McCracken held the lead throughout the game, scoring enough to keep South Warren at arm’s length in the first half, but sophomore Brandon Stacker kept his team in the contest, finishing with 16 to be named Total Fitness Connection Player of the Game.
At the end of three periods, McCracken led 47-30 and things looked dire. But South Warren showed heart and toughness, cutting the lead to 47-39 midway through the final stanza. A turnover and subsequent three on the other side swung the momentum back in the favor of the Mustangs, who would hold off a Spartans team that refused to quit.
In the end, 57-45 was the final and Coach Derrick Clubb, who joined the postgame show live made it clear that he was proud of the fight in his kids. They played sixty-five minutes of basketball in twenty hours, one against their District rival, and refused to be blown out against a very good Mustangs team.
Brandon Stacker – 16
Zach McDaniel – 12
Brad Logsdon – 4
Dayton Gumm – 4
