Mustangs Take Two Straight, Route Rapp. and Word of Life

After dropping three straight games the previous week, the George Mason High School boys basketball team emphatically righted its metaphorical ship, winning two in a row by a combined margin of 56 points.

Friday the Mustangs exploded for 91 points, burying Rappahannock by a 91-52 final score. All 14 players scored for Mason, six scoring in double figures led by senior Josiah Larson’s 14 points and 11 rebounds. Senior Colin Molano scored 11 points while adding seven assists, and seniors Stephen Williams, Robert Kuhn, Sam Ehsani and sophomore Ben Zorn had ten points on the score sheet. Junior Travis Greene also figured among the high scorers, posting a line of nine points, eight boards, six assists, six steals and one block.

Senior Will Straub (4 points), junior Justin Morrison (4), senior Sean Dawson (2), junior Zack Hall (2), junior Paul Mene, freshman John Schwengel (2) and junior Adam Chandler (1) rounded out the scoring for the Mustangs. As a team, Mason recorded 29 assists to just 12 turnovers.

“We’re starting to make the extra pass,” Mason Head Coach William Broderick said. “I think we’re really starting to gel as a team.” The scoring totals have certainly been evidence of that. The Mustangs continued their hot shooting against Word of Life Tuesday night, topping the ambassadors 87-70.

While the final score was against lopsided, the score was tied at 42 in the third quarter.

The Ambassadors tied the score after a string of unanswered baskets, but the Mustangs pulled away after a barrage of three-pointers from Molano and Sean Dawson and a slew of mid-range jump shots from Greene. Straub worked the glass for some easy buckets in side, while Mason found Williams open under the basket repeatedly to close out the game and ensure the win.

Williams finished the game with a career-high 26 points to go along with eight rebounds. Molano chipped in with 11 points and eight assists on the day, with Greene adding 10 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists, three steals and four blocks.

Broderick also attributes some of the Mustangs’ recent success to the insertion of Mene into the starting lineup. Against the Ambassadors, Mene recorded 15 points to go along with six rebounds and five assists.

“We played pretty well,” Broderick said. “They were a pretty athletic team and that was a good win.” The win streak sets Mason in the right direction heading into its game against district opponent Strasburg tonight at 7:45 p.m., weather permitting. The Mustangs are currently tied with Strasburg for fourth place in the Bull Run district at 2-3.

“With Strasburg already beating us (68-62, Dec. 21 at Mason) this game could be the difference between a game at home or on the road to start the district tournament,” Broderick said. “We’ve got to come to play.”

Mike Hume may be emailed at mhume@fcnp.com