Mason High Girls Fall in Bull Run Battle

With an unbeaten record in the Bull Run District play, the George Mason High School girls basketball team could not stay that way as they traveled to similarly unbeaten Strasburg last Friday.

Playing without junior center Alex Pender, Mason put up a stiff fight but trailing by two with two minutes to go could not capitalize on any opportunities to pull past their rival for the win.

“We had three or four opportunities to tie and go ahead but we didn’t score once,” Head Coach Dan Wilkie said. “[Strasburg] was very solid down the stretch and made key free throws.”

Junior Maggie O’Toole scored 18 points and pulled down seven rebounds to lead the Mustangs, while freshman Meredith Hamme scored eight points in the loss.

The loss thrust the Mustangs back into second place in the Bull Run District, but Mason will have another shot against Strasburg Feb. 9 at 7:45 p.m.

Coming off the loss and again playing without Pender, the Mustangs suffered another setback, falling to West Potomac 53-50. “Alex really would have helped in the rebound department,” Wilkie said. “Again we didn’t capitalize on opportunities to go ahead, turnovers and we got out hustled under the boards. That cost us the game.”

O’Toole and Hamme again led the assault Friday, and again posted 18 and eight points respectively. Sophomore Ashley Thompson scored seven points while grabbing 10 rebounds. Freshman Annie Zweighaft scored seven points, while senior Alison Van Pelt added six. The Mustangs rebounded Tuesday against Highland with their biggest offensive output of the season, winning 73-56 behind a 28-point performance from O’Toole.

Meanwhile, Hamme turned in a sterling performance from the foul line, converting 14 of 15 free throws en route to an 18-point showing. Mason next travels to Rappahannock Friday at 7:45.

“We’re going to take the next two weeks and focus on some fundamental work and make sure the team is clicking on all cylinders when it comes to the offenses and presses,” Wilkie said. “I feel very confident that this team has a shot to win the remainder of its games and hopefully make some noise at the regionals.”

Mike Hume may be emailed at mhume@fcnp.com