Mansfield Boys' Basketball Team Knocks Off Weymouth

Many of the names and faces may have changed, but the Mansfield High boys' basketball team started off the tournament just like they have done the last two years.

Mansfield, the Division 1 South champion, took the first step to getting back to the Boston Garden by knocking off Weymouth (17-4), 69-66, in Weymouth Thursday night. Mansfield (15-7) will now play Hockomock League rival Franklin in the quarterfinals. The game is scheduled for Saturday in Franklin at 1 p.m. The winner will play the winner of the Taunton at Madison Park in the semifinals.

Terry O'Meara was the top scorer for the Hornets with 20 points, while freshman Brendan Hill, 17, and Michael Hershman added 10.

"He is the unsung hero of the game tonight," said Vaughan of O'Meara.

Darrian Lugy scored 23 points and Colyn Ahola added 20, keying a fourth quarter comeback for the Wildcats.

Mansfield looked like they were going to run Weymouth out of the gym in the second half, building up turning an eight-point 33-25 halftime lead into a 56-36 margin going into the fourth quarter.

"Weymouth played with their backs against the wall," said Vaughan. "They did everything they possibly could get back and try to win this game. That bothered us. They are a very good basketball team and they weren't going to let us come out of here with a 20-point win."

The Wildcats outscored the Hornets, 31-14, in the final frame, but could only get as close as three when Ahola buried a three from the right corner as the buzzer sounded.

"We did some things early in the fourth quarter that were probably a little immature mistakes, but we recovered and came up with three huge rebounds later," said Vaughan. "We did a fantastic job."

Mansfield was able take away the Wildcats' inside game, forcing them to shoot from the outside,

"We did a good job of clogging up the paint," said Vaughan. "We eliminated them from getting inside of the lane, We neutralized their athleticism to puts us into position that we could rebound the ball pretty well."

For a young team, playing on the road in the opposing team's gym in front of a large, loud crowd, the Hornets looked like it was business as usual.

"We've been in this situation before with Brian (Hershman) and Terry (O'Meara)," said Mansfield High head coach Mike Vaughan. "(Michael) Hershman and the rest of those guys have seen it. They have been in this situation before."

For Hill, it was his first high school tournament, but he didn't look the least bit nervous.

"He's played in a lot of big games," said Vaughan of Hill. "For him, it's just another game."

After beating the Wildcats, the Hornets will now get ready to play rival Franklin.

"We've got to clean up some things and we have to better at taking care of the ball," said Vaughan.

"We needed all the 20 points we had in the fourth quarter."