The defending Girls Division A State Champion George Mason High School Mustangs opened their new season tonight with a 59-44 trouncing on their Division AAA neighbors, the nearby Marshall High School Statesmen in the opening round of the “Battle of Route 7” in Falls Church.

The two schools’ boys teams vied in the second half of the doubleheader.

Trailing 28-26 at halftime, the Mason girls exploded in the third period, mounting a 23-7 margin in the quarter, to take a commanding lead. Leaving the surge were Bria Platenburg, Chantal Thomas, Nicole Mitchell and Lauren Kane. Mitchell wound up leading all scorers with 15 points.