Mainland girls basketball captures state Group 3 title
The Mainland Regional High School girls’ basketball team completed one of the most memorable runs in South Jersey history with the ultimate prize.
The Mustangs captured the state Group 3 title with a 59-51 victory over Chatham on Sunday at the RWJ Barnabas Health Arena on the campus of Toms River North.
The state championship is Mainland’s second in its history, joining the 2019 club which also won the Group 3 title. The program has made four appearances in state finals.
Under head coach Scott Betson, the Mustangs finished their season at 31-1, closing out the campaign on an 11-game winning streak.
Mainland joined Lenape (Group 4) as state champions in girls’ basketball from South Jersey this winter. It’s the first time in 11 years that the region accounted for more than one state champion. In 2013, Rancocas Valley (Group 4) and Ocean City (Group 3) accomplished the feat.
Aided by a 17-8 run in the first quarter, the Mustangs grabbed the momentum and never relinquished it.
Bella Mazur delivered a game-high 20 points while Kasey Bretones added 16 to power the Mustangs. Senior Sydney Stokes, who had the game-winning bucket at the buzzer in the state semifinal against Ewing on Wednesday, finished with 11 points, eight rebounds and four blocks in the title game.
Mainland’s lineup featured three 1,000-career point scorers in twin sisters Ava and Bella Mazur along with Bretones.
Tom McGurk is a regional sports reporter for the Courier-Post, The Daily Journal and Burlington County Times, covering South Jersey sports for over 30 years. If you have a sports story that needs to be told, contact him at (856) 486-2420 or email tmcgurk@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @McGurkSports. Help support local journalism with a digital subscription.
This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Mainland knocks off Chatham for state Group 3 title in girls' basketball
