By Allen Hamrick
The Lady Mustangs were all in for basketball this past week, taking the crown on both games with Geary and Valley. They have proven themselves as a really good team this year after losing their opening season game against a tough Braxton team, The Lady Mustangs went on a basketball feeding frenzy. They took on Geary early in the week – it was a great game if you like watching a team being stomped on like grapes. Both teams opened the game looking for hoops and looking like gladiators. Peyton Johnson came out and couldn’t seem to miss looking like Diana Taurasi with the basketball. The Lady Mustang defense kept the floors hot and scrambling, not letting the Geary girls even get close to the hoop. In the end, it was the Lady Mustangs over Geary with a score of Lady Mustangs 30, Geary 19. Top hoop leader was Peyton Johnson with 20 points in the game.
Next up for the Lady Mustangs was the Valley girls who were bad to the bone; it would take some good ball playing and a bite of meatloaf by the Lady Mustangs to pull off a win. Most of the game took place in the 1st period as both teams tried to establish the queens of the hill title. It was basket to basket fun as fans on both sides witnessed some good basketball. However, it was bitter sweet for the Valley girls because when the dirt stopped flying in the first period, it was the Lady Mustangs wearing the crown on top of a pile of Valley girls. At the end of the first, it was Lady Mustangs 22, Valley 12. After that, the game seemed to have turned toward a battle to find the hoop in the second period because it was never found. The score stood at 22-12. From that point on, it was whose defense was better. Both teams once again went basket for basket in the third and fourth periods with the slight advantage going to the Lady Mustangs. The game ended with some tuckered out basketball players. The final score was Lady Mustangs 38, Valley 33. The Lady Mustangs will be at home against Calhoun on Monday and at home again on Tuesday against Walton.
The Clay Middle Mustangs have had an up and down week. After dropping their opener to Braxton, it was off to the races against Geary. It was in your face basketball, the kind of game you just want to sit back with popcorn and a box of M&Ms and add a couple of pounds to the mid section. The Mustangs took to the court with a whipping stick and started hitting the hoops. Joel Elliot must have drunk a can of Jordan fizz before coming on the court and dropping 11 points in the first period before Geary knew what hit them. Mustang defense took control and shut down the hoop for Geary in the first period. Afterwards, the Mustang defense let up their hard nose play, gave Geary a look at the hoop and allowed them an early Christmas present of dropping 10 points before the half. Offense kept up the pace, and at the end of the half, it was Mustangs 20, Geary 10. That was it – Geary couldn’t match the Mustangs hoop for hoop the rest of the game, and the Mustangs won 43 to 28. Joel Elliot was top shot hitting for 15 points followed by Levi Skidmore with eight.
Next up on the chopping block was Valley. However, this game would prove to be the Mustangs’ Achilles heel for the week. The teams hit the court with all barrels firing at the hoop in a fast paced jumble of basketball wildness. At times, it was well organized, but when the paced picked up, the score was at the mercy of blind shooting and basketball thrill shooting. It made the game edge of your seat intense to say the least, but that’s why we buy tickets, after all. The game was well executed on both sides of the ball, but in the end it’s who gets the hoops. At the end of the half, it was Mustangs 24, Valley 29. Valley pulled away in the third and didn’t look back. At the final buzzer, it was Mustangs 41, Valley 58. Joel Elliot once again was top shot with a whopping 22 points in the game followed by Cooper Collins with seven. The boys will be away at Calhoun on Monday and back home on Tuesday against Walton. So, if you are a basketball fan, get out and catch a game. You will certainly get your money’s worth.
In other Mustang news, the wrestling team dominated the mats beating Calhoun 48-36, Gilmer, 39-26 and Pleasants 48-39. They will be in action on Wednesday night in Summersville in a quad match. Come out and support the athletes of all sports and cheer them on; it just might be the cure for the cold weather blues.