Mansfield defense short-circuits Keller Central

By Greg Bogomol

Special to the Star-Telegram

MANSFIELD -- Micah Littlejohn scored the game's first six points for Mansfield as the Tigers built an early lead that they never relinquished in knocking off Keller Central 45-34.

The Tigers (3-0) would use that early momentum to build a 28-13 lead at the half, but Central (1-3) didn't fall easy. The Chargers fought back in the third quarter to outscore the Tigers 12-1.

During that eight-minute stretch, senior Jordan Enloe led the comeback as he drained three shots from behind the arc for nine points in the quarter. The other three points came on a free throw from JR Rogers and a bucket from Alex Peebles.

Central used its defense to stay in the game. The Chargers trailed 29-25 entering the fourth quarter after holding Mansfield to 0 for 12 from the floor in the third. The Tigers' only point came on a free throw by Littlejohn, who led Mansfield with 15 points.

"They just came out there in the third quarter and played good defense and we didn't match the intensity they brought," Mansfield coach Richie Alfred said. "It was a game that I felt like we should win, and I think the kids looked past that."

Mansfield went back to its inside game in the fourth quarter. Littlejohn converted a three-point play. After a basket by Central's Cody Johnson, the Tigers went on a decisive 8-0 run.

Remington Mitchell (11 points) had scored five in that stretch. Littlejohn had three. Mansfield won despite shooting 11 of 49 overall, including 3 of 25 in the second half.

"We had the size advantage and didn't take advantage of that in the third quarter," Alfred said. "We have to learn to be tougher, and hopefully we learned some things tonight. We're 3-0, but records don't mean a lot at this point. It's about getting better."

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