The Brossart Mustangs are fortunate to play in a charged environment, full house situation on an annual basis in the Crosstown shootout vs Campbell County. It is the only regular season event in which we participate that comes close to duplicating regional tournament atmosphere. This year we were thrown a bonus. In perhaps the smartest decision ever made by our program concerning a change of venue, the Brossart Mustangs took on Mason County in the Campbell County Middle School on Tuesday night. The fact that the top two teams in the 10th Region were doing battle was cause enough for a large turnout and a gala ambiance. Tuesday night's hyped-hoops-hysteria situation was further enhanced by the presence of Rick Pitino, on hand to take another look at Mr. Basketball heir apparent Chris Lofton. This could be likened to the pope coming to attend midnight mass at your parish church at Christmas.
The Mustangs coming off of a four-games-in-four-days hoops endurance test in the All "A" State Tournament had one days rest and were thrown right into their toughest challenge of the regular season.
Early on it appeared that the Mustangs were up to the task playing ask and answer basketball through the first quarter and actually taking a 14-13 lead with 32.1 seconds remaining in that period. At the end of the quarter Mason County led 16-14 and it was at that time that the Mustangs faithful were convinced that our guys could go toe to toe with the vaunted Royals. That's when the wheels came off. Brossart would score our 16th point early in the second quarter and then proceeded to succumb to the trademark swarming defensive pressure applied by the Royals, causing a meltdown that would result in numerous turnovers and resultant Royals baskets creating a 31-16 deficit before the Mustangs would score again at the 2:07 mark in the half. The half would end with the Mustangs trailing 36-19. We would need a repeat of the 1998 District Tournament comeback that occured in this same venue, if the Mustangs were to save face and get back in this game.
An 11-2 Brossart run to start the second half closed the gap to an 8 point deficit, 38-30 as the Mustangs crept back into the game. Mason County would respond with a 10-2 run of their own to spread the gap to sixteen as the third quarter came to an end.
Our Mustangs would muster the energy and courage to go eyeball to eyeball with the Royals in the final period, outscoring them 19-14 in the final eight minutes, resulting in a final score of 62-51. Brossart outscored the Royals 32-26 in the second half, but the damage done in the 20-5 second quarter could not be overcome vs a team of this caliber.
Evan McDole led the Mustangs in the contest with 12 points, Rob Doyle posted 11, Ryan Anderson 10, including three long range bombs, Jason Cooper contributed 6, and Steve McCarthy, Kevin Smith, and Derrick Rhoden each chipped in 4 points apiece.
Chris Lofton was held in check by the Mustangs defense, limiting him to 12 points on the night, but it was Junior Wes Jones who reaped havoc on the Mustangs with 22 points, most of those coming from close-in. Dustin Grutza returned to the Royals lineup and contributed 10 points and Jared Litzinger and Casey Pfeffer rounded out the Royals scoring with 9 each.
With the victory the Royals win their twentieth game of the season and are now 20-2. Brossart falls to 18-5. |
