MANSFIELD — Sweat streaked the edges of coach J.R. Wilson’s face while his players chewed on snippets of net Friday night at Temple Christian School.
The nectar of a regional championship was made that much sweeter for Mansfield Christian by an emotionally-charged crowd and a thrilling victory in the Ohio Christian School Athletic Association regional championship. The Flames edged crosstown rival Temple Christian 30-26 in a tense encounter that threatened to tilt either way in the final seconds.
“This was just an unbelievable atmosphere,” Wilson said after his team posed under the rim with a trophy and a mythical ticket to the Final Four. “I know someone always has to lose a game like this, but it feels good to be on the other end of one of these.”
Wilson and the Flames move into next week’s Christian Schools State Tournament at Circleville. A semifinal date, with a foe to be determined, is set for Friday at 3 p.m.
Getting there, however, was a ride not for the faint of heart.
Mansfield Christian burst out of the locker room and rolled to an 8-2 first-quarter lead. Wilson’s squad stretched the margin to a whopping 17-4 bulge at the half.
But just when it seemed the contest would veer into a laugher, the Crusaders responded with authority.
“We came out flat and a little nervous,” Temple Christian coach Paul Baird said. “We picked it up in the second half. We went into a 1-2-2 zone and we got some stops.”
The TC defense seemed to inspire its offense, and a role reversal turned into a 12-3 run. It was capped by junior Mia Vondriska’s five points to end the period, slicing the deficit to 20-16 heading to the final eight minutes.
From that point it was anyone’s game, and both squads showed signs of anxiety. Mansfield Christian made just 3 of 13 fourth-quarter field goals with four turnovers in the stanza. Likewise, Temple went 4 of 12 from the field with four turnovers.
But the Crusaders eventually took the lead when freshman phenom Jenna Wolford, who had seven points in the period, connected on her final bucket. That pushed Temple on top 25-24 with 2:40 showing.
However, TC suffered three consecutive turnovers and could not convert another field goal. The Crusaders managed just a free throw the rest of the way.
“I told the girls this was going to come down to free throws and layups, and unfortunately for us it did,” Baird said. “We were 3 of 13 at the line, and that’s the ball game.”
Meanwhile, Mansfield Christian senior Heidi Smith got inside for a hoop to push the Flames back in front 26-25 at the 1:54 mark. On the ensuing possession, Smith grabbed an offensive rebound and stroked a free throw for a 27-25 lead.
Temple junior Grace Custer countered with a free throw to draw her squad within a point, but the second shot rimmed out and the Flames grabbed the board. Allie Maiyer was fouled with 17 seconds to play and calmly drained both ends of a one-and-one to make it 29-26.
A potential game-tying trey by the Crusaders again spun out and when Mansfield Christian senior Abigail Steensland snatched the board, she was immediately fouled. Steensland’s clutch free throw with four seconds remaining finished it.
Smith topped the Flames with nine points, while Ashley and Allie Maiyer each had seven.
“Heidi Smith has been huge for us all year,” Wilson said. “Allie is a team captain, she doesn’t show much emotion but she’s in control of things for us. Those were two huge free throws she hit at the end.”
Wolford was the only player on either team to crack double figures with 14, while Vondriska and Kissinger each had five.
“I saw Jenna at the beginning of the year and she’s really improved as the season has gone along,” Wilson said.
The Flames will take an 8-12 record to next week’s Final Four. Mansfield Christian was knocked out of the Ohio High School Athletic Association tourney last week.
Meanwhile, Temple Christian finished a fine season at 17-5.
“Mansfield Christian is a good team,” Baird said. “They play a lot of public schools so we knew they’d be tough.
“I’m proud of our girls for all we achieved. We were state runner-up (in this tournament) last year and we were hoping to go back (to the Final Four). But tonight just wasn’t our night.”
