GOSHEN, Ind. – Five players scored in double figures for the Maple Leafs men's basketball team on Saturday afternoon, but it wasn't enough to get past Madonna. The Crusaders won in overtime, 83-81.
 
"I'm proud of our effort today," head coach Jon Tropf said. "We never folded. We battled. Give credit to Madonna as well – they did a great job putting pressure on us defensively and got to the free-throw line more than us."
 
Goshen started strong, scoring the first five points of the game and building up a seven-point lead multiple times in the first half. The lead had slipped a bit by halftime, but the Leafs still held a 34-31 edge.
 
A quick basket by Michael Johnson to start the second half was the beginning of an 11-4 run for Goshen. The Leafs led 52-42 with under 14 minutes to go. Things changed when Madonna's Mark Mettie came alive. Goshen held the 6-10 senior to just three points in the first half. He is averaging 19.0 points per game this season. Mettie woke up in the second half and exploded with 20 points. With just under five minutes to go, the Crusaders led 63-62, their first lead since it was 6-5.
 
A bucket by Goshen's Austin Branagan with 1:35 to go tied the game at 68. With 25 seconds left, Mettie scored and gave Madonna a three point lead. Another Branagan basket with 13 seconds to go was crucial, and Greg Johnson added two more pivotal points with 2.9 seconds left. That tied the game 73-73, Madonna's last-second effort was just a bit off the mark, and it went to overtime.
 
Goshen scored first in the extra period with a couple of free throws, but Madonna was back for more and built a three point lead. Goshen retook the lead with 1:38 to go from a basket by Ryan Mansbarger, but the Crusaders charged on from there and won 83-81 in overtime.
 
"We need to get better at defending without fouling," reflected Tropf, "and getting the big rebound when we need it."
 
Elias Ramirez, Ryan Mansbarger, Clayton MacLagan, Michael Johnson, and Austin Branagan all scored in double figures. In Mansbarger's 40 minutes of playing time, he added five steals, five assists, and eight rebounds. Goshen made ten three-pointers and had 15 points off of Madonna's turnovers. Mark Mettie finished the night with 28 points for the Crusaders.
 
Madonna advances their record to 4-1 this season and 2-0 on the road. They have consistently been over .500% each of the last four years.
 
Goshen falls to 2-4 as they play in Chicago on Tuesday against Roosevelt. That game will be at 7:00 pm EST. The next home match for Goshen is on Saturday, November 20 at 3:00 pm. That game is against Saint Francis (Ind.) and begins Crossroads League play. It will begin after the same teams on the women's side conclude their 1:00 game.