's final play junior guard Mason Roy jumped a passing lane and went coast-to-coast for the game's final scoring, sealing it with an exclamation point. Mansfield outscored Bakersfield 16-5 in the final eight minutes.
Roy scored a game-high 16 points. Joe Vaughn led Bakersfield with 15, 12 of which came in the first half.
The win gives Mansfield another shot at Summit rival Hartville. The Eagles won the Class 2 – District 9 championship with a 52-31 win over Newburg on Friday night.
Mansfield lost to Hartville, at home, 70-26 in the regular season. The Lions are eager to get another shot at the No. 1 team in Class 2.
“Getting another shot at Hartville after being embarrassed on our home floor is all we’ve wanted,” said Greene. “I can guarantee that we won’t come out and lay another goose egg like we did against them the first time. Other than a district championship it’s all we’ve wanted.”
Mansfield 52, Bakersfield 47
Bakersfield 18-11-13-5 – 47
Mansfield 9-13-14-16 – 52
Bakersfield: Vaughn 15, Summers 14, Murphy 9, Grayham 7, Roberts 2.
Mansfield: Roy 16, Caruso 11, Greene 7, Williamson 7, Campbell 6, Watterson 3, Emerick 2.
