Mansfield sends the scoreboard into orbit with a conference win over Future School
The SR Tigers have been working adjusting to a fast-paced in-your-face basketball mentality since head coach Joshua Brown came to town. The adjustment has taken its time and has been a learning curve not for the weak of heart, but on Tuesday, December 14th the Tigers were tested as they hosted a talented Future School team. After the game, it was apparent that Mansfield’s players have bought into Coach Brown’s system and it paid off with a big 63-53 win over the Rockets.
The Tigers wasted little time taking it to the Rockets as they jumped to a quick 7-0 lead forcing the Future School coaches to call a time out. The Mansfield faithful seemed to be shocked by the smooth speed and shots on the hardwood, but once it clicked, the stands erupted with cheers. Ethan Pettus was clutch from downtown hitting three-point shots from every spot around the perimeter. Pettus’s shooting skills must’ve spread like a virus too as Braxton Byers, Clint Stovall, and Tyler Escalante began set the nets on fire with their own long-distance shots.
The perimeter shooting wasn’t the only thing the Tigers had going for them. To keep the Rockets defense humble, Mansfield would dump the ball off to Braxton Byers and Zane “The Bane” Dugan who made board buckets look easy. Dugan bought stocks in Sherwin Williams by owning the paints on offense and defense with an unstoppable show of power against the Rockets. Even though the Tigers offense and defense were playing red hot, Future School proved they were just as hot as the Tigers went into halftime with a slim 27-25 lead.
Mansfield came out of the half with the same intensity as they started the game and jumped to another six-point lead on the Rockets. The two programs played each other tit for tat with each possession. Mansfield would make a run on the scoreboard and the Future School would equally answer. Escalante, Pettus, and Dugan kept the nets hot, but it was the bench that began to ground the Rockets. Drew Elmore was a defensive assassin on the boards snagging rebounds and forcing bad shots. Sophomores Dakota Langford and Peyton Martin made every second they had on the court count with transition passes and smothering defense. Travis Toby cut through the Rockets with his quick feet causing the Future school to turn the ball over a few times. Braxton Byers and Clint Stovall put the Rockets on notice with clean passing, accurate shots, and aggressive defense.
It wasn’t until the fourth quarter that the Tigers began to pull away. It wasn’t their shooting, their blocks, their steals, or talent that did it, no, the fourth quarter was all heart. Both teams were physically exhausted after battling it out for three quarters. This game boiled down to who wanted it more and that nod went in Mansfield’s favor. The Tigers wore down the Rockets to the point where the Rockets had to foul to stay in the game. Mansfield sank their shots and earned a 63-53 walk-off victory. Leading the Tigers in points was Ethan Pettus who racked up 19 points followed closely by Tyler Escalante with his 18 points. Mansfield was 58% on defensive rebounds led by Zane Dugan who also added 11 points offensively.
With a big conference win under their belts, the Tigers now have the hunger for fresh meat. They’ll get their meal on Friday, December 17th when they welcome the Lavaca Golden Arrows to The Jungle. This meal won’t be served to Mansfield on a golden platter though as Lavaca is a solid team and to Tigers will have to earn their meal.
