Mansfield Senior punched their ticket to Districts for a second consecutive season with a win over Clear Fork, edging their former conference rivals 47-42 for the Division II Bucyrus Sectional title.

 

The 4th-seeded Tygers defense was the story of the game, holding the Colts balanced offense in check throughout most of the contest. Senior High led 10-8 after the opening frame and extended their advantage to 25-20 by halftime before holding #5 Clear Fork to just four points in the third quarter.

 

The Tygers carried a 35-24 lead into the fourth, but the Colts would fight their way back in to the mix, cutting their deficit to 39-36 on a Jared Schaefer steal and layup with 1:34 to play. Clutch free throw shooting down the stretch would help Mansfield hang on for the win, however, finishing 13-18 from the charity stripe for the contest.

 

Schaefer led all scorers with 13 while Gannon Seifert added 11 in their final high school game. Quan Hilory led the Tygers with 11 points, as nine players found their way into the scoring column for the brown and orange.

 

Mansfield Senior (19-4) will next take on third-seeded Vermilion (18-5) in the Mansfield District Semifinals.