In a high energy fourth quarter, the George Mason High School girls basketball team edged out Lancaster High today in a 54-49 semifinal game victory that propels Mason to the state championship final tomorrow, March 14, at 3 p.m. in Virginia Commonwealth University’s Siegel Center.

“We struggled a little bit in the first half,” said Mason Head Coach Labryan Thomas. “But with a strong defense and hardworking ladies, I was overall very pleased with the game.”

Junior Nicole Mitchell, who was the game’s high scorer with 18 points, and senior Kim Kenny pushed Mason’s tally forward, with Mitchell hitting two jumpers during the game.

It was junior Chantal Thomas, however, with four successful free throws in the last 20 seconds of the fourth quarter that handed the game to Mason.

“For a small school in the state final, it’s a big deal,” said Thomas. Mason is a single A school. “Playing the big AAA schools has made these ladies work hard.”

Mitchell added, “We’ve had a couple of AAA schools notice us, especially this year.”

Tomorrow, the Mason girls face Region C Runner-Up Floyd County High, which bested opponent Lee High in its semifinal game Friday afternoon.