MANSFIELD — Temple Christian watched Mansfield Christian honor its four seniors before the game.
After that, youth was served Monday night as the Crusaders knocked off the Flames for the second time this season, 49-38.
A pair of TC underclassmen, sophomore point guard Jenna Wolford and junior forward Carmen Giess, combined for 29 points to lead the Crusaders to their sixth win in just seven games.
“We rely a lot on both of them,” Temple Christian coach Paul Baird said. “They are very young, but a lot of our offense runs through them.
“This is a huge win tonight for us in a big rivalry game. It’s going to help our confidence. Any time you can hold a team like (MCS) to that low a point total, you are going to have a chance to win the game.”
It’s not the first signature win of the season for the Crusaders, a school which has just 70 male/female students in its top four grades.
“We had a huge win over Lucas (in early December), the first time we have beaten the Cubs in school history. It shows our girls they can play and beat bigger schools,” Baird said.
NARROW LEADS: The game was close throughout, though TC expanded 20-19 halftime edge to 38-31 entering the fourth.
Wolford and Giess both hit triples early in the fourth quarter as the Crusaders expanded the lead to 44-34 with 4:09 left.
Temple Christian pushed the pace throughout, often scoring on fast-break lay-ups in easy transition.
MCS coach J.R. Wilson had seen it before.
“In our loss to them (earlier this season), I think they had 28 fastbreak points. I think we slowed them down tonight, but not enough,” Wilson said.
The Crusaders were not about to let the double-digit lead get away, committing just one turnover in the last five minutes and controlling the offensive glass.
“We took good care of the ball near the end and continued to play on defense,” Baird said.
MCS HONORS: Before the game, the Flames (2-11) honored their four seniors — Heidi Smith, Mallory Hord, Faith Weinhardt and Katie Taylor.
Smith, a powerful presence in the post, led the Flames with 15 points. Hord had nine, as did sophomore Logan Mowry.
Evenings and honors like these mean a great deal to Wilson, his players, parents and a fired-up student body.
“It was a lot of fun, especially with the seniors I have had since they were freshmen,” Wilson said. “I have gotten to know and appreciate these young women.”
UP NEXT: The win Monday marked the first of five games in seven days for Temple Christian, who saw several contests postponed to bad weather this season. The Crusaders play at Massillon Christian tonight and then travel to Crestline on Friday.
Mansfield Christian is back in action Saturday at Lucas.
