Sunday, March 21, 1999
Loss can't dim fervor for Mason fans
BY MIRIAM SMITH
The Cincinnati Enquirer
COLUMBUS — The Kuntz family woke up hoarse Saturday. A couple of cough drops later and they screamed again for the Mason Comets girls basketball team as they played perennial powerhouse Pickerington in the state finals at St. John Arena.
But all the yelling by the Kuntz family and thousands of other fans couldn't get Mason a victory. The dream season ended with a 46-30 loss.
“Boy, that's two really good teams,” David Kuntz said after the game. “We're only losing two seniors, we're going to be back here next year — same place.”
The Mason fans were on their feet to the end of the game, even though defeat was certain. They cheered loudly as the team was recognized in a ceremony after the game.
“We'll see Pickerington again,” said Rita Kuntz, who was at the game with her husband and their daughter, Sarah Kuntz, 16.
The Kuntz family hollered themselves hoarse Friday night cheering for the Comets. They drove back to Columbus on Saturday to show their support along with an estimated 4,000 Comets fans.
Outside the arena, young Mason fans sprayed their hair green, lined their lips with frosty green gloss and licked tattoos and stuck them on their arms.
Brad Short, 16, and Kyle Spaeth, 17, pumped their fists in the air as the Mason girls team bus pulled up to the arena.
“Yeah! Go Mason! Let's go Comets!” screamed Brad, his face painted green and white.
Other fans shared that sentiment as Comets junior Beth Jones hobbled from the team bus. She'd injured her left kneecap in Friday's semifinal victory against Toledo Central Catholic.
The team's schoolmates were proud of how far they came this season.
“Everybody knows where Mason's at now,” said Rob Bauer, 18, a senior at Mason High School. “We're not just a little country school anymore. We're a powerhouse. Well, in one sport anyway.”
The older fans, many of whom have unofficially adopted the girls, were clinging to the final stretch of the season.
Fans like Fred and Mary Schumacher, who drove back from their Tennessee vacation to watch the team this weekend.
“It was nice down there, but we wouldn't miss this,” said Mr. Schumacher, who is president of the Mason Athletic Boosters Club.
“I think everybody's caught the fever. It's not hard to get hooked with a great bunch of girls like this. They're just wonderful girls.”
Fans like Livonia Maddox, 89, who played girls basketball in Mason in 1927 and has followed the team for the last two years as a member of the Mason Seniors Pep Club.
Mrs. Maddox pulled out her old green varsity letter M from the bottom of her cedar chest Friday and hoped it would bring the team some luck. “It's great, it's great. They play so hard and they work so hard together,” Mrs. Maddox said.
Most of all, the team has brought a sense of community to Mason, said high school Principal Chuck Mason.
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