LIMA – One of Mansfield Senior’s two busses had a mechanical issue.
It crept down Route 30 toward Lima at nearly 30 mph. Then, with a band of healthy Lima Senior Spartans returning, Lima gave Mansfield Senior more problems when the Tygers arrived.
Lima Senior posted a 54-47 non-league boys basketball victory over Mansfield Senior Saturday at Lima Senior.
Lima Senior is 6-5. Mansfield Senior is 6-2.
It was the fifth straight Lima Senior win over Mansfield Senior.
Mansfield Senior’s bus did arrive in Lima, but the plan was for everyone to head back on just one bus.
Back from injuries for the Spartans were freshman starter 6-foot-5 Jainaz Cameron and Jaleel Long.
Also back for the Spartans was point guard B.J. Miller from not playing (coach’s decision) against Elida.
All three contributed. Jaleel King led the Spartans with 20 points and nine rebounds.
Miller scored 13 points. Cameron had five points and 10 rebounds.
Jermaine Daniel had eight points.
“He’s (Cameron) a phenomenal player for being as young as he is,” Lima Senior coach Quincey Simpson said. “He hasn’t been able to display what he could do because he’s battled injuries all year. He played the first four games and he’s
been out since then. … Jaleel Long was a difference maker, defensively.’’
Da’Quon Hilory had 12 points for the Tygers.
Dontivious Burtin, a 6-5 rebounding machine, had 11 points and 19 rebounds for Mansfield.
Tygers leading scorer B.J. Patrick (14-point average) was held to six points and fouled out with 5:51 to go. King guarded Patrick most of the night.
“We wanted to make it hard for him,” Simpson said.
Lima Senior led 29-23 at the half.
The Spartans ripped off an 11-2 run in the third to pull out to a 40-29 lead. King and Miller were both hitting a jet stream to the rim for baskets at that point.
The Spartans built up a 15-point lead, 49-34, with 4:21 to go.
“I thought our effort defensively in our full-court press caused them to turn the ball over,” Simpson said. “I thought we got them to play a little faster than they wanted to. I was really pleased with that.’’
The only down side for Simpson was the Spartans relaxed in the final few minutes, allowing the Tygers to get within 54-47.
“We have to be able to finish it out,” Simpson said. “It is positive to get guy back,but I’m disappointed the way we finished the game.’’
Mansfield Senior won the boards, 42-33 and 20-13 on the offensive glass.
Both teams came in with a little holiday break.
The Spartans last game was a 55-54 loss to Elida last Saturday.
Mansfield Senior hadn’t played in eight days. It posted a 55-47 win over Wooster on Dec. 29.
Both the Tygers and the Spartans went to the rim early and often.
Lima Senior used a 1-2-1-1 press, then a man. Mansfield was in a half-court man.
The difference early was rebounding.
The Tygers 6-5 Burtin continually got putbacks for layups.
For Lima Senior, King was driving to the basket and delivering. He had four driving
layups in the first half.
Lima Senior led 13-11 after the first quarter and 29-23 at the half.
Burtin had 12 rebounds at the half.
King had 16 points at the break.
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