“We’re all level headed and we’re coming to play and going to school. Everybody’s buying into the system and coach (Isaiah) Carson is doing a great job. We’re all coming together and there’s no talking back. We’re just loving it.”
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What’s not to love? Springfield (8-1) has won seven consecutive games. The clutch win, featuring a game-high 16 points by Davis, vaulted Springfield into a three-way tie in the Greater Western Ohio Conference National East along with Wayne and Centerville, each at 3-1.
This was the first of a three-game midseason, program-defining stretch for the Wildcats. On Friday Springfield will host GWOC National East heavyweight Wayne. About 15 hours later Springfield will play Columbus Eastmoor Academy at 1:15 p.m. Saturday in the 15th annual Premier Health Flyin' to the Hoop at Fairmont's Trent Arena in Kettering.
Last season Massillon Jackson thumped Springfield 73-54 at Flyin’.
Centerville has been a tough out for Springfield. The Elks swept both conference contests last season by a combined total of five points. The teams split in each of the previous two seasons from 2013-15.
“I think we’re up to the task,” Carson said. “I love my leadership in Danny Davis and Mike McKay. We have team camaraderie. We did this as a team. Everybody who came in the game played a part for us and we got this win collectively.
“It’s a good win for our program. You just have to commit to defending these guys. They have no quit in them. You gotta be committed to defending them for 32 minutes and we did that.”
Trailing throughout the second half, Centerville closed within 42-40. Michael Wallace beat the pressing Elks for a layup with 25.9 seconds left and McKay answered again with two free throws with 5.6 seconds remaining for the final margin.
Wallace added 10 points and Leonard Taylor 8.
“This gets us ready for the playoffs,” Davis said. “I’m happy with this schedule. If we lose one it’s all right, we’re not going to panic because this gets us ready for the postseason. We’re all having fun and we all love each other. We’re just all working together.”
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View photos and video from the game at MyDaytonDailyNews.com
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