The Mansfield Christian Lady Flames were able to hold off the Crestline Lady Bulldogs in Northwest Girls Division 4 Sectional semi-final action on Tuesday night at O-rena in Ontario. It was the Lady Flames first tournament victory since the 2005-2006 season.
“I am proud of our girls. It is the first sectional win since 2006 and this is something to really start building a future on,” said Lady Flames head coach J.R. Wilson
The Flames certainly do have a bright future with a team that dressed only two seniors for their sectional semi final game. But those two seniors seemed to make all of the difference for the Lady Flames especially when they needed to make a big play. Forward Emily Smith poured in 11 points and tore down seven rebounds, while guard Mariah Stearns provided a sure handle on the basketball while Crestline put on their full court press.
“We started off very slow against these guys the last time we played them and I told our girls that we needed a fast start. Our senior leadership had a major boost tonight,” added Coach Wilson
The game was close up until the final three minutes of the game. The Lady Flames would win every quarter to keep building on an early five point lead that grew as big as 12 late in the third quarter. The Lady Bulldogs would use an 8-3 run early in the fourth quarter to pull with in five.
Then, the Lady Flames used a 6-0 run to close out the game and earn a 43-30 victory to punch their ticket to the Sectional Championship.
As much as the present picked up their intensity, the future showed what Mansfield Christian fans have to look forward to for the next couple of years. Sophomore Addie Daugherty led all scorers with 14 points and ripped down 15 rebound for her second consecutive double-double. Freshman Allie Maiyer chipped in with four but was a difference maker when she managed the game and was able to break the Lady Bulldog press by just dribbling through and setting up the offense.
Mansfield Christian will take on the top seeded, one loss South Central Lady Trojans on Saturday in Ontario.
Coach Wilson plans to keep it simple against South Central. “They are a great team but we are going to just have to stick to the basics. Tough defense and hopefully we have a shot coming down the stretch. I am looking forward to our girls playing for a Sectional Championship.”
