Weekend Scouting Report: Lexington, Mansfield Senior basketball set for holiday showdown

Posted by Admin December 19, 2024 Basketball

MANSFIELD — Christmas has come early for Richland County basketball fans.

Santa has delivered some special gifts the weekend with a slate of basketball games that may not be matched again this season.

Let’s take a look at what is ahead with the Weekend Hoops Scouting Report.

Primetime Games

Mansfield Senior at Lexington boys, Friday

This is the game of the weekend. Both teams come in with Ohio Cardinal Conference title hopes. The Tygers and Minutemen were destined to battle it out for the OCC championship after last year’s fun race but the Minutemen stumbled on Tuesday night in a loss to Wooster while Mansfield Senior took care of business against Ashland. The Tygers had a full offseason and preseason to prepare for a special 2024-25 season and have shown it early on. The Minutemen have a tough injury to their All-Ohioan in Brayden Fogle so that is a massive game changer heading into Friday night. Rebounding will be the key in this one and without Fogle, it evens things up a bit.

Mansfield Christian at Lucas boys, Friday

The Flames have battled in some close ones this season with two of their wins last week coming by single digits. The Cubs stumbled out of the gate, but this is a Mid-Buckeye Conference game, something they have only lost two of in the last six seasons. Mansfield Christian has league championship aspirations and it will take a win over Lucas to put the Flames in that conversation.

River Valley at Shelby boys, Friday

The Whippets already have one MOAC loss, but the crazy thing is, every MOAC team has a league loss already this season. So while a loss here won’t end any hopes of a league title for the Whippets, losing two with so many games left to play really puts the pressure on.

Crestview at Mapleton boys, Saturday

The teams are tied atop the Firelands Conference and, along with St. Paul, look like they will challenge for that league crown. The Cougars hope Tyson Ringler has had enough time to recover from his dislocated finger to help them pull off a big league victory in a notoriously tough place to play. Cougars have Justice Thompson on their side so they have to be favored to win anytime they take the court.

Mansfield Senior at Lexington girls, Saturday

The records here are deceiving; Lexington has three losses by one score this season and Mansfield Senior seems to always play up in these types of games. Anytime you get Makaree Chapman and Annaleise Norris on the floor at the same time, you are in for a treat.

Mansfield Christian at Lucas girls, Saturday

The Lucas girls are 3-3 after going winless last season and the job first-year coach Jamie Grover has done over there has been outstanding. Mansfield Christian is on a bit of a roller coaster but that is expected with that young roster. This is a game that will tell us a lot about what we should expect from both teams after the calendar switches.

Key Players to Watch

Kyevi Roane, Mansfield Senior

Roane made the switch to point guard this season and has flourished. He has his hands in every single play, but what makes him great is his ability to battle for a defensive rebound and start the fast break. When he does corral a board, everyone else can get a jumpstart on getting to the offensive end, and that is when the Tygers are most dangerous.

Seven Allen, Lexington

With Fogle out, Allen has stepped up his game. He will have the ball in his hands on nearly every offensive possession Friday, so it will be up to him to handle the pressure, make the right reads and score when Lex needs a big bucket. He plays with a lot of passion, so expect that to come out Friday.

Davion Mack, Mansfield Christian

One of the most athletic young players in Richland County, Mack has taken his game to a new level this season. He dropped 30 and 22 points last weekend and the Flames will need that kind of effort, plus some, vs. Lucas. If he can continue to score at will, the Flames have a great chance to compete for a league championship.

Zac Winters, Lucas

A lanky lefty with a smooth mid-range jumper, Winters will be the key if the Cubs want to compete for another Mid-Buckeye Conference championship. He has to be the offensive catalyst and needs to set the tone defensively. If he can play the defensive game of his life on Friday night, the Cubs have a great chance.

Brayden DeVito, Shelby

Fresh off of a historic football season, DeVito hasn’t missed a beat on the basketball court. In his first game, he dropped a 30-piece. The Whippets need some time to gel with pretty much a whole new starting lineup and several new players to the program. It will be on DeVito to cover that gap.

Justice Thompson, Crestview

So far, Thompson is the player of the year in Richland County, topping out at 33 points last week in a win over Lucas. There is so much to love about his game, from his shooting ability to his strength inside and even his effort on defense has really picked up. If he can be a shutdown defender, college coaches will be knocking down his door even more than they already are.

Makaree Chapman, Lexington

Chapman is a triple-double threat every time she steps on the court. She can score, she can rebound and she has a knack for picking up steals. She has had to carry more of the scoring load this year and Lady Lex is on the verge of winning some of those close games they have dropped early on.

Annaleise Norris, Mansfield Senior

Norris has every tool a basketball player needs to be the most dominant on the floor. She is a beast on the boards and scores well in the paint. She is being asked to do so much for the Tygers as the younger and inexperienced players adapt to the varsity level. When they do, she will be able to play her natural position and will be back to posting double-doubles.

Katie Griffey, Lucas

The Cubs have already improved 300% from last year’s win total and it is because of players like Griffey. A dominant post player, Griffey can flip a game with her play in the paint. She is a solid rebounder and had some great post moves that are hard to stop. If she can keep playing the way she has early on in the season, the Cubs could make a run at a league championship in the second half of the season.

Zy Davis, Mansfield Christian

The quickest guard on the court, Davis jumps passing lanes on defense and can beat everyone down the court in transition. She has evolved as a ball handler for the Flames and has accepted the point guard role. As she gets more comfortable, the Flames will flourish behind her.