By Allen Hamrick
The Mustangs locked horns with the Lumberjacks of Richwood Middle this past week in their final game of the regular season. Both teams came out looking like they were ready to eat the biggest bone in the bowl, but the Mustangs couldn’t hardly hold a full house on a basket. Mason Hall kept the Mustangs alive in the first period by dropping two three pointers on the table.
However, the Lumberjacks weren’t on crutches and dropped 10 points on the board in the first period to lead the game 10-6.
The teams traded blows standing toe to toe in the 2nd period as Mustang defense turned up the heat and started burning the lumber off the Jacks. Gunner Dobbins and Ryder McMillion started adding their two cents on the board as Dobbins was ice on the cheat line dropping seven of his nine points from the free line.
It was all tied up at 12 going into the lockers at the half, and it looked like it was turning into a manicure salon as fans were biting their nails. Both offenses came out shooting for the Vegas odds in the second half, nailing 12 more points on each side of the boards.
The game was tied up at the end of the 3rd at 24 all.
The fourth period would decide for each team whether they were going to be heroes or zeros at the end of their season. They both came out swinging and gave the fans their money’s worth; they traded shots like MMA rivals. Dobbins went to work on the line again, and with ice in his veins, he dropped four more shots from the free line and added two more from the field.
Mason Hall added another three to his hand and called with five threes in the game. Ryder McMillion had a run of twos in the second half and ended up with 11 points on the night. In the end, it was a furious ending to a great game with the Mustangs outlasting on the nets. The final score was Mustangs 39 Lumberjacks 32. This game was retribution for the Mustangs as the Lumberjacks beat the Mustangs back in the season 42-33.
This was a good game to learn from, and now they need to tweak the defense and get more players on the boards. The Mustangs will get their chance Monday night in tournament play against the Bears of Summersville Middle at Summersville. A win will move them toward the CWVAC Championship, or a loss ends their season. Come on out, catch the game and support the Mustangs as they go for the CWVAC championship.
The Lady Mustangs also begin their run to the CWVAC Championship against South Harrison Monday evening at home. Come out and support the Lady Mustangs.
