The George Mason High School boys continue to keep ticking despite licking their many wounds this season. Most recently the Mustangs lost two players to academic ineligibility — school policy demands that all players pass five core classes to remain eligible — and may yet lose another. Couple that with three players lost for the season due to injuries and the team has been forced to buoy its roster with additions from the junior varsity team.

And yet the Mustangs have battled on, narrowly losing on the road to Manassas Park on January 25, 52-50, and smashing Strasburg by a score of 61-45 on Tuesday night.

“Joel Chandler had 15 points and really sparked us,” Mason High Head Coach Chris Capannola said. “Josh Brew found his shot too and Jake Johnson was solid running the point.”

Capannola also applauded sophomore Mike Wolfe in his varsity debut.

“He scored, dished and defended like a veteran.”

As he has done so often this season, Joel Chandler led the Mustangs in scoring, this time racking up 18 points, including nine on first-half three pointers. Mason hit eight shots from behind the arc in the game, a season high in that category. The long range attack helped Mason build a 35-18 lead at halftime and cruise to victory from there.

“The game was close until we hit three-pointers on four straight possessions,” Capannola said. “It was 18-16 us and the next thing you know it's 30-18.

The win against Strasburg gives Mason a mark of 7-11 overall and 4-2 in the Bull Run District, adding to the importance of Thursday's home game against Madison County, who currently stands at 3-1 in the district. The Mountaineers defeated the Mustangs earlier this season at Madison County.

“If we shoot anywhere near like we did [on Tuesday] we will be tough to beat on our floor,” Capannola said.