Kadin Crastina and Griffen Robinette both scored 18 points as Clear Fork secured its first win of the season by bouncing Mansfield Christian (74-59) at the Furnace in non-league play on Saturday night.
The Colts hits three three point baskets in the final 1:35 of the first quarter, by three different players, Chrastina, Matt South and Lee Snyder, outscoring the Flames 12-4 during that stretch and taking a 26-14 lead after the first quarter.
Clear Fork coach Steven Bechtel said they really wanted to take the ball to the basket. “I thought we were aggressive Friday night too, but they picked up the pressure and we weren’t very good at handling it. [Saturday] night we were a lot more aggressive. We knew we wanted to get the ball inside. Our kids really stepped up and did that for us,” said Bechtel.
Mansfield Christian cut the lead to 35-27 with 3:17 left in the half on two free three throws by freshman B.J. Patrick, but could get no closer as Clear Fork led 43-30 at the half.
Flames coach John Kurtz says they just couldn’t keep Clear Fork out of the lane. “We had trouble controlling dribble penetration that was a problem the entire night,” he said.
Clear Fork out rebounded Christian 28-19, Chrastina had 10. Bechtel says against the smaller Flames they wanted get on the boards. “We told the kids we had a size advantage and we don’t have one of those very often and we wanted to really take advantage of that,” he said.
With the ability to take the ball to the basket Clear Fork made 27 of 46 field goals for 59 percent. The Flames shot it pretty well too, going 19 of 34 for 56 percent and they made six of 17 three point attempts.
Saddled with some foul trouble, Chrastina scored only one basket after halftime, but Bechtel says the were able to get some points from other sources and that is going to be important for them as the rest of the season unfolds. “Kadin and Griffen each had great individual nights and when they go, we go. Matt ended up with double digits, Brad Studenmund had double digits and I think Lee Snyder had eight. We have got to get those contributions for those other guys when they really try to slow down Kadin and Griffen,” said Bechtel.
In the second half, the Flames could get no closer than the final margin of 15 points. Kurtz says when they were able to put some plays together the Colts were always able to respond it seemed.
“I thought the biggest thing was a every time we seemed to make a run they would beat us off the dribble,” he said.
Brandon Mount led Mansfield Christian scorers with 18 points. The Flames didn’t have anyone else in double figures on the night.
Turnovers had been an issue for the Colts this season, but Bechtel thought they handled it pretty well, at least for the first three quarters of the game. “We handled the ball pretty well in the first quarter, second quarter, third quarter. It was a little shaky there at the end of the game. I think the kids did a great job of stepping up tonight, especially after coming off a tough loss to Ashland (Friday) night,” he said.
Ashland handled the Colts on Friday night 65-41.
Clear Fork (1-2,0-1) returns to Ohio Cardinal Conference action at Madison (3-1,1-0) on Friday night.
Mansfield Christian (2-2,1-0), the defending “MBC” champion, plays host to Lucas (0-2,0-1) in a Mid-Buckeye Conference game on Friday.