For the first time in 10 years, the George Mason High School boys basketball team is playing in the VHSL state tournament. They kick off their state tourney run at 12:45 p.m. today vs. Middlesex High School at Robinson in Fairfax. Mason comes in at 16-4 on the season and Middlesex, from the Northern Neck, is 15-4. Keep checking this page for updates throughout the game.
2:04 p.m.: Mason tops Middlesex, 73-56. Advances to States Final Four. Complete story to follow
1:57 p.m.: 2:14 left, 63-53, Mason, key 3 pt play by Philippe Griffiths
1:48 p.m.: 2 straight 3s by Middlesex’s Malice Henderson closes gap to 55-46 with 6:01 left in game
1:43 p.m.: Mason leads 53-40 after 3 quarters. Middlesex run thwarted by offensive foul and technical just before the quarter’s end
1:36 p.m.: Mason up 50-33 with 2:16 left in 3rd. Another 3 by Ogle who now has 17 for the game
1:17 p.m. Mason leads 38-25 at the half on strength of 19-0 first quarter run and seven 3-pointers. Nate Ogle leads Mason with nine points in the 2nd quarter for 12 overall, including two 3’s.
1:11 p.m.: Mason breaks 3 minute scoring drought with a bucket by Eion Oosterbaan and then 3’s by Nate Ogle and Philippe Griffiths to go up 32-23 with 2 minutes left in the half.
1:01 p.m.: End of first quarter: Mason 20, Middlesex 13. Down 4-0 in first 30 seconds, Mason rattled off 19 unanswered points, but the lead shrunk with a Middlesex 3-pointer at the buzzer. Mason hit its first five 3-pointers without a miss.
12:53 p.m.: Four 3-pointers in first 3 minutes give Mason a 14-4 lead. Jeremy Stewart, Phillipe Griffiths, Noel Obusan and Nate Ogle all hit 3s.