MANNFORD — Per usual, the Mannford field house was loud Friday. The student section looked like itself — raucous, rowdy and unapologetically supporting their Pirates. The upper level looked like itself — present and engaged, making noise when needed, and lastly, the Mannford Pirates finally looked like themselves — again.
After a long layoff, the Mannford High School boys basketball team returned home and put together a statement win, knocking off Berryhill High School 55–37 in a game that never really drifted into the doubt column.
Head coach Alex Moore said afterward, “This was a big win for us after a long layoff. Berryhill is a solid team and they have not been beat by that amount all year.”
From the opening minutes, Mannford played with the edge of a team that had been waiting to hit someone other than itself in practice.
Logan Bynum made sure the wait was worth it.
Bynum poured in 32 points — his highest scoring game of the season — attacking gaps, finishing through contact, and driving the offense when Berryhill tried to settle the pace.
“Logan Bynum had his highest scoring game of the year,” said Moore. “He carries a big load for us on offense and he carried us tonight, scoring wise.”
While Bynum lit up the scoreboard, Landon Owens quietly authored one of the most disruptive performances Mannford has seen in years.
Owens finished with a double-double — 12 steals and 10 rebounds — yes, the steals are not a typo.
Moore made sure that point landed, saying, “Landon Owens recorded a double-double without getting the points part of it, which is extremely difficult to do. He had 12 steals, an amount I have not seen in my six years here, and added 10 rebounds.”
Owens turned defense into chaos, jumping passing lanes, collapsing possessions, and never letting Berryhill get comfortable.
“He is only scratching the surface of what he can do,” said Moore Max Moore’s night didn’t come with fireworks, it came with control — the kind that wins games when scoring ebbs and flows. He led Mannford with five assists, grabbed seven rebounds, and swatted three shots, anchoring the defense as Berryhill learned to avoid the paint.
“Max Moore has had better games, statistically speaking, but this game was perhaps the best he has played all year,” said Coach Moore. “He was great defensively and led us in assists with five. His rim protection was also as good as it has been all year. He had three blocks, a high amount considering Berryhill did not take a bunch of shots inside the paint.”
Around them, the Pirate crew filled in the edges: JJ Hindsman 8 eight points, while Max Moore, Cooper Ausbern, and Landon Owens each scored 4. Jackson Spess chipped in 3. No one chased numbers. Everyone chased possessions.
The win moves Mannford to 8-8 overall and 5-4 in conference play, right where things start to matter. The Pirates head to Kiefer on Tuesday, Feb. 3, before returning home Friday, Feb. 6, to host Perkins on Senior Night.
“We have a couple of big games coming up this next week so hopefully this win can help propel us forward,” said Moore.