MANSFIELD -- Playoff time is finally among us and we already have a game of the tournament contender with Buckeye Central exiting the Furnace with a 60-58 victory over Mansfield Christian.

 

Things started off slow for both teams in a low-scoring first quarter as neither could find a rhythm on the offensive end. In the second quarter, both teams' offenses started flowing, going back and forth trading leads with just a hint at what's to come later in the game. The half ended all knotted at 22 before things got very interesting over the last two frames and beyond.

 

Mansfield Christian (8-15) began to pull away ever so slightly in the third but Buckeye central (10-13) made sure to make up for it in the fourth, erasing the deficit to force overtime tied at 45-45. The Flames burned up as much time as possible, giving the Bucks only a few chances on offense as an evenly played contest remained tied over the next two extra sessions. Despite limited opportunities in all three OT quarters, the Bucks would finally push ahead on the scoreboard and remain in front at the final horn to advance into the D4 Sectional Finals.