George Mason High School’s varsity boys basketball were dominant this past week as they won all five of their games by an average margin of 38 points.
They downed Warren County High School 74-39 on Wednesday, Dec. 9; J.E.B Stuart High School 47-24 on Thursday, Dec. 10; Luray High School 87-38 on Saturday, Dec. 12; Riverside High School 78-38 on Monday, Dec. 14 and Central High School 101-58 on Tuesday, Dec. 15.
A smorgasbord of opponents were used to display the versatility of the mighty Mustangs.
For instance, take the Mustangs’ game against J.E.B. Stuart High School.
Neither Bull Run nor conference rivals, Stuart has little effect on Mason’s postseason chances, permitting the team to experiment with different formations and nuances to further their game.
“I try to tell them there’s going to be a lot of games where we’re ahead so…let’s try and work on some stuff,” head coach Chris Capannola said. “We tried a little 1-3-1 zone…maybe [they’ll] try [a] new spin move, and that’s OK because we tell them to be creative.”
Senior forward Robert Tartt posted his first double-double on the year against Stuart, scoring 20 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.
Or if that doesn’t suit you, take the Mustangs’ match against Luray High School.
The Bulldogs came into Falls Church on Friday, Dec. 4 and suffered a convincing 65-44 defeat, but it felt like they were spared the full brunt of Mason’s ability.
They wouldn’t be so lucky the second time around.
The Mustangs vengefully defeated the Bulldogs in their own house as Mason’s starters put up 70 points through three quarters. Senior Devin Thomas sank six three-pointers and scored 21 points in the match and Tartt and senior guard Elliot Mercado both tacked on 13 points.
But possibly the best example of Mason’s dominant play so far this season came in their games against Bull Run District rivals Warren County High School and Central High School, which played out in polar opposite fashion.
Mason’s defense pestered Warren County, holding the Wildcats to their lowest point total all year.
Against Central, Mason flipped the script and put up a gaudy score of 101 points as they scored from short and long range seemingly at will. Even Mason’s reserves got in on the action and scored the last few buckets to surpass 100 points and send the Mustang bench into a frenzy.
For now, everything is gravy for Mason as their hard work is met with instant success. But Capannola is all too familiar with the complacency regular season success can bring and is trying to keep the players mentally sharp by setting new goals for them regularly.
Will it work? It’s still early in the season, but if you ask the players you’ll get your answer.
“We want states,” Noble said. “Any team that’s in our way, we’ve got to knock them out.”
Mason plays their next game against another district opponent, Strasburg High School, next Tuesday, Dec. 22 at home.
