The Mustangs (3-8) started that trend with a 53-34 victory against Capitol Christian last Tuesday. Brandon Johnson (16 points) and Eric White (15 points) paced the team offensively.

"We jumped out to a 20-6 lead in the first quarter," Barrie coach Jack Mitchell said. "We played solid man defense and we put a lot of pressure on them. More importantly, we were able to execute our offense."

Barrie was unable to sustain the momentum from that victory Friday night as it fell, 53-43, to Washington International, a former Potomac Valley Athletic Conference rival. Johnson, the team's leading scorer, produced a team-high 16 points in the loss.

"We lost the game on the boards," Mitchell said. "They had a 6-8 kid who was clogging the middle and blocking shots. We really didn't attack this kid like we should have. It was a disappointing game. A small set back, especially after Tuesday's game."

Undaunted, the Mustangs rallied back to defeat Ocean City's Worcester Prep (9-4) by the count of, 50-47, Saturday. Johnson, a senior point guard, exploded for a game-high 30 points in the victory. He helped turn a 12-point, first-quarter deficit into a 10-point halftime lead. Johnson averages roughly 22 points and seven assists a game.

"We did get back to what we're starting to do: be patient and run our offense," Mitchell said. "We did a better job of that [Saturday]. We did a better job with our full-court press. That kind of gave them some problems. That aggressiveness on defense, built our confidence. I'm proud of them. We could have folded."

Barrie will continue play Friday against the Seed School.

"We're excited. We'll now start playing teams we can be competitive with," said Mitchell, whose December schedule included two games with Good Counsel (9-5) and single games against Notre Dame, St. John's-Prospect Hall and Takoma Academy. "[That tough early schedule] is going to help us. Our young kids are playing with more confidence."

Lady Mustangs fall back

Unlike the boys team, the Barrie girls squad stumbled in its first week back from the holiday break, dropping two of three. It still remained over the .500 mark overall and in the league, however.

The Mustangs (6-4, 4-3 in the PVAC) started the second half of their season with a 50-41 loss to visiting Queen Anne last Tuesday. They were outscored by a combined 11 points in the second and fourth quarters, including 16-9 in the final eight minutes.

Lauren Abbott and Amanda Archer produced most of the team's offense with 14 points apiece. Jamie Roberts added seven points.

Barrie rebounded nicely last Thursday for a 60-31 road victory against the Field School. The squad outscored its opponent, 38-19, in the second half after taking a 22-12 halftime lead. Field managed less than 10 points in both the first quarter (2 points) and third quarter (6 points).

Abbott poured in a season-high 23 points in the lopsided victory, making 11 field goals. Julia Roberts added 10 points and Archer, who was celebrating her 16th birthday, chipped in eight points. Adeola Adegboyega-Panx added seven points.