The Earl White Jr High Basketball Classic started Monday in Hackett and for the Mansfield Jr High Tigers, their skills and teamwork have been off the charts. Both the Tigers and Lady Tigers have played some pretty stiff competition this week and although not always victorious, they have each been holding their own. On Tuesday, November 19, both squads faced off against the Lavaca Golden Arrows.
The Lady Tigers were first on the court and throughout the entirety of the game no matter how hard the Lady Arrows tried, they just couldn’t get ahead of the Lady Tigers who took the win 37-17. Kynslee Ward led her team with 16 points while Harlie Fuller followed with 10, Alyson Edwards made seven and Natalie Allison scored four. Allison and Edwards tied in rebounds with five while Seven Sanderson netted four. This win leaves the Lady Tigers taking on the Cedarville Lady Pirates tonight November 21 at 4 p.m.
The Tigers put everything they had into the game with the Arrows but at the sound of the final buzzer, it was Lavaca who solidified the lead 24-18. Drew Elmore took charge in the points department with seven followed by Braxton Byers with five and Clint Stovall, Tyler Turnipseed, and Austin Quinalty with two apiece. The loss sent the Tigers to play the next night in Round 2 of the tournament against the Booneville Bearcats.
Unfortunately, adversity stood in their way and the Tigers took their second loss of the Classic. Stovall was on fire against the Bearcats as he scored 12 points for his team. Turnipseed netted seven, Byers grabbed four, Elmore scored three, and Quinalty earned two. The boys move on to face Hackett on Saturday, November 23 at 12:15.