MANSFIELD — The new-look Spartans were sportier, sleeker and boasted more horsepower under the hood.
Point guard Adam Blunk scored on a layup with about a minute remaining and St. Peter’s, bolstered by the debuts of Kyle Osgar and Tyson Kent, held on for a thrilling 55-53 win over short-handed Mansfield Christian in a battle of Mid-Buckeye Conference unbeatens at Mansfield Christian’s Furnace.
The Spartans improved to 7-5 and took sole possession of first place in the MBC at 4-0. Mansfield Christian dipped to 5-4, 3-1.
As per the new Ohio High School Athletic Association transfer rules, both Osgar and Kent had to sit out the first 11 games of the season. Osgar, a 6-foot-2 junior, transferred from Madison while the 5-foot-9 Kent, a sophomore and the son of Mansfield Senior great Ahmed Kent, came over from Senior High.
“We’re a lot different with those guys playing,” Blunk said. “Our tempo is so much faster. We’re deeper and we have more options.”
The 5-foot-8 Blunk wasn’t necessarily the first option as time wound in Friday’s back-and-forth affair — the game featured 11 lead changes and three ties. The Spartans trailed 53-52 when the senior knifed into the lane and knocked in what proved to be the game-winner.
“It was just a scramble play, not something we had drawn up,” said Blunk, who scored seven of his nine points in the fourth quarter. “I just drove and tried to make something happen.”
Mansfield Christian misfired with about 30 seconds remaining and eventually was forced to foul, but the Spartans missed the front end of a one-and-one. Given new life, the Flames nearly turned the ball over but regained possession and called timeout with 4.2 seconds remaining. MCS got a good look on the inbounds play under its own basket, but Brandon Mount’s layup attempt rimmed out. Kent grabbed the rebound and split a pair of free throws with less than a second remaining.
“They got a few good looks,” St. Peter’s coach Joe Jakubick said. “Sometimes the ball bounces your way. We were fortunate that it bounced our way tonight.”
Freshman Mason Campbell led St. Peter’s with 13 points Blunk, Ryan Payne and Jared Jakubick each had nine, while Osgar added seven.
Mount, who gave the Flames a 53-52 lead with an offensive and rebound and putback just before Blunk’s game-winner, scored 11 of his game-high 17 points in the fourth quarter. Abe Jessee and Kendall Cross each had 10.
“Really we had a pretty good look there at the end,” Mansfield Christian coach John Kurtz said. “Sometimes it bounces your way and sometimes it doesn’t.”
Illness and Injury: Mansfield Christian was without starter Jared McPeek. The freshman guard is sidelined with pneumonia.
The Flames lost senior Ryan Smith to a knee injury. Smith right knee buckled as he drove to the basket in the first quarter and he landed awkwardly. He had to be helped from the floor.
“Overall our kids were resilient,” Kurtz said. “We lost two kids tonight and we were still able to make it a close game at the end.”
Tournament Atmosphere: There weren’t many empty seats Friday night as fans from both schools turned out in droves.
“The atmosphere was great. It’s exciting for the kids,” Kurtz said. “Everything was amped up and I don’t think we handled it very well early. We were playing a little too fast.”
Fans got their money’s worth, Jakubick said.
“This was a great game and what great kids they have in their program,” Jakubick said. “I have a lot of respect for those kids and how they battled. They are high-character.
“I feel for them.”
Thriller: Sophomore Avery Baith scored 10 points as St. Peter’s held on for a 37-35 win in the junior varsity game. Freshman Addison Noe led Mansfield Christian with 12 points.
