The championship trophy hopes for the Mustang boys’ basketball team were dashed at the hands of the Summersville Middle Bears.
Tuesday evening’s Calhoun game was a tight one. The Mustangs only had one shooter in the double digits. Isaiah Peyton hit the net for 14 points in the game to lead the team. Curtis Litton and Zane Owens each had nine. The Mustangs usually burn the net up with baskets but were shut down in this game. They managed to pull out the win with a final score of Mustangs 40, Red Devils 36. After the Mustangs defeated the Calhoun Middle Red Devils, it was on to the CWVAC tournament. The Mustangs drew the Summersville Bears in the first round. A win here would send them into the championship match against either Ravenswood or Braxton. The Braxton Knights handed Ravenswood their heads on a platter in the first game and moved on into the championship round. It was then the Mustangs’ turn at the plate. The game looked as though the Mustangs would easily handle the pressure of the Bears as Ben Morton and Zane Owens got the ball rolling, racking up seven points in the first period to the Bears’ four. Then something happened that defies logic. The Mustang war machine was shut down.
Turnovers, missed shots, and no defense took the place of the usual Mustang basketball game of high scoring and great defense. The Bears went on a 6-23 point run, most of which was due to turnovers, and at the half, it was Mustangs 13, Bears 27. It didn’t look good for the Mustangs but there was a lot of basketball yet to play.
However, mistakes continued to plague the Mustangs, and they just couldn’t get through the Bears’ full court defense. At the end of the the third period, it was time for the white towel as the Mustangs trailed the Bears 19-49. Both teams sent in their reserve in the 4th period for some playing time, and they took it to the locker rooms.
When it was over, the final score of the game was Mustangs 28, Bears 57, with the Mustangs moving on to a matchup for 3rd or 4th place against Ravenswood.
The Mustangs met Ravenswood on Saturday and didn’t fare too well in the game. The final score was CCMS 22, Ravenswood 47. The Mustangs took 4th place overall in the tournament.
When it was over, the All-Tournament and All-Conference players were named. Curtis Litton and Ben Morton were named All Conference and Zane Owens was named All Tournament.
