Mustangs race past Falcons

View larger image Travis Cooper View larger image Ricky Neff

By Dennis Atwood - sports@nvdaily.com

WOODSTOCK -- The homestanding Central Falcons' attempt to break a three-game losing streak faced a huge challenge as they took on Bull Run District-leading George Mason in Wednesday's boys basketball game.

The Mustangs prevailed, 69-51, for their eighth straight win, and the best light Central can put on it is that the 18-point margin was just more than half the 33-point deficit they experienced in a 72-39 loss to George Mason on Dec. 20.

George Mason got out to a jump-start, scoring seven points before Central's Kolton Poston dropped in a two-footer, and the Falcons managed only seven points in the first period while the Mustangs tallied 15.

Central's best effort against the Mustang starters came in the second period, when Travis Cooper (co-game-high 14 points and six assists) nailed a 3-pointer and a six-footer in the lane, and Hayden Bauserman drained a 3 with one minute remaining as the Falcons added 14 to the scoreboard.

George Mason notched 19 in the period, as five different players scored -- led by Nate Ogle with six, plus 3-pointers by Eion Oosterbaan and Noel Obusan -- and the Mustangs took a 34-21 halftime lead.

In the third period, the Mustangs unleashed a 23-4 run to put the game out of reach.
Cooper's two layups were Central's only points in the first 6:15 of the frame.

"In the locker room, we said we just gotta outwork them because we knew they're pretty athletic and pretty quick and just have more experience than us," Cooper said. "We thought if we could hustle more and have more heart, we could not make as bad [a loss] as last time, or maybe have a chance of winning it, but it just didn't work out. We were a little off tonight, we just couldn't get anything to work out.

"They came out hot and we came out slow, and couldn't really get back into it."

Will Nunley II accounted for eight points in the outburst and Obusan (co-game-high 14) chipped in seven, as the Mustangs expanded their lead to 59-32 at the end of the period.

George Mason (14-3, 9-1 Bull Run) took the opportunity to play five subs for the majority of the fourth period, and Central (4-14, 2-8 Bull Run) took advantage by outscoring the Mustangs 19-10.

Sean Semones provided nine points for the Falcons, and Rickey Neff scored eight.

Central shot a respectable 19 for 32 (59.3 percent) on field goals, and made a season-high 16 assists, but only had four free-throw opportunities and made one of them, a strong testament to the Mustangs' defensive skills. The Falcons were just 4 for 21 on 3-point attempts.

"Missing that many 3s really hurt, especially the low percentage," Falcons assistant coach Roger Wilkins said. "That comes down a lot of times to playing against a really good defense.

"We hope to be competitive in all four remaining games. The goal is to get together as a team, play good defense and go 4-0. William Monroe will be a tough one."

The Mustangs are deep and experienced, with 10 seniors and five juniors on the roster, and have been playing without an all-region player from last year.

"[Getting work for subs] is the goal, as we're getting down toward the end of the season,"
Mustangs coach Chris Capannola said. "The bench gets shorter, and in games like this, where we can push ahead, it's good get them in.

"[Jeremy] Stewart has been out almost the entire year with a broken thumb and mono. He was an all-region player last year. This is his first game back since Christmas, so we're working him back in the mix. He's still our best player, but the other guys are comfortable in their roles, so where does he fit in?"