Mansfield Lions drop heartbreaker at Ava

The Mansfield Lions’ basketball team lost yet another heartbreaker last week as they traveled to Ava and left with a tough 60-58 loss.
Since Dec. 20, the Lions have now lost four games by three points or less as their record is now 6-7 on the season.
In the first quarter, Haven Proetz scored four of his team’s nine points as Mansfield found themselves down four points early.
The Bears then outscored the Lions, 18-11, before halftime to take an 11-point lead into the break.
Riley Stidham scored four points in the second quarter and led his team with six first-half points.
Blake Henry took over for Mansfield in the third quarter as he scored 10 points to spark a 20-14 run.
Down five heading into the final eight minutes, Henry had another 10 points, but his team was unable to complete the comeback.
Henry finished the game with a team-high 23 points. Jace Headrick had 15; Stidham scored 10; both Charlie Grubbs and Proetz had four points; and Malachi Ussery had two points.
Before the loss, the Lions did open their Summit Conference schedule with a dominating 90-58 win at Conway.
The Lions led 46-33 at halftime before outscoring the Bears, 44-25, in the final two quarters.
Nine different Mansfield players scored in the victory while the Lions made eight 3-pointers.
Headrick scored a team-high 22 points; Henry had 15; Zach McCrite made three, 3-pointers for 14 points; Ussery added 11 points; Stidham scored 10; Fisher Croney had eight points; Riley Pierson added five points; Proetz scored three points; and Kellen Campbell had two points.