Mansfield Senior Tygers claim share of OCC title with win over Madison Rams

The Tygers will share the 2025-26 title with Ashland, Dover and New Phila after beating rival Madison 69-61.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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The Mansfield Senior Tygers basketball team clinched a share of the 2025-26 Ohio Cardinal Conference (OCC) title with a 69-61 victory over the Madison Rams. The Tygers will split the championship with Ashland, Dover, and New Philadelphia, all of whom finished the conference season with 10-4 records. Senior DJ Corbin scored 10 of his 12 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Tygers to the win, while Justin McCraney had a huge game for Madison with 33 points and 10 rebounds.

Why it matters

The OCC title is the first for the Mansfield Senior program since the 2018-19 season, ending a six-year drought. The Tygers' conference championship, even as a shared title, provides a boost of confidence heading into the postseason tournament.

The details

The Tygers were locked in a tight battle with Madison through three quarters, leading 47-44 heading into the fourth. That's when senior DJ Corbin took over, scoring 10 of his 12 points in the final frame to help Mansfield pull away for the 8-point victory. Corbin and fellow senior D'Vontae Johnson combined for 16 points in the fourth quarter. Madison's Justin McCraney had a monster game with 33 points and 10 rebounds, but the Rams' comeback effort fell short.

  • The Tygers beat Madison on Friday, February 14, 2026.

The players

Mansfield Senior Tygers

The boys basketball team from Mansfield Senior High School, who clinched a share of the 2025-26 Ohio Cardinal Conference title with the win over Madison.

Madison Rams

The boys basketball team from Madison High School, who put up a strong effort against the conference champion Tygers.

DJ Corbin

A senior on the Mansfield Senior Tygers team who scored 10 of his 12 points in the fourth quarter to lead his team to the victory.

Justin McCraney

A standout player for the Madison Rams who scored 33 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the losing effort.

Marquis Sykes

The head coach of the Mansfield Senior Tygers, who guided his team to a share of the OCC championship.

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What they’re saying

“No, never. But I think I will hit (Lexington coach Scott Hamilton) Hammy up and tell him I appreciate the help.”

— Marquis Sykes, Head Coach, Mansfield Senior Tygers (yahoo.com)

“In the third quarter, I faced some personal adversity with that foul call. Instead of pouting and getting out of my hookup, I faced that adversity and played the fourth quarter even harder. I have been through adversity my entire career and the key is to not let it mess up the rest of the game. There was still plenty of game left and my team needed me.”

— DJ Corbin, Senior, Mansfield Senior Tygers (yahoo.com)

“The guys have been playing well for a long time now with six wins in eight games and then trading wins and losses for a bit, but we see Mansfield as a great team with a shot to go deep into the tournament and our guys showed they could compete with them. I am super proud. It sucks to lose and it will never be acceptable, but I couldn't have asked them to play any harder. Nothing to hang their heads about.”

— Davey Hipp, Head Coach, Madison Rams (yahoo.com)

What’s next

The Mansfield Senior Tygers will look to carry the momentum of their conference title into the postseason tournament, where they will aim to make a deep run.

The takeaway

The Mansfield Senior Tygers' shared Ohio Cardinal Conference championship, their first since 2018-19, demonstrates the team's resilience and ability to overcome adversity. The Tygers' success this season has built a strong foundation for the program's future, and the title will provide a valuable confidence boost heading into the postseason.