The Mansfield Lions picked up a statement win by taking down Thayer 71-62 in the Cabool Tournament Championship on Thursday. Thayer was ranked No. 4 in Class 3 in the most recent Missouri Basketball Coaches Association poll.
The Lions, led by tournament MVP Tom Emerick, jumped out to a 15-11 lead on the Bobcats after the first quarter. Thayer cut the lead to 25-23 at the half.
Out of the break, Emerick and fellow all-tournament team member London Dennis went to work for the Lions. Emerick scored 10 of his game-high 26 points in the third quarter. Dennis knocked down three 3-pointers in the frame as Mansfield scored 25 points in the quarter to take a 50-43 lead after three quarters.
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Mansfield outscored Thayer 21-19 in the final quarter on the way to the victory.
Dennis scored 19 points for Mansfield knocking down five 3-pointers. Stone Sawyers also finished in double figures for the Lions with 11 points.
All-tournament team members Aidan Burns (21 points) and Devin Harrington (15 points) led Thayer. Rowan Spencer also finished in double figures with 13 points in the game.
Emerick averaged 19.25 points per game in the tournament.
Mansfield improved to 11-0 on the season.
ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM
Tom Emerick – Mansfield (MVP)
Landen Campbell – Mansfield
London Dennis – Mansfield
Devin Harrington – Thayer
Aidan Burns – Thayer
Keyton Cook – Licking
Terrell Gaines – Liberty
Cooper Vaughn – Norwood
Josh Shockley – Cabool
Andrew Buschman – Summersville
Rylan Steele – Alton
CHAMPIONSHIP: Mansfield 71, Thayer 62 – FINAL – PHOTOS
M: Tom Emerick 26, London Dennis 19, Stone Sawyers 11, Chase Cartwright 10, Landen Campbell 3, Chase Kelley 2
T: Aidan Burns 21, Devin Harrington 15, Roawn Spencer 13, Easton Pitts 8, Brandon Prince 5
THIRD PLACE: Norwood 78, Licking 74 – FINAL – PHOTOS
N: Gavin McGraw 30, Cooper Vaughn 19, Peyton McDaris 12, Carder Kelly 9, Riley Stidham 6, Gunner Bradshaw 2
L: Rostan Stockard 20, Austin James 19, Keyton Cook 15, Carter Sullins 13, Cole Wallace 4
FIFTH PLACE: Liberty 78, Summersville 44 – FINAL
L: Drew Ripko 26, Terrell Gaines 22, Gavin Reese 9, Carter Pruett 8, Lucas Frazier 8, Parker Tune 4, Brady Rutledge 1
S: Tristan Duncan 25, Andrew Buschman 11 Josh Prisco 6, Hayden Summers 2
CONSOLATION: Alton 72, Salem 46 – FINAL
A: Ryan Steele 20, Landon Huckabee 12, Dillon Weyland 11, Cole Trantham 10, Marcus Cockrum 10, Cory Miller 7, River Haddock 2
S: Bryson May 25, Gunner Konkel 12, Hayden Sanders 3, Kaiden Gately 2, Trethan Richter 2
NOTE: We would like to thank Cabool Holiday Tournament scorekeeper John Stone II for submitting scorebooks for every game of the Cabool Tournament. His help was invaluable in covering this tournament.