MANSFIELD, Mass. – Mansfield used an impressive all-around performance as they cruised past New Bedford on Wednesday night in the opening round of the state tournament.
After a dreadful first quarter in which the Hornets only registered nine points, Mansfield proved why they were merited with the number one seed in a loaded Div. 1 South bracket as they dominated the final three quarters of play en route to a 78-49 victory over the Whalers.
In the first eight minutes of play the Hornets made just four of their 15 field goal attempts, but rebounding and lockdown defense helped them have the upper hand over New Bedford going into the second.
Mike Boen put the first two points on the board for Mansfield but Tyree Weston answered back with a basket to tie the score. The Whalers had a chance to create a four point lead at 6-2 but their second and third baskets were waved off as Nick Baskin and Matt Ehrlich took charges. Sam Goldberg was a force under the hoop for the Hornets as the sophomore forward gathered five of his team high 10 boards in the quarter – three of them on the offensive end. Ryan Boulter added five as Mansfield led 9-2 going into the second frame.
The Hornets put their foot on the gas pedal in the second quarter and turned their seven-point lead into a comfortable 38-21 lead going into halftime.
Ben Clark drained a three to cut the Mansfield lead to 11-5, which was the closest New Bedford found themselves for the rest of the ball game. The Hornets went on to score 10 consecutive points to create a 16-point cushion at 21-5 on baskets from Boen, Nick Baskin and Ryan O’Neil before the Whalers got back onto the scoreboard with a three-pointer.
The trio of Boulter, Goldberg and Baskin combined to score the final 17 points of the half as Mansfield took a 38-21 lead going into the locker room.
“I think pregame jitters played a part of our struggles in the first quarter. Their press defense slowed us down a little bit so we really wanted to get the tempo up,” Mansfield head coach Mike Vaughan said. “The second quarter was kind of a reverse effect as they go out and score 19 points. We’re not trying to hold teams to two in a quarter but we’re also not trying to let up 19 either. We got the tempo to where we wanted the offensive pace to be. I’m very happy with the way we responded in the second and we played very well from there on.”
The Hornets continued their terrific shooting performance in the third quarter and were able to create their first twenty point lead of the game just two minutes into the half. Boen fed a beautiful pass from half-court into Ehrlich’s hands and the sophomore laid it in to make it 44-23.
Scoring just four points in the first half, Boen came out of the break red hot from the floor – shooting a perfect 6-6, including a three-pointer to go along with a made free throw. The senior captain scored 14 points in the quarter and Mansfield took a commanding 66-35 lead going into the final eight minutes of play.
“I think probably in the first half (Boen) was a little hesitant. He likes getting other guys going early and then he picks up two fouls and sat most of the second quarter – he’s a kid that doesn’t like to sit that much,” Vaughan said of his captain’s third quarter performance. “When he got it going there in the third, I think he just settled in to close this out for us. That’s the beauty of him – He has the ability to score and pass, he had two of the nicest passes that we’ve had all season. His play and leadership is off the charts.”
With the opening round victory secure, Vaughan emptied out his bench as he pulled his starters with the score 74-42 when there was 2:50 left to go.
It was an all-around team effort that advanced Mansfield into the quarterfinal matchup against Brookline on Friday night. The Hornets shot 51.6 percent from the floor and came down with 53 rebounds including 16 offensive boards. Boulter led the team with 21 points to go with seven rebounds. Boen finished with 18 points, six rebounds and five assists. Baskin contributed with 15 points.
“Baskin has gotten better all year long and for him to play the way he played tonight is kind of a tribute to how he has been putting in the work. He finally put a game together and we hope he can continue that as he gives us that third good offensive threat that we need,” Vaughan said of his team’s balance. “Ehrlich is another player that can play good offense for us but he was struck from a sprained ankle so he was kind of limited tonight.”
“(Goldberg) played really well, blocked out great and he had most of those (rebounds) in the first quarter where both teams were missing a lot. He kept a couple offensive boards alive and gave us second chance shots at it. His play has been tremendous all year too,” Vaughan said. “Like I said at the beginning of the year if we could get those sophomores and juniors playing like juniors and seniors, we’d have a very god team. Right now, I think we’re getting that.”
The Hornets will play host to No. 8 seed Brookline on Friday night in the quarterfinal. This marks the third year in a row where the two teams have meet in the tournament. Mansfield has gone 2-0 in the past two years.
“We like where we are at. We can compete with anyone in division one and we’re going to be a tough out,” Vaughan said. “For us, it’s just a matter of showing up every night and we compete on the defensive end and we take care of the ball on offense. If we do that, I think a team is going to have to show up to beat us. One day of practice to prepare for them and we’ll have to play our butts off on Friday night.”
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