Mansfield Lions are back-to-back Sparta champs

In just their fourth appearance in the Sparta Trojan Invitational, the Mansfield Lions are already a three-time champion.
They clinched back-to-back titles after running through a gauntlet of two state-ranked teams and three total squads with a combined 43-14 record to win the crown.
“The last three games, we did a really good job sticking with our game plan and scouting report,” said Mansfield head coach Craig Campbell.
He also noted how his team embodied the message on their T-shirts that reads, “Are you satisfied? Next play mentality.”
It was a Homecoming of sorts in the finals as the Lions took on Billings, who are tied for the No. 3 state ranking in Class 1.
The Wildcats are coached by Blayne Armstrong, who has his father, Kevin Armstrong, as an assistant.
Blayne is the grandson and Kevin is the son of the late former Mansfield administrator, Jerry  Armstrong.
Jerry is also known for being a member of the 1965-66 Texas Western Miners NCAA championship team that is enshrined into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Though the reunion was special, Mansfield put a solid four quarters together in a 57-48 victory to win the championship.
As for the game, the teams went back-and-forth early when Kaden Young hit a big 3-pointer for a 9-8 lead.
He scored five of his team’s 11 points for a one-point edge.
After being up eight in the second, Billings hit a pair of 3-pointers and cut the lead to 20-17.
Jace Headrick’s near 3-point play and Kellen Campbell’s late free throws did give the Lions a 24-19 halftime edge.
Fisher Croney opened the third quarter with his own 6-0 run and Headrick’s basket pushed the run to eight for a 32-19 advantage.
Billings was held scoreless through the first three minutes of action before getting the lead back down to eight points.
The Wildcats would cut the lead to six midway through the fourth before Campbell’s two big baskets.
He then assisted Kaden Young on a pass to push the run to 6-0 and a 12-point edge.
Campbell made four late free throws and Headrick made 5-of-6 down the stretch to help seal the win.
Billings did hit a 3-pointer with 15.7 seconds left to cut the lead to six, but their rally fell short.
Headrick was named the tournament MVP after scoring 20 points, three rebounds, two assists and one steal.
Campbell earned All-Tournament honors after scoring 18 points, six rebounds, three assists, two blocks and one steal.
Croney added 10 points and eight rebounds; Young tallied seven points, four assists, two rebounds and one steal; while Haven Proetz had three points, three rebounds, two steals and one assist.
As a team, Mansfield’s offense made 11-of-21 shots from the field in the second half.
The No. 5 seeded Lions opened the tournament with a 68-60 win over a solid No. 4 seed Galena program coached by Scott Brakebill.
The Bears scored 26 points in the opening quarter for an early 26-20 lead.
Mansfield trailed by eight entering the fourth before the Lions went on a 23-7 run with the help of Headrick’s 10 points.
He finished with a team-high 23 points; Croney had 16; Proetz 12; Young 11; both Malachi Ussery and Campbell with two; and Owen Rhodes had one point.
In the semifinals, the Lions took on host Sparta, a state-ranked team in Class 3, and were in control throughout the contest on their way to a 71-60 win.
Mansfield outscored Sparta, 35-21, in the second half.
Headrick had 24 points; Campbell 17; Young, Croney and Proetz each had nine points; while Ussery scored four.