Undefeated Mustangs Aim For Perfection

By John Singleton

On February 25, Mago Vista beat General’s Highway squad, propelling the Mustangs one step closer to an undefeated season in their Anne Arundel County B league. General’s Highway led by two points at halftime; but a second-half spark provided by Brian Denton, Kevin Hickox and Matthew Seeman helped the 13U squad build a sizeable lead early in the second half. The Mustangs (9-0) never looked back, winning 36-22.

“The team is a joy to coach” said Coach Larry Ward. “They hustle, play relentless defense, and they listen. Perhaps most importantly, they have great team chemistry and are 100 percent supportive of each other – in practice and in games.”

The Mago Vista 13U boys basketball team is a conglomeration of players from all over Anne Arundel County, with players from Severna Park, Arnold, Annapolis and Millersville. Last spring, Mago Vista was fortunate to have Bob Seaman and Larry Ward volunteer to coach a very solid 12U boys basketball team. That team was affectionately referred to as the Severna-Vista Mustangs because the team was comprised of Severna Park and Mago Vista players. After a successful run in the county spring league, Coach Ward volunteered to run a Mago Vista squad in the very competitive Adidas Fall League, which played at the Laurel Boys and Girls Club and Meade High School.

“Playing together in the off-season really helps with skill development and conditioning,” said Assistant Coach Bob Seaman. “It’s also a factor in our team chemistry.”

Seaman, along with Brian Denton, shares the assistant coaching duties on the team of middle school boys. The men share a goal of preparing the boys for the next level; in this case, high school basketball. Mago Vista has promoted off-season basketball for many years, with many players moving on to junior varsity and varsity squads in the area.

Ward is a vocal proponent of the young men he coaches. He said, “Brian Denton is, in my view, the county’s best guard in this age group. He’s the best ball handler, the best defender, and an accurate shooter – he’s the engine that drives our train.” He continued by adding, “I think Will Brown is the most dominant big man in the league. He’s a tenacious rebounder and defends down low as if his life were on the line; his intensity level is so high it’s amazing he doesn’t pass out on the court.”

In pursuit of their perfect season, the Mustangs are optimistic about their final game against the Cape St. Clair Cougars (2-7) on March 3. Ward thinks it would be the perfect send-off for this group of aspiring high school basketball players.

“They’re a great group of kids,” said Ward. “It’s a privilege to coach them.”