Strong performance from Mason helped the Huskies survive against the Mustangs, 67-64
Only allowing the Mustangs seven points in the first quarter, the Blue Valley Northwest boys varsity basketball team defeated Blue Valley North, 67-64. Junior Alston Mason led the charge with 23 points.
January 18, 2020
Getting off to a solid start defensively, the Huskies were able to prevent the Mustangs from scoring their first basket until halfway through the first quarter. The defense effort continued for the Huskies and they entered halftime with a double digit lead.
Juniors Alston Mason and Jack Chapman led the effort for the Huskies for much of the first half. Chapman scored eight of his 12 points in the first quarter and helped the Huskies enter halftime with a healthy lead.
Unfortunately for the Huskies, the momentum for Blue Valley Northwest faltered for much of the second half. With Chapman only scoring a total of four points in the entire second half, the Huskies found alternate ways to score.
“I got the ball to some of my teammates and I thought they all played really well and finished the game well,” Chapman said.
At one point leading by double digits, missed free throws and a late rally by the Mustangs put the Huskies in a tough position by the end of the third quarter. Blue Valley Northwest found their lead cut to six with a minute left in the third quarter.
Junior Alston Mason made trips to the free throw line several times in the last minutes of the game. His inability to knock down a few of his free throws gave the Mustangs a chance to steal the game last minute. Despite this, Mason was able to make just enough free throws under pressure to give the Huskies a victory.
“It was a lot of pressure on me, but I was trying my best to try and sink them down,” Mason said.
Coach Ed Fritz pointed out free throws as something the Huskies can work on for the next game.
“We gotta hit our foul shots. If we would have hit our foul shots it would have been no problem at all,” Fritz said.
Luckily for the Huskies, a key foul by junior Nick Sullivan in the last seconds of the game only allowed Blue Valley North only one point and prevented the Mustangs from potentially tying the game at 67. Consequently, the Huskies escaped with a narrow three point victory over Blue Valley North.
Blue Valley Northwest improves to 6-2 on the season. The Huskies look to continue their winning streak in EKL play at BVNW on Jan. 31 against St. Thomas Aquinas at 7:00.
