Mansfield Senior is beginning to find their stride with the regular season winding down, winning their third consecutive game in a double-overtime thriller against Shelby, 66-59 at Pete Henry Gymnasium.

 

The Whippets (17-4) entered the contest fresh off sweeping through the MOAC as undefeated league champions and took a 26-20 halftime lead behind the strength of their rebounding, holding a 22-11 advantage on the glass with 11 offensive boards.

 

The second half saw the Tygers ramp up their defensive pressure, holding Shelby to just 22 points as they outscored the Whippets 15-12 in the third, and forced overtime with a 13-10 scoring margin in the fourth. The first extra session would finish with the scoreboard knotted up at 54-54 before Roger Merrell III helped lead Mansfield Senior (10-11) on a 12-5 spurt in double-OT to close out an impressive win.

 

Merrell had an efficient night, making 8 of 13 FG’s for a game-best 24 pts while Shad Creamer added a dozen and Maurice Ware put up 10 with 11 rebounds. Cody Lantz led Shelby with 22 pts on 10-17 shooting as TJ Pugh put up 17 and both Andre Hill and Parker Lewis contributed with six each.

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