By Noah Dalton
MITCHELL — Mitchell High School improved to 2-2 on the season, with a perfect 2-0 record in Patoka Lake Athletic Conference games on Friday, making a second-half push to beat Springs Valley 58-50.
The Bluejackets started the game on an 8-0 run, but the Blackhawks responded in kind, leaving Mitchell with only a two-point lead at the end of the first quarter.
Springs Valley continued their push in the second, taking their first lead of the game early in the quarter, on their way to a 23-20 lead at halftime.
They continued to roll in the third, extending their lead to as many as nine points on multiple occasions.
The Bluejackets managed to hang around, despite trailing by nearly double-digits for much of the period, they ended the third only down by five, 40-35.
“We were going through scoring lulls there for a long time and they hit some shots, but we were able to keep it close because we were defending. That’s what we’ve gotta do,” said Mitchell head coach Clint Roesler, speaking about some of their struggles against Springs Valley.
“We’ve gotta continue to do that until we can figure out how to get more consistent offense.”
After a few scoreless minutes from both sides to start the fourth, a three from Caedon Goldsberry and a basket from Gavin Robinson on the following possession evened up the score at 40-40.
The two sides traded three-pointers, with Goldsberry once again coming through for Mitchell, before another shot from beyond the arc, this time made by Garrett Floerke, gave the Bluejackets their first lead since the second quarter at 46-43 with just under three to play.
“That play was for Caedon to get a shot in the corner. We executed that really well and we saw a little bit of momentum. And when we can hit shots, that makes everything a little bit easier,” said Roesler.
Springs Valley grabbed the lead one last time shortly after, but another basket from Floerke and eight straight points from Robinson in the closing few minutes were enough for Mitchell to secure the comeback win.
“Really proud of our guys. We got off to a really nice start. We punched them in the mouth first and then they punched us right back maybe a couple more times than what we did. Some third quarter, middle of the game lulls. We need to figure that out,” said Roesler.
“Really good start, really good finish.”
Robinson was the leading scorer for the night with 24 points. Goldsberry was also in double-figures with 14 points, making 4/6 attempts from deep.
Blake Buchanan totaled 16 points to lead the way for the Blackhawks. Just behind him was Anakin Kayamo with 13 points.
The Bluejackets will take the court on the following night for a matchup against Salem, though inclement weather forecast for the day could wind up postponing the game.
Regardless, Roesler and his team will be ready for the game, looking to pick up another win and their first outside of the PLAC.
“We can’t be too tired. We can’t use, hey, we played last night, they didn’t, as an excuse. I don’t like excuses,” Roesler said.
