After graduating only two seniors from last year’s basketball season, the Mansfield Tigers will have four starters from the previous season returning, along with four other varsity players. Returning seniors include Ethan Stovall, Layton Howard, Tyler Holmes, Jaicy Griffin, and Isaac Cothran along with returning juniors Codi Chick, Jojo Bailey, and Bri Sanderson.
Mansfield will be playing in the 3A-1 division with the likes of other insanely talented teams including Cedarville, Charleston, Elkins, Greenland, Lincoln, Waldron, and West Fork. The Tigers are being shaped by returning Head Coach, Keith Dake. Last season, Mansfield accumulated almost 1,200 total points while averaging 49 points a game.
Starting senior Forward, Ethan Stovall, led the team in scoring, rebounds, and assists last season and will be looking to pick up where he left off for this season. “This young man is a matchup nightmare,” states Dake. “He has the body of a power forward with the speed, agility, handles, and vision of a guard.”
Starting senior Guard, Layton Howard, has ranked in the top three in scoring and rebounds the previous two seasons and will return to continue that streak. “The definition of a true athlete; Howard’s vertical speed and vertical leap ability make getting to the basket look effortless.”
Starting senior Forward, Tyler Holmes, “is the heartbeat of our defense. Willing to do whatever is necessary to shut down opposing offenses and the ability to guard anything from point guards to centers.”
And the last of the returning starters is junior Guard, Codi Chick. “Chicks’ quick first step and relentless attitude allowed him to quickly make his way up the depth chart as a sophomore. Chick ended the season as the team’s leader in steals, pass deflections, second in assists, and third in scoring.”
Coach Dake is looking to capitalize on the minutes left from Guard, Jaicy Griffin, Forward, Isaac Cothran, Forward, Jojo Bailey, and Center, Bri Sanderson. “Griffin and Bailey are both hard-nosed locked down defenders that have the ability to disrupt even the best offenses around the area. They bring a type of energy to the floor that is difficult to match.”
“Cothran and Sanderson are both as strong of kids as you can find. Cothran brings speed and quickness to the 5 spot that is difficult to match up with. Sanderson comes in standing 6’4 and weighing 250 pounds. He is a large body able to take up a lot of space and provide protection around the rim that is hard to get around.”
This group also has a strong core of sophomores coming from a conference runner up finish during their freshman season. They are led by Ethan Pettus, Zayne Dugan, Dalton Pettigrew, and Tyler Escalante. “What they lack in numbers, they make up for in heart and determination. Top to bottom, both Tiger teams have the pieces to be the most complete and competitive team we have seen come through Mansfield in years. Their limitless potential is something for people to keep their eyes on throughout the 2019-2020 season as they compete in one of the states’ toughest conferences.”
