It looked like Mansfield’s Kaylee Ward, an Oral Roberts University commit, allowed her younger teammates to get into the flow of the basketball game first. Then the Lady Tiger senior opened up the offense from wherever and whenever she wanted. After going scoreless in the eight minutes, Ward netted 32 points in the final three quarters to help down the visiting Gravette Lady Lions 65-50 on November 13 to start the 2025-26 season.
“With it being the first game, there were a lot of nerves,” offered Kaylee Ward, speaking about Mansfield’s first basketball game of the season. “We started a little slow in the beginning, but still had a little lead which soon led to a bigger one.”
That little lead Ward referred to was built upon some early contributions by a quad squad of MHS starting sophomores. Abby Smith, the point guard, scored on a pair of layups and nailed a three in the opening minutes. Miley Clopton, a small forward, played a physical game near the basket getting to the free throw line for a four of four at the line showing in the first period. Addison Howard, a shooting guard, drained a 3-pointer from distance in the opening period. Bailey Quick, another forward, went 1 of 2 from the free throw line and added a mid-range jumper, also in the first frame.
Mansfield led 17-12 in an anxious first 8 minutes. Gravette, lacing it up in their third game of the season, was steady. The Lady Lions sank a pair of 3-pointers of their own and played strong help defense against the D-1 recruited Mansfield senior.
Ward was not fazed. The four year starter kept her teammates involved before picking her spots and calling for the ball a bit more often the rest of the way.
In the second stanza, the 6’ 4” senior became more aggressive getting to the paint on three consecutive possessions in the period. Ward would add a pair of free throws and a three point make all before the half, a half Mansfield would lead at 35-25 at the break.
Smith, meanwhile, continued her hot hand as well. She knocked down a second shot beyond the arc and cashed in a difficult drive to the basketball for two more points. The tenth grade floor general had 12 points by intermission along with a handful of assists. She would finish with 13 points for the game.
“Abby, I’ve been hard on Abby in practice,” said Mansfield head coach Jacob Hindman, who was making his debut as the Tiger voice. “I told her, ‘You’re my point guard. I’ve got to be hard on you. You’ve got to be mentally tough.’ She showed it tonight - she played really well.”
The coach was visibly pleased about the play of his point guard, especially in the early going. He was equally excited at how his “big girl” Ward performed knowing she allowed her tenth grade teammates to build a measure of confidence in the early going.
“Just leadership,” Hindman began as he spoke of Ward’s overall game against Gravette and his first win as a Tiger coach. “She (Kaylee Ward) did a really good job of getting everyone involved. I think the biggest thing with tonight is she kind of was waiting a little bit - just letting it come to her.”
Mansfield’s perimeter players seemed more conscious of getting the ball inside to their All-State center in the second half. In particular, Smith and Clopton both offered up some well placed lobs to Ward who was now sufficiently stationed near the basket. The senior post player responded with a pair of bank shots around the rim as well as drawing frequent fouls on a swarming Lion defense.
Ward made 7 of 8 from the free throw line in the third period alone. She was 10 of 11 for the game. In the fourth, Mansfield’s elite level athlete swished another pair from the stripe, added her second made 3-pointer, and converted three more post moves to reach a 32 point evening.
“I’m super proud of the underclassmen for stepping up,” gleamed Ward. “We talked all night, had energy and momentum and confidence. Our chemistry is so untouchable this year. They know where to find me and I know where to find them!”
Hindman had the same basic thoughts as Ward in regard to the team’s energy and confidence. As he put it, “We got into the locker room for our pregame stuff and you could see it in their eyes. I was honest and told them, ‘My biggest concern was are you going to play hard?’ I looked at them and I said, ‘That’s not my concern anymore, because I can see it in your eyes you’re ready to get after it.’ They did. They scrapped, fought through it - mental toughness, you saw that from several girls.”
The Lions did not go down without some roaring efforts of their own. Palmer Pittman in particular kept the margin within reach. The sophomore guard made five 3-pointers including three in the second quarter. She would finish the night with a Gravette team high 18 points.
Gravette’s Meara Russell had three 3-pointers including one from deep in the fourth. The fourth quarter was one in which the Lions successfully connected on four long range baskets.
As a team, the visitors made 11 treys. They only made 3 of 11 from the free throw line. Mansfield was 19 of 29 from the charity stripe, creating a 16 point differential almost identical to the 15 point margin of victory for the Tigers.
“Gravette played hard,” Hindman confessed. “They didn’t give up. They kept fighting. We just played really well. We had girls step up. Addison (Howard) stepped up. Bailey Quick stepped up. Danielle Lowery stepped up.”
Howard finished with 8 total points. Clopton had 6 points. Lowery and Quick each had 3 points for the game.
Sr. Boys - Mansfield 26, Gravette 72
Mansfield’s senior boys played short handed against the Gravette Lions. MHS was without most of their regular basketball players. The majority of the roster is still involved in the class 3A state playoffs for football.
Mansfield only dressed out 6 players as opposed to Gravette’s roster of 16. Although the Tigers started off surprisingly fast, the overwhelming manpower of the Lions eventually won out.
Hunter Whittaker of Mansfield offered the early spark. The Tiger sophomore scored the game's first 9 points. The high volume shooter hit a three point basket to start the fireworks. He then converted a pair of back to back steals for successful layups. The second driving layup off the Whittaker steal was accompanied by a successful follow-up free throw awarded because of a Gravette foul during the act of shooting.
Gravette would correct their early mistakes and settle into an efficient offensive routine after the Tiger flurry. Nine Lion players would eventually score with three hitting for double figures.
Whittaker would lead the Tigers with 22 points. Drake Bruson would score two points for Mansfield. Remington Steele would also add two points for MHS.
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