Mason Boys Win Semifinal, Move to Championship Saturday
March 9, 2012 by Falls Church Times Staff · Leave a Comment
Mason scores against Fort Chiswell
Photo Credit: ANDREW NICKLE
March 9, 2012
The George Mason High School boys basketball team thumped Fort Chiswell 62-50 today in the semifinals of the Virginia State Basketball Tournament to move to tomorrow’s Championship game.
Nunley (24) replaced injured Nate Ogle
The Mustang boys were underdogs entering today’s contest, lacking the services of senior forward Nate Ogle, who broke his hand in GM’s quarterfinal outing against Essex. But the Mustangs led from the start and built a double digit lead in the fourth period that Fort Chiswell was unable to overcome. Junior forward Will Nunley was a huge bright spot on the day, stepping into Ogle’s shoes and delivering a 13 point performance.
Tickets for tomorrow’s Championship games at the Siegel Center ($10 plus fees) are available online here.
Lady Mustangs Beat Glenvar, Head to State Finals
March 8, 2012 by sbriese · Leave a Comment
By STEVEN BRIESE
March 8, 2012
The Lady Mustangs of George Mason High School defeated Glenvar Thursday night 64-48 in the semifinals of the Virginia State Basketball Tournament. With the win, George Mason advances to the State Championship game against Gate City Saturday in Richmond.
Glenvar and Mason played a nip and tuck game early in the contest, but the Lady Mustangs managed to lead 18-15 at the end of the first quarter. In the second period, the Highlanders fought back to take a 19-18 lead. Sophmore Jaya Chavern came into the game and hit a three point shot the first time she touched the ball to put Mason back in the lead for good. Senior Krista Kelly drove the lane and scored to give Mason a 29-25 advantage going into the locker room.
The Lady Mustangs started the third quarter strong, with consecutive baskets by Sophomore Ashley Alexander, Senior Leah Roth, and Senior Lauren Kane, to open up a 10 point lead. Glenvar showed great determination and eroded the lead to single digits several times. Lauren Kane showed her skills at both ends of the court by blocking a three point shot by Glenvar, and then taking the ball all the way to the hoop at the other end.
Lady Mustangs were leading 45-36 entering the final stanza. The fourth quarter was all Mason, with the Lady Mustangs dominating the Highlanders on both ends to walk away with a double digit win.
Stephanie Cheney led the Lady Mustangs in scoring with 20 points on the evening. Lauren Kane had 13, Krista Kelly found several holes in Glenvar’s defense to add nine, Leah Roth scored seven, and Ashley Alexander tallied 5.
George Mason’s Championship game opponent, Gate City, advanced with a 48-42 win over Stuarts Draft earlier in the evening. The Blue Devils started the season 5-11 before turning a corner in the second half of the season to claw their way into the state finals.
The Championship game will tip off at 3pm Saturday at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Siegel Center in Richmond.
Mustang Boys, Girls Win Quarterfinals, Head to Basketball Final Four
By STEVEN BRIESE
March 3, 2012
George Mason High School’s boys and girls varsity basketball teams each won their quarterfinal state tournament games today, advancing to the Final Four next week
The boys team faced a challenge in their match with Essex High School. The Mustangs held a double-digit lead early in the fourth quarter, but Essex fought back to get within two points with one minute left. The Mustangs added a basket, plus excellent free throw shooting and punched their ticket to the final four with a 56-52 win. Four Mason seniors scored in double digits, as Nate Ogle led the way with 15, Phillippe Griffiths added 14, Dmitri Venets had 12 and Noel Obusan had 10.
The Lady Mustangs hoped to continue the success in their quarterfinal match against the Lady Tigers of Sussex Central High School from Sunny Creek, the Division 2 Region A champions. Mason jumped out to an early 5-0 lead with consecutive fast break baskets by Senior Lauren Kane. The Lady Tigers clawed their way back into the game, led by Senior Tatyana Calhoun and closed the score to 12-9. Mustang Senior Leah Roth turned a steal into a fast break basket with eight seconds left in the first quarter, closing the period with Mason leading 14-9. Read more
VIDEO: Concussion Victims Speak at GMHS
March 2, 2012 by Falls Church Times Staff · 2 Comments
By FALLS CHURCH TIMES STAFF
March 2, 2012
George Mason High School Trainer Vicki Galliher included student concussion victims and their parents in a compelling presentation at GMHS last week on the causes and effects of this common traumatic brain injury.
Galliher also included detailed representations of healthy and concussed brains and a video of former LaSalle University athlete Preston Plevretes, who in failing to allow a first concussion to heal before resuming play, set himself up for a tragic “second-impact” syndrome. Once a specimen of athletic prowess, the hard hit that Plevretes took in his fourth game following the initial injury left him extremely disabled and barely able to speak. Today he spends most of his time silently sitting in a wheelchair in his parents’ home.
To help avoid second-impact syndrome among GMHS students, Galliher became a pioneer in the adoption of “neurocognitive” testing among high schools. Using a computer-based program developed at the University of Pittsburgh Health Center, Galliher tests GMHS athletes before they begin high-risk sports in order to form a “baseline” of their healthy-state cognitive abilities, allowing her to retest an affected athlete later if a concussion is suspected in order to look for changes in their cognitive abilities which would indicate a brain injury. One parent and youth coach related that it was Galliher’s testing, rather than a doctor’s examination, which detected his son’s concussion.
An significant part of the presentation focused on detection and recovery. When Galliher’s testing methodology shows a concussion has occurred, Galliher has the athlete retake the test periodically until he or she has again reached the baseline performance level, indicating full recovery. In the interim, the Mason trainer supervises a modified study curriculum for the student, excluding physical activity and brain-draining everyday activities like using a computer or watching television.
But it was the words of two current GMHS athletes who have suffered concussions, and the accounts of their parental care requirements, that left the audience spellbound and teary-eyed. One of the young men, still recovering from the injury, described the difficulties he has faced while his brain heals. The second student, a victim of four concussions, related his decision to give up a sport he loves rather than risk long term memory loss.
The video, provided courtesy of FCC-TV, is one hour 30 minutes long.
FC Wrestler 2nd in VA
February 29, 2012 by Falls Church Times Staff · Leave a Comment
By FALLS CHURCH TIMES STAFF
February 29, 2012
Despite few opportunities for match play this year, George Mason High School 8th grader Hunter Sulc captured second place in the Virginia Middle School State Wrestling Championships in Richmond last Saturday.
Sulc, who trained with the GMHS Varsity this season, didn’t get a lot of matches because 8th graders are ineligible for varsity competition. Aside from the occasional exhibition match, he was limited to practice sessions.
But Hunter was eligible to wrestle in the Virginia Middle School State Wrestling Championships in Richmond on February 25th and took full advantage of the opportunity. Read more
Mason Girls Fall Short in Regional Championship
By STEVEN BRIESE
February 26, 2012
The George Mason High School Girls Basketball team lost to Stuarts Draft, 51-39, last night in the Region B Tournament Championship Game. The game was played at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg.
The Mustangs had a great start to the game, hitting their first three shots, plus Senior Lauren Kane blocking three shots, to open up a 6-3 lead. The Mustangs and the Cougars matched basket for basket through the rest of the first and second quarters, with Mason leading 23-19 at the half.
As the third quarter started, Stuarts Draft started sinking three point shots, and took the lead from Mason. The Cougars finished with 27 of their 51 points from three point range. Mason started a comeback in the fourth, but could not overcome a 12 point deficit. Read more
Mason Boys Drop Regional Final, Head to State Tourney
February 26, 2012 by Falls Church Times Staff · Leave a Comment
By FALLS CHURCH TIMES STAFF
February 26, 2012
George Mason High School fell to Dan River in overtime, 67-60, Saturday night in the finals of the Region B boys basketball tournament.
Mason led by one point at the half, and the game was tied, 53-53, at the end of regulation.
As the top two teams from the Region, both teams qualified for the State tournament. The Mustangs will play Essex High School in the State quarterfinals this week.
Mustang Girls Defeat Central Woodstock to Advance to Regional Championship Game
By STEVEN BRIESE
February 24, 2012
The George Mason High School Girls Basketball team defeated Central Woodstock 54-46 on Friday night. With this victory, they advance to the Region B championship game on Saturday.
Mason came out of the gate fast, with Senior Leah Roth starting the scoring with a three pointer. Good defensive pressure and offensive rebounding had the Lady Mustangs in the lead by 16-6 at the end of the first quarter. Both teams played with intensity, with many scrums for loose balls and offensive fouls. Mason extended their lead to twenty one points in the second quarter, and went into halftime leading 36-19.
Central Woodstock fought back in the third quarter, outscoring Mason by 10 points and cutting Mason’s lead to only seven points. Coach LaBryan Thomas made several adjustments to start the fourth quarter, and those adjustments paid dividends. Senior Lauren Kane opened the fourth with a shot from beyond the arc for three, and Stephanie Cheney added two baskets from the low post to increase the lead to 13. Central Woodstock continued to threaten, but had to resort to fouling in the last two minutes. Senior Krista Kelly was fouled and sank both free throws with less than a minute left to put the game out of reach for the Falcons.
Central Woodstock double teamed Junior Stephanie Cheney all night, which opened up the opportunity for three point shots, with Mason scoring 18 points from three point range.
After the game, Stephanie Cheney said she was “happy that the team kept our composure at the end of the game and hit our free throws.” Cheney and Central Woodstock guard Katelyn Poston led the scoring with 15 points each. Sophomore Ashley Alexander scored nine, Lauren Kane tallied eight, Freshman Katie Goodwin had seven points, and Leah Roth six points.
The Mustangs will play for the Region B Championship on Saturday night at 8:00 at Eastern Mennonite University against Stuarts Draft.
