Lady Mustangs Win 2nd Straight State Championship, 58-47
The George Mason High School Mustangs girls basketball team won its second straight Virginia High School League Division 2-A championship Saturday, holding a double-digit lead throughout the second half to secure a 58-47 win over Lancaster High School.
The Mustangs (23-2) led 36-22 at halftime on the strength of 13 points from Nicole Mitchell, and never lead their lead drop below 11 in the second half on the strength of a tenacious defense, with a relentless fast break and strong ball handling on the offensive end.
When Lancaster closed Mason’s lead to 48-37 with 5:58 to go in the final period, Coach LaBryan Thomas called a time out and told his players to “buckle down on defense and retain their composure,” he said after the game. Two quick buckets after that pulled Mason back to a safe lead. The game was the final one for the coach’s daughter, point guard Chantal Thomas, and four others.