Ripple leads furious fourth-quarter rally as Mansfield Christian top New London in opener

MANSFIELD — Alexis Ripple looked up at the scoreboard with 3:53 left in the game and her team leading 41-40 over New London.

Moments earlier, it was a comfortable 41-32 lead after she converted on a free throw, but in the blink of an eye the Wildcats went on a wild rally to cut it to one point midway through the fourth quarter. So, the Mansfield Christian senior gritted her teeth and got to work. She headlined an 11-2 run as the Flames closed out a 52-42 opening night win over their nonconference rival.

Ripple scored nine of her game-high 20 points in the fourth quarter, including a personal 5-0 run to push a 46-40 lead into an insurmountable 51-40 lead with 2:05 left in the game.

"We all just knew we had to get this together," Ripple said. "We had a great third quarter and that told us that all we needed to do in that moment was calm down and get back to doing what we know. We just wanted to get back to the game we play.

"I was talking to coach on the sidelines and she just told me we needed someone to step up right now. She didn't care if it was me or Kyleah or anyone, we just needed someone to lead. I told her I could do it."

The Flames held a 13-8 lead at the end of one quarter and a 25-23 lead at the half as they were locked in a tight one with a very young New London squad that refused to go away quietly.

The Flames started the second half on a 7-0 run to build some comfort. It was a stretch that New London coach Eric Mitchell knew was crucial to the outcome of the game.

"I always talk about the first three minutes of the third quarter are the most important minutes of the game, and when I said it last year it always seemed to backfire," Mitchell said. "So, I didn't say it this year and it still happened. We have to figure out how to get over the hump. That is where the intensity and momentum of the game really swung. We got back in a good position, but just came up short in the end against an experienced team."

Mansfield Christian pushed its lead out to 39-29 through three quarters.

"We got some fire under us a little bit," Mansfield Christian coach Megan Young said. "The seniors stepped up at halftime and set some goals for the second half, and limiting turnovers was one of the main ones because in the first half we were making some silly, stupid passes that we shouldn't be doing. They refocused and stepped up over the final four minutes and led us to this win."

"Coach told us to cut down on our turnovers, so that was a major focus in the second half," Ripple said. "We went back to our 1-2-1-1 press to try and get some steals, create turnovers and score off of them. And that helped get us started in the third quarter."

Playing in the first game of the year without a three-year starter at point guard and a key senior who moved out of state, the Flames were trying to work out some different things in game one. Abby Little took over point guard duties and handled herself well and their patented 1-2-1-1 press worked as the game rolled along and players learned their new positions. The Flames knocked off some rust and got the job done.

"I was proud of the way they turned it up after halftime," Young said. "They worked out some of the kinks. It isn't anywhere where we want to be and we know we have a lot to work on, but we have great players who listen well and that is all I can ask of them.

"One thing our team loves to do is press. We didn't do a lot of our 1-2-1-1 press, which is hard to do after losing some players from last year, so tonight was about trying to find some team chemistry and revamp our team and figure out who was going to take charge. I thought Abby did a great job at running the point. The more confidence she gets, the better she will be."

New London boasts six freshmen, one sophomore and two juniors on the roster, but for a stretch in the fourth quarter it seemed as if they were all veteran seniors. Trailing 41-32, the Wildcats rattled off eight straight points to cut it to one behind Emilee Rowland's personal 6-0 run and a bucket by Valery Henry.

It was encouraging for Mitchell to see his young team play so well in the fourth quarter of a season-opening game.

"I told the girls after the game that when we have six freshmen, and they are talented freshmen, that is the first time those girls have lost since fourth grade," Mitchell said. "They have to grow up fast. We are never going to ask anything of them that we don't think they can do. We knew Mansfield Christian was going to press us with their experience and our inexperience, and I thought our girls handled it well for the most part."

The Flames did close things out in dominating fashion, but if a couple of possessions had gone a different way New London is still in it late.

"Late in the game, Mansfield Christian goes to the line three times and we gave up two offensive rebounds, and I thought that was the difference in the game," Mitchell said. "It was a one-point game and it ballooned to 10 after that. It was tough to recover from that. We had some first-game jitters and went into a panic mode a little bit. I want to see us take care of the ball a little more and over time. We will adjust to it."

Experience prevailed. Ripple, who is a four-year starter for the Flames, was sensational down the stretch after battling foul trouble in the first half. She totaled 16 points in the second half alone.

"We always need that from her," Young said. "She got in some foul trouble early in the game because she was just fired up and playing aggressively wanting the ball. She played much smarter in the second half on defense and it led to a great offensive half as well."

Kyleah Jones chipped in with 12 points, including eight in the first quarter to help the Flames build an early lead. Little added 11 as the Flames showed plenty of balance on the offensive end.

Madison Rowland led the Wildcats with 12 points while Emilee Rowland added 10 and Henry had seven.

New London (0-1) travels to Edison on Saturday.

Mansfield Christian (1-0) will host Black River on Tuesday.

"Getting win No. 1 was a big focus for us," Young said. "We knew New London looked really solid from playing them in 3 on 3 in the summer and there were some great underclassmen who can play the game. I told our girls that just because they are upperclassmen doesn't mean these freshmen can't come in and control the game, and they gave us a run. Credit to them."

jfurr@gannett.com

740-244-9934

Twitter: @JakeFurr11

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Mansfield Christian tops New London in girls basketball season opener