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SPORTS Visit insidehalton.com for more coverage Mustangs score tier 2 Looking to build family atmosphere, + MD celebrates with past and present players HERB GARBUTT hgarbutt@buringtonpost.com It took a malfunctioning scoreboard to show the Mil- ton District Mustangs what they were capable of. Coaches will often tell players to play as if the score is 0-0. The message: focus on what v5 need to do, not the score. The Mustangs had no choice at a pre-season tourna- ment where the scoreboard wasn't working. To that point, the Mus- © -tangs were struggling to get the returning seniors tomesh with a group of players mov- ing up from the junior ranks.. But, that day, they moved the ball well, pushed the pace and found teammates for open - looks. When the final buzzer sounded; Zach Meier figured they had won by 10. They won by more than 30. "We knew when we played that game, we stuck to what we do best. We played a fast- paced game, and since then, we've played every game like that." Meier said. "We've been in situations where we've said, Keep your head up. We never have that negative en- ergy. Just think of the next TA oT play and don't get stuck on a bad play." "That's exactly what the Mustangs did when they found themselves down 28-22 to the Robert Bateman Wild in the Halton senior tier 2 bas- ketball final. Meier scored five points in the last 12 sec- onds of the half to cut the gap toone. Milton carried that mo- mentum into the second half, starting with a 9-1 run on its way to a 56-43 win. "We definitely wanted to repeat," said Meier,amember ofthe Mustangs' junior cham- pionship team last year, who had 25 points in the final "And for the Grade 12s, we wanted to win for them in their last year." Coach Marty MacIntyre said that desire was evident with the way the Mustangs played in the final. "At one point, we had four guys on the deck going for a loose ball," he said. "When you work hard, it's conta- gious." Though Milton remained in control for much of the sec- ond half, Bateman continued to hang around, waiting for its opportunity. With five minutes to play, it was a five- / Night Guards «v/ Implant Dentures { Sports Guards Immediate Dentures ( { Repairsin 1 Hour vl Same Day Relines point game. Then, on four consecutive possessions, Adeen Farooq found some- one for an open look or going to the basket, assisting on buckets by Meier (twice), Ian Wilson and Luke Crowley. Meanwhile, the defence came up with three consecutive stops by taking away the Wild's inside game, allowing Milton tostretchthelead to13. "Playing with these guys for four years, it's like a fami- ly," said Farooq, who had 10 points and six rebounds. "These juniors were crazy. They came in off a champion- ship and everyone bonded on and off the court." That's what MacIntyre wanted most from his team, a family that extends beyond the current roster. "Really, this was years in the making," he said. "We lost some great players and some of those guys were here today supporting us. We want ev- eryone to feel a part of some- thing bigger." As former players joined current players fora team pic- ture with the championship trophy, it was clear the Mus- tangs had achieved their goal. They didn't need a score board to tell them that. FREE CONSULTATION 24 HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE 810Z 'I yosey 'Aepsuny] | uoidweyn ueipeues uo | 83 Nikki Wesley / Metroland Milton District's Dwij Padia watches his shot during the Halton senior boys tier 2 basketball final against Robert Bateman at Sheridan College. / HouSe & Hospital Calls { Dental Insurance Accepted G. T. Trenton DD and Jill Stevenson DD, 160 Mill St. (Downtown Milton) www.miltondentureclinic.com | miltondentureclinic @ cogeco.net 905- 876- 2000 After hours emergency - 905-854-7100 Now available ' Canadian Red Oak, Hard Maple, at Rie. N ra SAVIN ITE PE AvaE: Mion. On 4 1/4" for $4.99 per sq ft WE TON RDW/ oon PLOQRS while quantities last SPECIALIZING IN: Sales, Installation and Stairs, Pre Finished/Engineered, Hand Scraped/Wire Brushed, Sanding and Refinishing, Building/Contractors woo uo}eyapisul