MANSFIELD — The state’s top-ranking in Division IV this week doesn’t increase the size of the target painted on Mansfield St. Peter’s basketball team.
“Whatever we are ranked, it doesn’t matter, people want to beat St. Peter’s,” Spartans coach Joe Jakubick said.
Case in point came Tuesday night as cross-town rival Mansfield Christian pushed St. Peter’s hard, leading by a point at halftime before eventually falling, 57-50, on the Flames’ home floor.
The Mid-Buckeye Conference win improved the Spartans’ record to 17-0 overall, 7-0 in the MBC. Mansfield Christian slipped to 10-7, 1-6.
FAST START: The first half belonged to the Flames, who led 14-9 after one quarter and 23-22 at the half, shutting down a high-powered Spartans’ offense.
Keying the Flames’ offense was 12 first-half points from senior guard Kyle Kurtz, the coach’s son.
“I thought we were really good defensively,” Mansfield Christian coach John Kurtz said. “In the first half, that may have been our best defense of the year.
“We were physical at the point of attack and we were physical at the rim and we challenged our kids with that this week.”
Jakubick, whose Spartans handed Northmor its first loss of the season on Saturday night, admitted that win may have taken a toll three days later.
“There was so much excitement around that game and after the game, but we should have had the same amount of excitement coming into this one.
“I would hope we were ready to play against our crosstown rival (which) is a great team. They are a dangerous team.”
ROARING TO LIFE: The Spartans showed how dangerous they can be in the second half.
St. Peter’s shot 73 percent from the floor (8 of 11) in the third quarter, hitting its seven shots to build a 39-34 lead in less than six minutes before settling for a 41-34 edge going into the final period.
Senior guard Elijah Cobb, held to two points in the first half, scored eight of his 17 in the third quarter.
“We said at the half we had to play quicker,” Jakubick said. “We had to get (Cobb) going a little bit. When he goes, it opens things up for everyone else and we force (opponents) to pick their poison.”
Senior All-Ohioan Jared Jakubick, the other coach’s son, scored the first six points of the fourth quarter, building the Spartans’ lead to 47-34. MCS never got closer than seven again.
“We had a breakdown defensively (in the second half) and they started making shots,” Kurtz said. “They are a very good team and when they get going like that, it is tough to stop them.”
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING: Jakubick led all scorers with 26 points, including 15 in the second half. Sophomore post Jonah Ramsey joined Jakubick and Cobb in double figures, finishing with 11.
Kyle Kurtz led Mansfield Christian with 21 points. Fellow senior guard Jared McPeek added 10.
“(Kyle) hates to lose,” Kurtz said. “He gets that honest. He has a bit of an attitude and gets that honest, as well. His desire to win is amazing.
“People mistake his passion to win with frustration. He is getting better at channeling that in the right direction.”
UP NEXT: St. Peter’s travels to MBC foe Crestline on Friday. A win guarantees the Spartans a share of another league title.
Mansfield Christian plays at Loudonville on Friday in another MBC game.
