The Mansfield Tigers dropped their first two games of the Bill Frye Invitational sponsored by Today’s Bank but bounced back for a win on Day 3.  The Tigers opened up the tournament against the Paris Eagles. In a closely contested game, the Eagles took a 39-36 lead with about 3 minutes and would prevail 42-37.  On Day 2, the Tigers would take an 11-10 lead with under two minutes to go but would go down 13-11 to end the first quarter.  This would be the closest the Tigers would get as Pea Ridge would win by 14, 46-32.

But, on Day 3, the Tigers came alive on both ends of the floor and broke an 11-game losing streak to Booneville dating back to the 2016 season. The Tigers had lost to Booneville in the first game of the season in overtime.  Mansfield would take the first quarter lead, 15-14, when Tyler Escalante made a lay-up just before the buzzer. That would spark the Tigers 14-0 run to end the first and start the 2^nd quarter.  Five Tigers would score during the run.  Escalante would start the 2^nd off with a three point basket and Drew Elmore would use a put back basket to get his name in the scoring column.  On the next possession, Ethan Pettus would finish at the basket.  Travis Tobey would add a three and Zach Hayslip would knock down two free-throws to make the score 27-14 with 4:43 to go in the half.  Cj Johnson would stop the run with a pull-up jumper.  Braxton Byers would add a free-throw to make the score 28-16.  Colter Fisher would add a two point basket for the Bearcats and net the score at 28-18.

Just as the second quarter started, the second half would start the same way…with a Tyler Escalante three point basket.  Fisher would add another basket for the Bearcats and then Escalante drilled another three to extend the Tiger lead to 14, 34-30.  The teams would trade some free-throws on each end, making the score 37-26 and then Escalante would hit another three.  With the score 42-30, Escalante would drain another three with 5.7 seconds left.  The Bearcats would race down the floor and hit a buzzer beating three from Mason Goers to end the third quarter 45-33. 

The Tigers would start the 4^th on a 12-2 run led by Ethan Pettus, Drew Elmore and Clint Stovall extending the lead to 57-35.  The Bearcats would use an 8-0 to cut the lead to 14, 57-43, with 1:20 left in the game.  The rest of the game would be free-throws for both teams as Ethan Pettus and Dakota Langford would knock down four free-throws for the Tigers.  Escobedo and Ferguson would make some late game free-throws for the Bearcats.  The Tigers would close out 2021 with a 61-49 home win.  Tyler Escalante would score a game high, 24 points.  Ethan Pettus would add 13 for the Tigers.  CJ Johnson and Mason Goers would lead the way for the Bearcats, scoring 12 each, respectively. 

“We Played with so much energy and enthusiasm! Everyone made an impact whether on the floor or on the sideline. Best game we have played this year and I’m so proud of our team. Total team effort and a great way to end 2021!” Coach Brown stated.

The Tigers will resume conference play on Friday January 7, 2022 against the Magazine Rattlers.  This will also be Homecoming for the Tigers.  Homecoming ceremony will begin at 5:00 p.m.  The Senior Boys will play the first game at approximately 5:30 p.m.  Junior Girls will follow and Senior Girls will finish the night off. 

Coming off of a loss against the Pocola Indians in which the Dogs almost pulled off a 16-point comeback, the Dogs would play their conference foe Paris in the 3^rd place game. The Bulldogs had beaten the Eagles earlier in the season with a score of 55-45. In that game, the Dogs got off to a scorching hot start, and they were out to prove that it was not a fluke.

Both teams started off in their zone defenses. The Eagles with their first-year head coach have come to find an identity in their 1-3-1 defense, and the Dogs as usual stuck with their 2-3 defense. Camdon Holcomb got the scoring going for the Dogs with a layup to tie things up a two. The Eagles began to put pressure on the Dogs in their full-court press, but the Dogs were not fazed by it. Lidge Stinson and “Fish” McConnell alternated buckets to end the 1^st quarter as both buried a 3-pointer and added a layup to put the Dogs up with a score of 14-10.

Stinson kicked off the 2^nd quarter with a 3-pointer to put the Dogs up by seven. Paris stuck with their pressure, but they were not able to speed Waldron up any. The Dogs were playing fantastic defense. They were swarming to the ball and not allowing any open looks. Chris Lopez checked into the game for Waldron and instantly made a difference on the defensive end. He took two charges and added several steals. After a short scoring drought from both teams, Holcomb and Stinson were both able to get layups to fall to put the Dogs up by nine. The Holcomb and Stinson duo struck again before half as Stinson threw a dime to the big man and he was able to finish a layup to make the score 23-16 Dogs advantage headed into halftime.

McConnell lit up the Eagles from deep in their first matchup of the season, but they had contained him during the first half as he was only able to make one 3-pointer. Coming out of the half McConnell was determined to prove that he was still a threat. Holcomb got the 3^rd quarter started with a nice post move finish, and on the following possession, McConnell began his barrage from deep. He nailed a 3-pointer to put the Dogs up by 10. The Eagles quickly scored 5 points and cut their deficit in half, but Ethan Mayberry ended their run as he got a nice floater to fall. Holcomb got another basket to fall off of a good inside move to push the Dogs lead back to seven. Then “Fish” McConnell took over. He went on a 9-3 run and single-handedly put the dogs up by 13. He converted an old-fashioned 3-point play before knocking down two 3-pointers that left the Eagles defense searching for answers. Trenton Hunt ended the 3^rd quarter with a 3-pointer of his own to make the Dogs lead 44-33 going into the 4^th quarter.

The Dogs cruised through the 4^th quarter as Paris sent the Dogs to the free-throw line multiple times. Waldron made eight free throws in the quarter and seven of them came for Stinson. Those free throws propelled Stinson to score 11 points in the quarter as he was also able to make a pull-up jumper and convert a layup. Lopez was also able to get two layups to fall in the 4^th . As the final buzzer sounded the Dogs were on top with a score of 62-51 to improve their record to 12-7.

The Waldron and Paris book is not closed yet as they still have another matchup on January 21. Although this game was not considered a conference matchup both teams learned a lot more about each other, and the ending of the trilogy is sure to be a good one.

Stinson led the scoring for the Dogs with 21 points and 6 rebounds. McConnell had 17 points and 9 rebounds, and Holcomb finished with 12 points.

Waldron’s next opponent will be the Cossatot River Eagles at the WAC on January 3^rd. Junior High boys will begin action at 5:00 followed by Senior High girls and Senior High boys.

The Mansfield SR Lady Tigers stood tall on the final day of the Bill Frye Invitational. With an exhilarating win over Mulberry and a heartbreaking loss to Shiloh Christian behind them, Mansfield was ready to close the tournament on a high note against a feisty Vian Lady Wolverines program. Two of the baddest animal mascots on the court at the same time, but only one could be

Sadie Roberts jumped to the ceiling to give the Lady Tigers their first possession of the game and there was no looking back from there. Both teams took their time getting a feel for each other, but once things began clicking everyone knew this would be a thriller. Skylynn Harris snatched the ball from a Lady Wolverine then dished it to Sadie Roberts who put the Lady Tigers on the board. Kynslee “Warrior” Ward took the Lady Wolverine to town with back-to-back layups as Mansfield began to punish Vian. The gritty Lady Wolverines wouldn’t give up though and close out the first quarter with a 13-8 lead over Mansfield.

Only being down by five points entering the 2nd quarter, someone of the Lady Tigers team would have to take charge. Ward took that statement literally as she took a charge from a Vian player giving Mansfield the ball back. Alyson Edwards uncharacteristically stepped away from the post position to drain a three-point shot which got the fans on their feet. Skylynn Harris decided if one post can do it, then why not take the shot. She did and wa-la sank a three of her own. Although Mansfield had the momentum, the Lady Wolverines endeavored to persevere as both teams played tic-tac-toe on the scoreboard leaving Mansfield down by four points going into halftime with a 25-24 score in Vians favor.

Vian started the 3rd quarter with the ball but turned it over right off the bat with a travel call. Once Mansfield got down court after the turnover, Alyson Edwards was fouled, sending her to the line where she hit one of two shots. No one knew what team would pull out with a win until Sadie Roberts became a sniper beyond the perimeter. Roberts riddled off three three-pointers in the 3rd quarter giving Mansfield their first lead of the night at 41-38 with 2:35 left in the quarter. Skylynn Harris again took it as a challenge and downed a three of her own. Alyson Edwards stole the ball from Vian to close the 3rd quarter out with the Lady Tigers ahead of Vian 48-41.

The Lady Tiger then became opportunists in the 4th quarter as Vian started shooting themselves in the foot rather than shooting for points. The Lady Wolverines had a starter foul out early in the 4th quarter and Mansfield began clawing the floor from there. Vians was fouling on rebounds against Alyson Edwards who put up five points from free throws. Mansfield landed in foul trouble also having a starter foul out, two players with four fouls, and two with three. With a slim roster, Mansfield had to play the perfect game for the final three minutes of the game. No one is perfect, but a team isn’t “one”. A team is many and the Lady Tigers tacked on points from Skylnn Harris, Natalie Allyson, and Alyson Edwards to beat Vian 61-56.

The victory gave Mansfield a 2-1 record and 3rd place in the Bill Frye Invitational. The Lady Tigers may be done with this tournament, but they are far from done with their season. 

Alyson Edwards led the team in scoring for the third game in a row with 25 points in the game. Sadie Roberts hot-handed shots racked up 16 points. Skylynn Harris lit up the scoreboard with 13 points. Kynslee Ward knocked down 4 points, Natalie Allyson had 2 points, and Seven Sanderson finished off the scoring with a 1 point free throw. This group of players has played with each other winning championships since their early little league years and more championships are what they’re eyeing for 2021-22. Things will only get better as Mansfield will welcome back three players when they face the New School Panthers on January 4th.