C. Milton Wright Boys Basketball Off to Flying Start

Few basketball teams in the state of Maryland have been as busy as C. Milton Wright's. This is just the 18th day of the MPSSAA winter regular season, but the Mustangs have already played seven games.

C. Milton Wright, which competes at the 3A level, has used this quick onslaught of games to get the season off to a great start. The team currently sits at 6-1, with their only loss coming against MIAA school Glenelg Country.

"We had a tough early season schedule playing three 4A schools and an MIAA A conference team, but we focused on competing each game as it came and playing four games in five days," head coach Jon Stefanides said. "The players are clearly focused on the goals they set so their accomplishment so far is not a surprise with the level of their focus."

The team has picked up right where they left off last year. The Mustangs won the 3A North region last year by reeling off four straight wins in postseason play. In the regional final, C. Milton Wright beat Baltimore County powerhouse Milford Mill on the road, 66-65. C. Milton Wright's postseason run would end in the state semifinal to eventual champion Centennial.

The Mustangs have plenty of experience coming back from last year's team. The team boasts six seniors on their roster, as well as two juniors and four sophomores.

This year, C. Milton Wright has been led by Corey Bays, who is averaging 21 points and five rebounds a game. Bays has been a consistent force for the Mustangs throughout his high school career. He currently has 968 career points scored and when he hits the 1,000 mark, he'll be just the fourth player to do that in C. Milton Wright's history.

Two more standouts for the Mustangs this year have been Chris Lorenzo and Kyle Harkins. Lorenzo has 11 points per game and five rebounds, while Harkins has 10 points, four assists and three steals a game.

"We like to play hard and get after it on both ends of the court," Stefanides said. "We are playing with a level of confidence and intensity for four quarters."

Although the team likes to take it one game at a time, Stefanides and his team have thought about their long term expectations for this season.

"Our goals this year start with the level of intensity we bring each night. We're also looking to win our conference again," said Stefanides. "We are hoping to secure the number one seed for the playoffs and then play our best basketball in March, culminating in another trip to the semifinals."