Dream Season Ends in Semis for Mason Boys’ Hoops

By Stephen Siegel
Falls Church Times Staff
March 11, 2016

The George Mason High School Boys Basketball team was living the dream. Winners of its first 29 games this season, including a last second, 74-72, thriller earlier this week, they were poised for an unbelievable 30th straight victory against zero losses as they headed to Richmond.

But their hopes for a state championship were dashed in the semifinal round of the playoffs by the Greensville County Eagles, who came from behind in overtime to end Mason’s stunning season Friday, 66-63.

Had they won, Mason would have played for all the marbles Saturday afternoon at 4 pm. Instead, they’ll head back north while Greensville County takes the place they wanted. Greensville is a rural county near the North Carolina border.

It wasn’t like they didn’t give it their best shot. Trailing 30-23 at the half, the Mason boys battled back and took a 55-51 lead in the fourth quarter, only to see Greensville tie it up shortly thereafter. Greensville then scored again to take a 57-55 lead late, but Mason’s Elliot Mercado, a senior and the team’s second leading scorer, was fouled with 27 seconds left.

Mr. Mercado may never have been in such a pressure-packed situation as this. The game and the season were on the line. Literally. But he nailed both free throws, making it look like he’d done it before. And the two teams headed for overtime.

Mason scored first in the overtime and even opened up what seemed like an insurmountable, 6 point lead at 63-57 halfway through the extra period. But this time, it was Greensville that showed resolve, digging deep and coming back, even without their two best scorers, who had fouled out. They tied the game at 63, and then hit a huge three point shot with just seconds remaining. A desperation three by Mason missed as time expired, and their season abruptly ended with a record of 29-1.