BY MATT VINES, DeSoto Parish Journal
MANSFIELD – The Mansfield boys basketball team was looking for that “splash” win, something that would signal that the Wolverines could push their way into the Division III playoffs.
That win came Wednesday when the Wolverines took down Division III No. 3 Winnfield in a 55-53 win.
The Wolverines (9-15, 5-2 District 3-2A) entered the matchup at No. 29 in the power rankings, needing a surge to break into the 28-team playoff bracket.
Mansfield will get another crack at Winnfield on the road Friday before returning home to face district favorite Lakeview (No. 1 in Division IV) on Tuesday. Mansfield fell at Lakeview in overtime in the first meeting.
“The key to the win was defensive intensity,” said Mansfield boys coach Reggie Williams, who got a balanced scoring effort with Sharmal Booker (14 points), Bryson Murray (12 points) and Terrell Pegues (11 points) leading the way. “Winnfield was making shots, even contested ones, but when we turned up the defensive intensity, it helped push us to a big win.
“This gives us a ton of momentum, but we still have work to do to secure a spot in the big dance.”
The Mansfield girls (15-8, 6-1 District 3-2A) have a spot in the big dance, but the Lady Wolverines are itching to hang a district championship banner.
Mansfield, which has won eight of its last nine games and sit at No. 10 in the Division III power ratings, heads to Winnfield on Friday and hosts Lakeview on Tuesday.
The Lady Wolverines bashed a solid Winnfield club (13-10) by 28 points in the first meeting, and a season sweep will set up a de facto district championship game with Lakeview.
The Lady Gators (21-2) are ranked No. 5 in Division IV and topped Mansfield in Campti, 35-29, in the first meeting.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Mansfield isn’t alone in needing a late-season surge to push into the playoffs.
North DeSoto (No. 30 in Division II) and Stanley (No. 31 in Division V) are in reach of their respective playoff brackets.
Logansport (No. 21 in Division IV) is in the best shape as the Tigers (7-7) have ridden a three-game winning streak to appear seemingly safe.
Logansport scored wins against Montgomery (47-43), LaSalle (55-41) and Northwood-Lena (14-12) to put itself in position to compete for a district title.
The Tigers get LaSalle on the road tonight before catching district favorite St. Mary’s on Tuesday at home. St. Mary’s won the first meeting 62-20.
North DeSoto (6-6) has dropped four straight heading into Thursday’s late-night game against Glenbrook. The Griffins are still looking for their first district win (which included a 50-point loss to Huntington on Wednesday), but North DeSoto may still be able to find their way into the playoffs with two non-district games on the slate.
North DeSoto plays at Bossier on Friday, at home against Haynesville on Monday, at Minden on Tuesday in the next week.
Stanley (8-20) snapped a three-game skid with its fourth win of the season against Converse before dropping its Thursday matchup to Zwolle. The Panthers play Florien twice (Friday on the road and Monday at home) before facing Negreet on Tuesday and Converse on Thursday to wrap up district play.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
The girls teams know whether or not they are in the playoffs, it’s where there first-round games will be that’s the biggest question.
Mansfield (No. 10) and North DeSoto (No. 16) are on the inside track to host first-round games while Logansport (No. 17) is looking to climb into the top 16 in its respective division.
The Lady Tigers are arguably the enigma of the parish, upsetting one-loss LaSalle but losing the other four contests in its last five.
Logansport (9-9) has fallen to Northwood-Lena twice, St. Mary’s and Montgomery. Logansport heads to LaSalle tonight with St. Mary’s on Tuesday and Montgomery on Thursday to finish the regular season.
North DeSoto (17-6, 2-2 District 1-4A) lost to Huntington (83-35) after dominating Evangel (61-23). The Lady Griffins have three games remaining in which they will be favored (at Bossier on Friday, at Minden on Tuesday and home against Woodlawn on Feb. 9).
Stanley (5-20) is out of the playoffs at No. 43 with four regular-season games remaining.