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Mustangs race out to fast start

Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2006

Click here to enlarge this photo Submitted photo Barrie senior guard Eric White.

A stingy defense and some much-needed senior leadership, however, has helped the Mustangs race out to records of 6-2 overall and 4-0 in the PVAC, including two victories against North Division foes, through Monday.

‘‘What’s really helping us right now is our full-court press,” Barrie coach Jack Mitchell aid. ‘‘We’re doing a good job of getting turnovers out of our press and scoring. ... The kids are playing more aggressively. The kids like the pace of the game once we’re in our fullcourt stuff.”

In the team’s most recent action, Barrie scored wins of 45-35 over Jewish Day, a PVAC tournament finalist last year, last Tuesday, 43-24 against Washington Waldorf last Thursday and 43-36 over Queen Anne Saturday.

Against Jewish Day (2-1 overall, 1-1 PVAC), senior guard Eric White paced the Mustangs with 17 points, 14 of which came in the decisive fourth quarter. He also made all eight of his free throws. Senior center Adam Sachs chipped in eight points.

‘‘It was nip and tuck and we kind of exploded in the fourth quarter,” Mitchell said. ‘‘We made our free throws at the end and Eric really played well. He made some key baskets and critical free throws.”

White scored 16 more points in the team’s win over Waldorf and had 12 against Queen Anne. Sophomore Sam Howard added 10 points and Sachs chipped in eight in the Queen Anne win.

Through Saturday’s contest, the Mustangs were allowing an average of 28.5 points in league competition, including a 41-19 win against Sandy Spring Friends Nov. 30.

‘‘I’m surprised and pleased with the way our seniors are leading the way,” Mitchell said. ‘‘They’re setting the tone not only in games but in practice. The kids have that almost old-school mentality. They come ready to work and we’ve seen the intensity level in practice pick up the last couple of weeks. They’re really buying into the value of improving our work ethic.”