The Cardinals ran into a pair of elite defensive teams over the weekend that kept the pace in their favor, and Mentor is now on a two-game losing streak with two games in a row scoring in the high 40s.
Following a 13-point loss at home to Brunswick in which they scored 48 points, 24 hours later the Cardinals fell to state-ranked Massillon Jackson, 85-48, on Jan. 21.
Mentor (9-3) was within striking distance late in the first half at 31-29 behind eight points off the bench from Matt Koski, but the host Polar Bears pulled away for the win the remainder of the game.
“It was 31-29 with 2 minutes left in the first half, from there, their strength and size took over,” Mentor coach Bob Krizancic said.
“We had trouble scoring and they beat us up and down the floor.”
No Cardinal scored in double figures. Mentor was led by Jack Korsok with nine points, and Koski and Shane Zalba added eight points each. Xavier Cheek scored six points for the Cardinals.
Massillon Jackson had four players in double digits offensively while improving to 12-1.
The Cardinals will try to break a two-game skid on Jan. 27 at Euclid.
Massillon Jackson 85, Mentor 48
Mentor (9-3): Mas. Trubisky 4, Korsok 9, Cheek 6, Man. Trubisky 3, Lynch 1, Koski 8, Blessing 1, Zalba 8, Libman-Phelps 5, Tatarunas 3
Jackson (12-1): Mazzeo 10, Nicolas 18, Dingler 4, Pallotta 9, Mueller 2, Zitney 4, Stanislawski 2, Shew 6, Young 20, Hill 10
Mentor 13 17 9 9 — 48
Jackson 18 21 27 19 — 85
Free throws: Mentor 4 of 9, Jackson 15 of 20; 3-pointers: Mentor 6 (Koski 2, Korsok 1, Man. Trubisky 1, Zalba 1, Tatarunas 1), Jackson 6 (Nicolas 3, Mazzeo 2, Pallotta 1); JV: Mentor def. Jackson
