Mustangs Win Bull Run Regular Season Title, Focus on District Tourney

WOODSTOCK - Chris Capannola had a feeling his team would be victorious early in the day Thursday before the Mustangs boarded buses to Central-Woodstock High.

For the first time in 11-years, the Mustangs (19-4) won the regular season Bull Run District championship in a 70-48 play-in game over William Monroe. Mason won two of the three meetings between the two teams this season. The two schools played at a neutral site Thursday after Wednesday’s game was canceled because of inclement weather.

“I thought we were going to win but obviously you don’t think you’re going to win like this,” said Capannola, head coach of the boy’s varsity basketball team.

Mason will host the first round of the Bull Run District Tournament Friday with both the boys and girl’s teams playing Rappahannock High. The boys enter the tournament as the top seed for the first time in more than a decade. The doubleheader kicks off at 6 p.m. This is the second time since Jan. 31 the two schools will face off in a doubleheader.

The lopsided game started and ended physical as both teams frequented the foul line. Mason and William Monroe started off rough combining for 10 team fouls in the first quarter with the Dragons accounting for seven of them. The Mustangs managed to keep the athletic William Monroe from scoring and grabbing offensive rebounds throughout the game.

At the half, William Monroe was down 37-15 after only scoring five-first quarter points.

“In the beginning we blew them out,” said Noel Obusan. The senior guard scored 14-points in the game.

Capannola said he was glad to see his team come together the way they did. He was glad to see everyone chipped in to propel the team to the top spot going into the tournament.

“They worked hard for this,” Capannola said. “Noel played his game, Nate Ogle (20-points) dominated and Drew Nickle (6-points) was huge for us. Everyone contributed and that’s how this team is.”

Senior Philippe Griffiths said he’s glad his team ended the regular season as the regular season champs and now he wants more. Winning the regular season title was a goal for the Mustangs, he said and being the first team in 11-years to do so for the school is icing on the cake.

“It feels good,” said Griffiths who scored 10-points for the Mustangs. “It’s just what we expected.”