ONTARIO — Kyle Kurtz and Jared McPeek were the two smallest players on the court.
But the two Mansfield Christian seniors were giants in the scorebook Saturday as the Flames knocked off Clear Fork 84-72 in the Richland Source Challenge at Ontario High School.
The 5-foot-7 Kurtz scored a career-high 32 points, including seven of the team’s 11 triples. McPeek, one inch taller, had 27 for the Flames, consistently driving to the basket and beating taller defenders.
“They are special kids when they get it going. They have been playing together since the fifth grade and they understand where they are supposed to be most of the time,” Mansfield Christian coach John Kurtz said. “The only thing we really need them to work on is communicating with the other players.”
Clear Fork coach Steve Bechtel also came away impressed.
“You have to give them a lot of credit. They beat us off the dribble. We weren’t ready to go defensively and they took full advantage of it,” Bechtel said. “For whatever reason, we just weren’t ready to play. I give Coach (John) Kurtz, his son and Jared McPeek a lot of credit. They really stepped up tonight.”
The win improves Mansfield Christian to 4-3. Clear Fork slipped to 5-2.
BIG QUARTER: The Flames outscored the Colts 25-14 in the second quarter, building a 12-point halftime edge after leading by just one through the first period.
The fast start came after a tough, 57-50 loss on Friday to Loudonville.
“We have been really up and down this season,” Kurtz said. “It’s kind of sad we have been so up and down. At times we look really good. Last night, I was upset with our kids … they looked disinterested.
“We really challenged the kids this morning before we got here about having heart and how hard we really have to play.”
MCS built the lead to 56-32 in the third quarter and to 65-39 early in the fourth before the Colts rallied and cut the deficit to 10 with under two minutes remaining.
“The fourth quarter is the way we are used to seeing our guys play,” Bechtel said. “(The 1 p.m. start) is no excuse for not showing up and having the energy we expect from our kids. (MCS) had to play at 1, too.”
“Our kids never quit. That’s one thing we really like about them. (But) you have to be ready to go whatever time the game is.”
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING: Kurtz and McPeek were the only Flames in double figures. Sophomore Brennan South led Clear Fork with 18. Senior Chance Barnett had 16 and junior Michael Chillemi had 10.
MCS shot 60 percent from the field (27-45) and 66 percent at the line (19-29). Clear Fork connected on 45 percent from the floor (31-69) and added six of eight at the line.
The Colts had a 35-25 edge in rebounding and both teams committed 16 turnovers.
UP NEXT: Mansfield Christian is at Fredericktown on Thursday. Clear Fork plays at Madison on Friday.
