MANSFIELD, Ohio — Elijah Cross made a hustle play to save the day, and possibly the game, against Mansfield Christian in a 54-50 win on Friday night.
The Spartans led 49-47 with under a minute to play and had stalled about three minutes off the fourth quarter clock. That’s when Cross turned the ball over while dribbling near the timeline. But the quick guard raced down the floor and immediately stole it back near the Flames’ basket.
Forced to foul, MCS sent three different Spartans to the line in the final 31 seconds as sophomore Jared Jakubick, junior Tyson Kent and sophomore Mason Campbell combined to drill five of six foul shots to hold off the Flames.
“No kid on our team better ever hang his head (after a mistake),” St. Peter’s coach Joe Jakubick said. “I don’t expect to get the ball stolen away. But I do expect you to hustle back and do something about it.”
The win improved the state-ranked Spartans to 10-2 overall and 4-1 in the Mid-Buckeye Conference. Mansfield Christian fell to 5-5 overall and 4-2 in the MBC.
HARD-FOUGHT WIN: Neither team could build a substantial lead in the cross-town rivalry. MCS led 17-14 after one quarter and 30-27 at the half. St. Peter’s, which hit 10 of 17 field goals in the second half, led 41-40 entering the fourth period.
There were 13 lead changes in the final three quarters with MCS moving on top for the final time at 44-43 with 6:01 showing on two foul shots by sophomore Kyle Kurtz.
Unfortunately for the Flames, MCS turned the ball over five times in its next six possessions.
“We had a rough stretch there,” Mansfield Christian coach John Kurtz said. “We gave them some opportunities we would certainly like to get back.”
Mansfield Christian was then content to sit back in a zone look as the Spartans drained the clock in the fourth quarter.
“We wanted a shorter game,” Kurtz said. “I was not worried down just two points. We got the turnover we wanted, we just didn’t make the play.”
EFFORT WAS THERE: Coach Jakubick praised the Mansfield Christian effort.
“When these two teams get together, it doesn’t matter what else is going on, it’s going to be a nailbiter. Hats off to Mansfield Christian. We didn’t bring our ‘A’ game, but that’s a credit to them. I didn’t like our energy level tonight. I thought they played harder than we did,” Jakubick said. “I have told the kids that if they want to be a quality team, you have to make the big plays when it counts.
“We have to be strong. I thought we were at the end.”
Kurtz agreed his team competed well, too.
“I think our kids played hard. It’s definitely a sign of our improvement as the kids learn they have to play hard and for how long,” he said.
Fittingly, the three players who iced the game at the line led St. Peter’s in scoring. Jakubick finished with 15, including a triple. Kent had 13 and Campbell had 11, including one trey.
Mansfield Christian also had three players in double figures as Kurtz, senior Alan Harris and senior Aaron Mitchell each finished with 11.
UP NEXT: St. Peter’s is back in action at home tonight against Clear Fork in a non-league game. Mansfield Christian is at New London on Tuesday in another non-league game.
