MANSFIELD — Joe Jakubick is not one to celebrate individual scoring. In fact, the Mansfield St. Peter’s veteran coach doesn’t even report player scoring averages to local media outlets.
So it must be a big deal when a game is stopped to honor a player’s scoring.
Such was the case Friday night when junior Mason Campbell notched his 1,000th career point during the Spartans’ 63-42 win against cross-town rival Mansfield Christian.
The win improved St. Peter’s, the state’s third-ranked Division IV team, to an 18-2 overall record and 11-0 in the Mid-Buckeye Conference. MCS fell to 6-13 overall and 2-8 in the conference.
Afterward, the soft-spoken Campbell reflected on becoming just the 10th player in the storied history of the boys’ program to reach the 1,000 point mark.
Campbell is the first Spartan to hit the plateau since Brandon Speck finished his career with 1,718 points in 2006. Marcus Butler, who graduated in 2004, holds the school record with 1,983 points.
“I feel so blessed just to play basketball,” the 6-foot-3 forward said, “much less score 1,000 points. (Playing) means everything to me.
“I give my teammates all the credit in the world. They pass it to to me when I am open. I am more worried about winning games than I am scoring.”
Jakubick, whose own junior son, Jared, is just 70 points shy of the 1,000-point mark, praised Campbell after the game.
“Mason is a tremendous player. I am very happy for him,” the coach said. “But I think even he would tell you he was capable of a little more tonight. He missed some easy shots.”
LONG POST-GAME: The Spartans coach kept the locker-room door closed for an extended period after the game, despite the fact his team led 33-8 at one point early in the third quarter.
That may be because the young Flames battled the Spartans evenly in the second half, 34-34. Key to that effort was junior guard Jared McPeek, who scored 22 of his game-high 28 points in the second half.
McPeek consistently split the center of the St. Peter’s defense with drives to the basket. He scored all 13 of the Mansfield Christian points in the fourth quarter.
“I think we have to stay focused for 32 minutes,” Jakubick said. “Give credit to Mansfield Christian. They played hard the entire game. But we have got to play better.
“We have (Division II Columbus) Bishop Watterson coming in here tomorrow night and that’s a whole different animal.”
St. Peter’s, normally a good team from the foul line, connected on just 46 percent against MCS, missing 13 of 24 attempts.
“I felt our lack of focus showed at the foul line. Jake (Gurski) shoots 83 percent from the line and he was one of five tonight,” Jakubick said.
SCORING LEADERS: McPeek was the only Mansfield Christian player in double figures. The Flames, who have no seniors and five freshmen on their varsity roster, got six points from sophomore Jared Mount.
Senior point guard Tyson Kent led St. Peter’s with 20 points. Junior guard Elijah Cobb added 18. Jared Jakubick finished with 10 and Campbell had nine.
“You can focus (your defense) on anyone you want,” Joe Jakubick said. “You can focus on Mason and Jared and that will create opportunities for Elijah and Tyson.”
The boys’ tournament draw is Sunday afternoon. A potential regional game against unbeaten and No. 1-ranked Defiance Ayersville could be down the road for St. Peter’s, which advanced to the regional title game last year.
But Joe Jakubick isn’t thinking past the initial steps.
“I am only worried about the sectional and district,” he said, citing a number of teams he considers dangerous. “I feel our kids are looking forward to (the tournament). But you can’t let minutes like tonight slip away.”
