At 11-2 overall and 8-0 in the Ohio Cardinal Conference, the Mansfield Tygers have been able to maintain their lead in the OCC by taking two in conference play last week over Wooster last Friday and Madison on Saturday.  The Tygers have won six straight heading into this weekend, three straight without their best player 1,000 point scorer Keon Johnson.

It would appear the Tygers will be without their senior point guard once again this week as Mansfield Senior plays two this weekend once again, hosting Clear Fork at home in OCC play, then hitting the road on Saturday evening to play the number one ranked team in Division I in the state in 13-0 Columbus Northland.  Tygers coach Johntory Reese, says several Tygers have stepped up to fill the roll of Johnson.  Players like CJ Simmons, Robert Jones, Donovyn Benson, Malon Samuel, Jameel Butts, Chek Washington and Jalen Reese.  As the coach put it, "to this point it's been a total team effort by everybody."

The Tygers lead the OCC by a game over West Holmes (11-3, 7-1), who they will play again at Pete Henry Gym on Friday, February 8th.  Every other team in conference has three or more losses heading into week nine of the season.