By Allen VanNess (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
With a mere 12 miles separating two neighboring schools, it is only natural for a friendly rivalry game to bring both towns together for one night. As fans from both schools packed the gym, it was the Mansfield Lions who held off the never say die mentality of the Hartville Eagles to win, 50-46, on Tuesday night.
The game began as a tale of two quarters that saw Mansfield get off to a sizzling start. Juniors Dylan Caruso and Payton Watterson led the way with six points each in the first quarter, which was capped off with a buzzer-beating three from senior guard Jacob Gray, giving the Lions a 10 point lead after one, 21-11.
“We had a combination of solid inside play early on, and we hit some outside shots along with a couple of breakaways,” said Mansfield head coach Terry Writer. “When you got both inside and outside going, it really helps.”
Caruso ended with a game-high 20 points, as Watterson added 14. The Eagles were led by senior Wyatt Ward with 15 points.
If Mansfield had any ideas of trying to put the game away early, the Eagles had other plans.
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Using a suffocating defense and a little spark off the bench from freshman guard Ryce Piper, the Eagles held Mansfield scoreless for nearly five minutes of the second quarter until Watterson finally got the Lions back on the board with 3:03 left, but Hartville had already cut the lead to three.
“Their pressure defense and some turnovers allowed Hartville to get back in the game,” Writer said. “Some of them were forced and some of them were unforced, and we just didn’t take care of the ball well enough.”
Much like the Lions in the first quarter, Hartville used a buzzer beater of their own by senior Wyatt Ward to end the first half and tie the game at 25 each.
“I told them it was a good first half, and we didn’t have much offense in the second quarter when we only scored four points,” said Writer. “I told them we were still in good shape and to stay positive, take care of the ball and work the ball inside.”
Giving the Eagles their first lead of the game early in the third quarter, neither squad could find much offense and both teams were held to single-digits in points in the quarter as the Eagles led 34-33 going into the fourth.
For the Lions, when their coach talked, they listened.
Scoring the first seven points of the final quarter, the Lions relied heavily on Caruso to help pull away from the Eagles.
“Dylan has good size and is a little quicker, and I think he took advantage of that as much as he could,” said Writer.
With Hartville having success the past few seasons over the Lions, Writer understands the mental hurdle can be tough to get over, and a win like they had Tuesday night can help the team’s confidence the rest of the season.
“I think it just helps our kids’ confidence,” Writer said of the win. “Hartville has been very successful the last several years and to win a game against them definitely builds our confidence.”
With the win, Mansfield improves to 9-4 on the season, while the Eagles fall to 12-4.
Next up, the Eagles travel to Marion C. Early on Jan. 12. The Lions begin a four game road trip when they go to Bradleyville on Jan. 12.
