BROCKTON, Mass. - The Mansfield offense got out to a hot start against Brockton on Wednesday night and never cooled off as the Hornets toppled the Boxers 95-65.
The scoring was led by Mansfield's Kyle Wisnieski and Rocky DeAndrade, as the pair of senior guards combined for nearly half of the Hornets' 95 points, as Wisnieski contributed 25 while DeAndrade picked up 21.
Mansfield head coach Mike Vaughn praised Wisnieski after the game, saying “He's played quality the whole year, he started off the season well...He understand what he needs to do to lead this team. You couldn't ask for a better player. He's a kid that is putting the team on his shoulder in his senior year, saying, 'follow my lead.’”
Vaughn also had positive words for Wisnieski's play away from the ball, as he complimented the senior guard's attitude and defensive effort. Wisnieski provided ample reason for the praise, as he picked up six rebounds and eight assists in the contest.
Junior forward Micheal Boen had a big game against his uncle, Brockton head coach Bob Boen, putting up a double-double with 14 points to go along with 14 rebounds and five assists. After the game, Vaughn acknowledged that the family affair may have motivated Boen's play.
“I thought early he was forcing it a little but he got into a nice little rhythm and found spots to be effective,” Vaughn said.
Mansfield controlled the game from the opening tip, dropping in seven points before Brockton could find the bottom of the basket. DeAndrade highlighted a fast paced first period, putting up 11 of Mansfield's 24 points in the frame.
The second quarter followed suit, as Mansfield scored the first five points of the quarter, eventually stretching their ten point advantage to a 25point lead going into halftime. Mansfield's defense excelled in the quarter, holding Brockton to just nine points. Wisnieski led the scoring in the second for Mansfield, scoring seven points.
Brockton's scoring in the opening half, while not as prolific as Mansfield's, was well spread, with no player contributing more than five of the Boxer's 23 points. Jonathan Duvivier led the way with those five points for Brockton, while Jermal Murray and Kiano Monteiro were close behind with four a piece.
The third quarter opened the same way the previous two had, as Mansfield once again went on a run, this time putting up seven points before Brockton could light up the scoreboard. Mansfield’s two headed attack of DeAndrade and Wisnieski once again set the tone, combining for 18 of the Hornets' 24 points. Mansfield again stymied the offense of Brockton, as the Hornets held the Boxer offense to just 14, the third straight quarter Mansfield outscored Brockton by ten or more.
With Mansfield leading by 35 points going into the final frames, both teams allowed their reserve players pick up minutes. Mansfield's bench effort was led by junior forward Dean Jenssen and freshman guard Matthew Ehrlich, putting up nine and five points respectively.
Brockton's bench scoring provided a bright spot for the Boxers as both of the team's double digit scorers started the game from the pine. Duvivier controlled the Brockton offense in the final session, netting all of his team leading 19 points in the second half, including 14 in the fourth quarter. Amare Appleberry joined him as the only other Brockton scorer in double digits with 15 points, including eight in the fourth quarter.
After the game Bob Boen credited the Hornets' speed as the reason his Brockton team found themselves in a deep hole early in the contest
“We weren't getting back,” Boen said. They play with a tremendous speed, they push the ball up and get right into plays quickly. We were only getting three or four guys back, which always left somebody open...They were just playing one speed faster than we were.”
With the win, Mansfield improves to 15-1, including 12-1 in the Hockomock league, which keeps them atop both the Kelley-Rex Division and the league. They will be back on the court this Friday, with a road trip to Foxboro.
Brendan Murray can be contacted at [email protected] and followed on Twitter at @MurraySportTalk.