Heading into the recent Cabool Holiday Tournament, the Mansfield Lions had high hopes of making some noise in this season’s annual event.
Unfortunately, a first round victory was followed by two losses and an exit from the annual event.
In the first round, the Lions did get a win over Dora, 61-42. They only led by one point at halftime before outscoring the Falcons, 30-13, coming out of the break to pull away for the 19-point victory.
Tom Emerick paced Mansfield with 24 points; Chase Cartwright had 12 points, three rebounds and three assists; Chade Noble added eight points, eight rebounds, seven assists and three steals; Troy Kelley had six points, five rebounds, two steals and two assists; London Dennis added six points; Dylan Henry scored five points and four rebounds; and Rylan Adams had three rebounds and three assists.
In the quarterfinals, the Lions ran into No. 1 seed Thayer and lost, 65-35.
It was just a six point game after the first quarter before the Bobcats outscored the Lions 22-6 before halftime.
Emerick had a double-double in the loss with 12 points, 10 rebounds and three assists. Cartwright scored eight points, five rebounds and two steals; Kelley had five points and three rebounds; Dennis had three points and two rebounds; Adams had two points; Henry had two points; Ethan Bennet scored two points; and Noble had just one point, four assists and one block.
The Lions' tournament came to an end in the next game with a 52-47 loss to Gainesville.
They trailed 28-24 at halftime. A late fourth quarter surge wasn't enough in the five point loss.
Emerick paced Mansfield with 12 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and three steals; Noble had nine points, three rebounds and three assists; Adams had nine points; Henry had six points and five rebounds; Cartwright scored four points and two rebounds; Dennis had three points, six rebounds and two assists; Troy Kelley had two points; and Chase Kelley had two points, three steals, two rebounds and one block.
After the tournament, the Lions lost on the road to Fair Grove, 59-47.
Mansfield had a 26-22 lead at halftime before the Eagles outscored them, 37-21, in the second half.
Noble had 14 points, five rebounds and three assists; Emerick scored 12 points and seven rebounds; Cartwright had eight points and two rebounds; Adams had eight points; Dennis had two points and two blocks; Troy Kelley scored two points, two rebounds and two steals; and Henry had one point and two rebounds.
