MOUNT VERNON – The Mount Vernon boys basketball team experienced scheduling usually reserved for colleges and the NBA last week.
The Yellow Jackets fell 65-51 to Mansfield Senior in Ohio Cardinal Conference play on Friday, Jan. 29, in the second game of a back-to-back between the two teams.
Mount Vernon was right back at it the following night and dropped a 59-39 decision in non-league play at Marysville.
“That was definitely different,” Mount Vernon coach Nick Coon said of playing the Tygers twice back-to-back last week. “I’ve never done that as a player and never done that as a coach. It’s kinda the model that some colleges are going to this year. So it was definitely different. But I don’t feel like (there was) an advantage (or) disadvantage for either team.”
“It made it easier for me to make a scouting report,” he added with a chuckle. “That part was more convenient.”
The Tygers got hot in the second quarter, scoring all 18 of their points from beyond the 3-point arc.
“I thought we played much better than we played Tuesday night,” Coon said. “We were tougher with the basketball. Being at home gave us a little more energy. They shot it really well tonight from the 3-point — and tough, contested mid-range shots as well and the free throw line.
“Sometimes we overcomplicate basketball and think about a hundred different things. Some games — at the end of the day — the team that shoots better wins the game. I thought if there’s an example (of that), it’s probably tonight.”
Senior’s Shad Creamer, who scored 17 points to lead the Tygers to a 51-36 win over the Jackets three days prior in Mansfield, proved to be too tough to handle again, particularly in the second half.
After spending much of the first half in foul trouble, Creamer came back and scored 19 of his 21 points after halftime as Senior pushed its lead as high as 15 on a couple of occasions. He also added three assists and two steals to his ledger.
“My only worry was that our team coming in thinking it was going to be easier,” Creamer said. “Like since we already won (Tuesday), it was going to be an automatic win again. I knew — especially playing here — I tried to tell them that just because we won Tuesday doesn’t mean we’re going to win today. We had to come out with that same energy and we did a pretty good job.”
Maurice Ware had 17 points, five rebounds and a pair of assists; and Nathanial Haney added 14 points and three rebounds for Senior (6-4, 3-2), which added a 62-51 win over Sandusky on Saturday.
Blake Meyer scored 21 points and added five rebounds to lead the Jackets (4-12, 3-6).
Hudson Rohler knocked down three 3s and finished with 14 points, four rebounds and three assists; Dayne Burgess added eight points and five boards; and Beau Bridges chipped in five points, six rebounds and five assists for Mount Vernon.
Rohler hit his first 3 to give Mount Vernon a 17-13 lead late in the first quarter. The Jackets led 17-15 after one.
Marysville’s Jack Christian buried four 3s and scored 18 points, and Riley Karnes added 11 points on Saturday night. The Monarchs (6-6) built a 30-21 lead at the half and extended it from there.
Meyer and Nolan Belcher scored nine points apiece, and Caden Rowland added eight points for Mount Vernon.
