BUCYRUS — Watching his team cut down nets at Bucyrus High School on Friday night, Mansfield Senior coach Marquis Sykes didn’t deny the significance of a Division II sectional title.
His Tygers had just knocked off Clear Fork 67-57, earning another crown in the storied history of the program Sykes once starred in as a player.
“It’s huge for us to go from six games won last year all the way to a sectional championship,” the first-year head coach said. “This is how it’s supposed to be at Mansfield Senior. It gets us back to where we should be.
“These guys put in the work to get here and they deserve it.”
The victory, combined with three other sectional title games Friday night, sets up a district event at Madison next week that features the top four seeds.
No. 2-seed Mansfield Senior (17-7) takes on No. 4-seed Sandusky (16-8) on Tuesday at 6:15 p.m. in the first district semifinal. The Blue Streaks knocked off Norwalk 58-53 in the second game Friday at Bucyrus.
Top-seeded Vermilion (20-4) plays No. 3-seed Lexington (19-5) in the second game on Tuesday at Madison. The Sailors beat Shelby 53-47 in a sectional title game at Willard on Friday. Lexington defeated Clyde 66-53 in the second game at Willard.
Sykes was not ready in the moments after the win to start thinking about next week. The Tygers won 79-76 at Sandusky on Feb. 13.
“I am going to tell these guys to enjoy this tonight. We’ll watch a little of the second game and try to see what we can get from that and go from there,” Sykes said.
BATTLE-TESTED: The Tygers go to the next round battle-tested after the Colts (17-6) pushed them to the end.
With a 28-25 halftime lead, Mansfied Senior started the third quarter with a 10-3 run and took a 38-28 lead less than three minutes into the period.
That’s when the Colts battled back, led by senior forward Chance Barnett, who scored 10 points in the period. Clear Fork trailed just 47-44 going into the final eight minutes.
“We knew they weren’t going to give in,” Sykes said. “They kept fighting. Our guys fought. A couple of mistakes on the defensive end, a couple of quick shots on the offensive end … that’s all it takes for a team to get back into the game.
“We regrouped. We got more stops. We got more rebounds. We were able to finish out lay-ups. We opened up some driving lanes and were able to score in the paint,” Sykes said.
Clear Fork coach Steve Bechtel said the rally and fight well into the fourth quarter was a testament to his players.
“They trust each other. Their togertheness is phenomenal. Their commitment is great. That’s one thing the seniors have driven home and hopefully that’s something that continues throughout our program,” Bechtel said.
TYGERS FINISH: Clear Fork knotted the score at 49 with 4:52 left in the fourth, only to watch the Tygers go on an 8-0 spurt, driven largely by three straight baskets by senior Breyon Mills.
That put the Tygers back on top 57-49 with 2:08 left and Mansfield Senior canned eight of nine free throws in the final minute-plus to seal the win.
“When you fight that far back, it’s hard to maintain,” Bechtel said. “You kinda take a deep breath and unfortunately they hit a few too many easy ones on us right there.”
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING: Senior guard B.J. Patrick led the Tygers with 13 points. Senior wing Christian Haney added 12. Senior post Breyon Mills had 11 points and 16 rebounds.
Mansfield Senior hit 50 percent from the field (25-50), 65 percent from the line (13-20), collected 40 rebounds and had 11 turnovers.
Barnett, a senior who notched his 1,000th career point this season, led the Colts with 20 points and eight rebounds. Sophomore guard Brennan South had 13 points and junior guard A.J. Blubaugh added 11.
The Colts connected on 50 percent from the floor (23-50), 58 percent from the line (7-12), pulled down 18 rebounds and committed 11 turnovers.
It was the final game for Barnett and fellow seniors Daniel Spencer and Tanner Winand. The departure of Barnett, a four-year varsity member, will be felt the most.
“I think he has just grown up over the four years,” Bechtel said. “I am so happy for him the way he has finished this year and the type of year he had. We won’t able to replace him, per se, but other people will be able to step in and hopefully carry on what he has built in the lockerroom.”
