WALDORF — This is the end of the line for C. Milton Wright boys basketball. But what a line it’s been.
The No. 3-seeded Mustangs fell in a battle to No. 2 Largo, a state finalist last season, 61-46 in a Class 2A state semifinal. A game that, by Largo’s measure, had no business being competitive. “It don’t make no sense,” one Lions fan groaned as the teams dispersed into halftime separated by two possessions.
While C. Milton Wright (20-5) struggled mightily in the opening minutes of its previous two playoff games, it opened with far more gusto Tuesday night, trading baskets in the opening minutes –– sparked by a twirl-around 3-pointer from point guard Cayne Woodland. As for the reasoning behind the improved early play, Mustangs coach Mario Scott could only laud the underdog fight in his team on the road, playing one hour and 45 minutes away from home at North Point High School in a game delayed 45 minutes because of traffic.
Simply, the Mustangs played with chutzpah.
Junior Dylan Sander drew two charges from the opposing 6-foot-8 big man, Cam Ward, who holds over 25 Division I scholarship offers. Sander heard compliments on his 11-point performance his whole way to the bus –– including from his positional counterpart. Woodland constantly snaked through Largo blitzes and double teams to generate open looks for himself and others, scoring 11 points and leaving some unaware spectators curious of his next steps.
Defensively, the Mustangs fitfully forced a bigger, more-skilled Lions (24-2) team into uncomfortable positions with enough grit to keep it close.
“The message coming in was we’ve been here before,” said Mustangs coach Mario Scott, who has spent all year reminding his players that their tougher schedule was to prepare them for this stage. “I felt like we were prepared for them. We just know we needed to execute a little bit better to get this win.”
A 3-pointer by Woodland shortly out of halftime tied the score at 29. Another 3 by Jordan Ross put the Mustangs on top, 32-31, shortly after.
Ultimately, it was an 8-0 run that gave Largo a 39-32 lead, forcing Scott to call for a timeout. C. Milton Wright got back within single digits with less than four minutes left, but Largo’s size and skill proved too much.
“This time of the year, you’re gonna get everybody’s best,” Largo coach Rodney Ward said. “It’s just the finality of it. When it’s possibly your last game, you tend to go out real desperate. … Only one team can win. I think that was part of the reason they played the way they played.”
Ward had a game-high 25 points. Jalen Johnson added 14. LaTre Yawn had nine, including a layup and an assist on a 3-pointer during the third-quarter run, thus ending the Mustangs’ season at the final four.
When asked why Scott’s team meets the level of tougher opponents and, in tandem, how Scott pulls those performances out of his players, coach and Sander gave a grin, knowing that’s been at the heart of their success.
Sander credited it to the connectivity of their program and the intensity in every practice. Scott said it’s about always keeping the big picture in mind, sharing postgame their most prominent, recent example.
When their season ended last year in the regional semifinal, Scott held onto that ball, wrote down the final score and they popped it after advancing to this year’s regional final. The night before this state semifinal matchup, Scott organized a ruminative project. One that focused on how far the program has come in just two seasons — from players once anxious about their new coach to a final four appearance.
“I had them write down everything they’re proud of this season,” Scott said. “I don’t care what it is. Individual accolades, team; I don’t care what it is.” Each player read their list aloud to the group, folded the paper and deposited it into a shoe box.
The second-year coach wanted to ground his guys. To help them take pride in a successful run.
Sander wrote a few things. He mentioned reaching the 20-win mark as a team and 500 rebounds, individually. He noted their regional title and the final four appearance both as points of gratitude.
Scott closed the shoe box and looked plainly at his team. “No matter what happens tomorrow,” he said, “nothing changes in this shoe box.” They did, however, leave a little room on top just in case the Mustangs had another game worth of proud moments to add.
“There are no moral victories,” Scott said. “We wanted to win a state championship. We didn’t come here just because we wanted to play extra games. It’s gonna sting, for sure. But in the big picture, I couldn’t be prouder. I’ll love these guys forever.”
Largo — 14 15 18 14 — 61
CMW — 10 14 14 8 — 46
L: Cam Ward 25, Jalen Johnson 14, LaTre Yawn 9, Ayden Ashe 6, Rooney Joseph 5, Chibuke Okerku 2
CMW: Dylan Sander 11, Cayne Woodland 11, Larry Thompson 9, Jordan Ross 7, Kyle Ashman 4, Jaylen Madden 4
