MADISON TOWNSHIP — Mansfield Senior has captured many a league title in its long and storied boys basketball history.
Yet few, if any, were more improbable than the one that was clinched on Friday night.
The Tygers pulled away from arch-rival Madison 69-61, then heard the shots fired across the state as New Philadelphia upset Dover 43-35, and Lexington shocked Ashland 69-64.
That left Mansfield Senior, Ashland, Dover and New Philadelphia with 10-4 Ohio Cardinal conference records — a four-way tie for the league championship.
The Tygers’ title hopes appeared dead in the water after a heartbreaking 97-93 triple-overtime loss to Ashland on Jan. 27 at Pete Henry Gym.
But coach Marquis Sykes’ squad rebounded with a clutch, 62-54 road win at Dover, knocked off the Rams on Friday night, and got a lot of help from their conference brethren to claim a piece of the league pie.
At Madison, Kaylen Brooks scored 23 points (11 at the line), while Davion Mack chipped in 13 and D’Vontae Johnson and D.J. Corbin each scored 12.
That kind of balanced firepower was needed to offset a 33-point, 10-rebound eruption by Rams’ standout Justin McCraney.
Senior High led 14-10 after the first period, and 24-21 at halftime. The home team continued to lurk within striking distance, trailing just 47-44 heading to the final eight minutes before the Tygers pulled away in the end.
Mansfield Senior won the game at the free throw line, drilling 23-of-27 free throws, compared to 7-of-8 for Madison.
The Tygers are 15-7 overall, and await their tournament draw.
Madison is 7-12, 3-10 in the OCC, and plays at Shelby on Saturday night.