Mustangs Stampede Over Visiting Strasburg

The lady Mustangs had to wait until Wednesday to play their opening game in the Virginia High School League Region B quarterfinal game. The game had been postponed from Tuesday night because of inclement weather but didn’t seem to bother the Mustangs.

The Mustangs routed Strasburg 68-35 and will play Bull Run District rival Clarke County Thursday night.

“We just have to fight through it,” said Mustang Head Coach LaBryant Thomas. “It’s going to be tough.”

The Mustangs opened the game on a 6-0 run and were up 20-8 by the end of the first period. Strasburg’s Katlyn Ayers battled Mason’s towering center-forward duo of Ashley Alexander (10 points) and Stephanie Cheney in the paint to lead her team in scoring with 14.

Thomas said he wasn’t happy with the way his team played and at half time, he said he let them know they had to step it up.

Cheney said Thomas told them if they didn’t wake up and play better, they were going to keep getting punched in the mouth.

“We came out pretty rough,” said Cheney who led all scores with 24 points. “By no means did we play our best game.”

With the first game of the tournament over with, the Mustangs don’t have much turnaround time before facing a familiar foe.

Thomas said his young team has to play better to remain in the tournament. Junior guard Leah Roth said she’s sure the team is ready for the challenge.

“We know every team is out to get us,” Roth said. “We’re the defending state champs. We always have targets on our backs.”