Mustangs Season Comes to an End With a 67-31 Loss

For a team that lives by the three-point shot, George Mason High’s shots were either too short or too strong and only saw the Mustangs make 10 of 49 shots all night.

Those numbers resulted in a 67-31 loss in the semifinals of the Virginia High School League basketball tournament Thursday. The Mustangs never led against James River-Buchanan who started the game on a 9-0 run to start the game.

“We couldn’t throw the ball in the ocean,” Head Coach Chris Capannola said after the game. “They’re a very good team.”

It had been a decade since the Mustangs made it to the semifinals of the state tournament. That season also ended with Mason boys not advancing to the championship game. The Knights played a zone defense against Mason, shutting down shots the team was used to having open. James River outrebounded (46) the Mustangs (31), had fewer turnovers (James River had six to Mason’s 10) and made more three-point shots. A category Mason is used to leading in.

The Mustangs team bus was quiet heading back to Falls Church. An occasional whisper of a conversation between players could be heard from the back of the bus. In the front of the bus, Capannola sat alone in a seat only appearing as a silhouette until calls on his cell phone illuminated his face. For him, the conversations were at a minimum as well, just a few phone calls and a couple words with players or coaches.

“A lot of the shots were way off,” Capannola said. “We had no answer tonight.”

Mike Goad, head coach of the Knights, said he used Syracuse’s 2-3 zone to take away Mason’s shots. He said the plan was to keep the Mustangs from hoisting a lot of three-pointers. Keeping the Mustangs to 31-points wasn’t what he imagined, Goad said.

“The team’s defense was awesome,” Goad said. “The kids matched up and did well. That was the game plan to get out and defend the three.”

Nerves played a part in the loss but not more than the Knight’s defense, said Jeremy Stewart. Stewart, who scored 6-points on a one for 9 night (0-3 from three-point range), said James River played more outside zone against them. He said their defense took away shots they were used to getting.

“I was surprised,” Stewart said. “They were more spread out.”

James River’s Chris Ware led all scores with 18. Noel Obusan led the Mustangs with 7-points.