Ever since the Mansfield Lady Lions lost All-State senior Jada Henry to an injury, they have been looking for a signature win to build some needed momentum as they go into the second half of the season.
That win finally came for them last Thursday at home when they knocked off rival Hartville by 10 points, 52-42. The win avenged a Dec. 10 loss to the Lady Eagles in the tournament played in Norwood.
“Great team win against Hartville,” said Mansfield head coach Gary Greene. “Everyone contributed and we got some great play from our bench. We are still searching for how to score without Jada, but we are getting better each game. Hartville is well coached and they have two really good players in (Jadalyn) Keith and (McKinley) Sanders, so we felt very fortunate to come out on top.”
Hartville appeared early on that they were ready to pick up another victory over their rivals.
Five different Lady Eagles scored in the first quarter to provide balance and to take a 13-7 lead.
Kylie Harris scored four points for Hartville.
Mansfield charged back into the game in the second quarter behind Logan Jones and her two 3-pointers and 10 points.
Sanders was active with seven points for Hartville, but the Lady Lions were able to close the gap to 22-21 at halftime.
Though Harris picked up a needed six points in the third quarter, Hartville star Jadalyn Keith was unable to score in the frame. She only had four points in the first half.
Four different Mansfield players scored in the third quarter, but they trailed by two points heading into the fourth quarter.
Foul trouble plagued Hartville in the fourth as Mansfield won the game at the free throw line.
They scored 23 points in the quarter after making 14-of-17 free throws. Logan Jones was 6-of-9 and had eight points while Macie Tate scored six points.
Sanders had six and Keith scored four points in the fourth for a Lady Eagles team that had just 11 fourth quarter points.
Logan Jones led Mansfield in the big win with 18 points. Tate added 13; Chloe Lemons had six points; Megan Langley and Madalyn Ivy each had five points; and Lauren Jones scored four points.
With it being their only game of the week, Hartville now has a two game losing streak after falling to Fair Grove one week earlier.
Sanders led Hartville with 18 points; Harris had 11 points; Keith scored eight; Molly Brown had three points; and Jenna Kelley scored two points.
Before the win over Hartville, the Lady Lions picked up a 59-35 win over Fordland.
Mansfield led 29-9 at halftime and never looked back in their 24-point win.
Eight different Lady Lions scored in the win.
Logan Jones scored a team-high 12 points while Lauren Jones had 10 points.
Tate scored nine points; Ivy had eight points; Haley Tripp scored six points; both Madeline Coble and Langley had five points; and Skylar Adams had four points.
