MANSFIELD — The Division II sectional tournaments were every bit as bruising as advertised.
A pair of area schools, Mansfield Senior and Ontario, survived the carnage at Bucyrus and Willard, respectively, and will be in action at this week’s district tournament at Madison Middle School.
The fourth-seeded Tygers (19-4) will meet No. 3 Vermilion (18-5) in the opener at 6:15 p.m. Wednesday. No. 8 Ontario (16-8) plays top-seeded Norwalk (21-3) in the nightcap.
Mansfield Senior advanced with a 47-42 win over Clear Fork and perhaps the most telling stat of the evening was Senior High’s bench outscored Clear Fork’s reserves 15-2. Coach Marquis Sykes employed a 10-man rotation against the Colts.
The Sailors advanced with a 61-56 win over Shelby. The Whippets trailed 59-56 with 10 seconds remaining but misfired on a potential game-tying 3-pointer.
Ontario pulled arguably the biggest upset of the sectional, knocking off No. 2 Lexington 45-41 in the late game Friday at Willard. Jayden Jacobs secured the victory with an offensive rebound and putback of a Shaquan Coburn missed free throw with 15 seconds to play.
Norwalk dispatched Sandusky Perkins in Friday’s opener at Willard, pulling away late for a 59-41 win that was closer than the final score suggested. Ashland University-bound point guard Brandon Haraway had 20 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds.
The Division IV Willard district tips Tuesday and a pair of local teams will square off in the late semifinal game at Robert L. Haas Gymnasium.
Lucas (19-5) will take on Colonel Crawford (19-4) at 8 p.m.
The fifth-seeded Cubs advanced with a 58-49 win over No. 4 Norwalk St. Paul. Logan Niswander scored 18 points as the Cubs won a second consecutive sectional title.
The top-seeded Eagles (19-4) cruised to a 64-40 win over Crestline. Crawford has won a sectional championship each of the past eight seasons.
