1-28 Winter Roundup
Basketball, wrestling and ice hockey to cap a week.
“We needed it,” head coach Tonia Jones said.
They certainly did – Mullen’s Mustangs blew out Smoky Hill 88-13 on Saturday afternoon at Hutchison Fieldhouse.
It halted the Mustangs’ six-game losing streak, pushed their overall mark to 7-9 (1-2 in league) and better yet gave them a major boost in confidence as well as helped to erase some self-doubt.
“They’re working hard,” Jones added about her players.
Despite beginning slowly, actually trailing for a bit and having Jones yank her starting five that were a combined 1-of-13 shooting, the Mustangs quickly regrouped, turned it into a rout against the undermanned Buffaloes (2-13) and got everyone into the game.
Junior forward Allison Schwertner again led Mullen, this time with a game-high 23 points. She had lots of help. The team’s lone senior, Sofia Zienkewicz, was effective on both ends and went for 15 points. Tatum Jones and Ryker Thomas each scored 12. McKenzie Wood added seven points and freshman Chloe Pelster caught some eyes with her speed and floor awareness.
And one of the team’s many defensive highlights included no baskets allowed in the fourth quarter, only two in the third, and four consecutve quarters of allowing less than five points.
Mullen will resume action on Monday, Jan. 30, at Overland in Aurora, in league at 5:30 p.m., the matchup that was postponed from last week’s snowstorm.
MULLEN 88, SMOKY HILL 13
Smoky Hill 4 4 4 1 – 13
Mullen 24 26 21 17 -- 88
Smoky Hill – P. Fifita 0 0-0 0, Thomas 1 0-2 2, Calderon-Quijada 0 0-0 0, L. Fifita 1 0-0 2, Perez 4 1-2 9, Hatcher 0 0-0 0, Allen 0 0-0 0, Reza 0 0-0 0, Davis 0 0-0 0, Uthie 0 0-0 0. Totals 6 1-2 13.
Mullen – Zar. Garcia 1 0-0 2, Arangua-Egbert 2 0-0 4, Schwertner 11 1-1 23, Wood 3 1-2 7, Jones 5 2-5 12, Zienkewicz 6 3-6 15, Mylott 1 1-2 3, Thomas 5 2-2 12, Pelster 2 0-0 4. Johnson 0 0-0 0, Kerschen 1 1-2 4, Archibald 1 0-0 2. Totals 38 11-19 88.
3-pt. goal -- Kerschen.
Wrestling
In Lakewood, the Mustangs took the team championship in the 13-team Bear Creek Invitational.
The Mustangs, who edged runner-up Skyline 180-173.5, were dominant, winning four weight-class championships and recording four runners-up.
Dale O’Blia (113 pounds), Gilbert Antillon (126), Richard O’Brien (150) and Kaleb Valdez-Lemos (175 went undefeated through their brackets.
Tony Herrera (106), Estavan Loya (165), Oliver Scelza (190) and Caleb Van Meter (Hwt.) turned in championship-bout showings.
Amani Fuqua (215, fourth), Colin Hart (157, fourth) and Cooper Loth (144, fifth) also contributed to the scoring.
Also, the Mustangs downed Holy Family 41-36 in a dual meet on Friday.
The Mustangs will host Eaglecrest in the Centennial on Thursday, Feb. 2, 7 p.m., and the postseason looms – regionals will be Feb. 10-11 at nearby Abraham Lincoln and the Colorado Championships will be Feb. 16-18 at Ball Arena.
In Littleton, the Mustangs were tied for 33rd in the 50-school Chatfield Girls War Horse Invitational.
Tops for Mullen was Jzunie Jones, who was fifth at 170.
Cassandra Linhardt was 2-2 at 100 and Maggie Martinez 1-2 at 190.
Mullen’s girls await their regionals, Feb.11 in the Metro group at Douglas County.
As for the latest On The Mat rankings, Mullen boys continue to stand No. 2 in Class 3A.
Individually in their respective weight classes, Herrera, O’Blia and Valdez-Lemos are top-ranked; Isaak Chavez (138) is No. 3; and Antillon is fourth.
For girls, Jones is ninth.
BEAR CREEK INVITATIONAL
Top team scores – Mullen 180, Skyline 173.5, Riverdale Ridge 117.5.
MULLEN PLACERS
106 pounds – Tony Herrera (34-3) runner-up.
113 – Dale O’Blia (31-3) champion.
126 – Gilbert Antillon (33-6) champion.
144 – Cooper Loth (17-15) fifth place.
150 – Richard O’Brien (25-10) champion.
157 – Colin Hart (15-16) fourth place.
165 – Estavan Loya (13-10) runner-up.
175 – Kaleb Valdez-Lemos (31-3) champion.
190 – Oliver Scelza (22-4) runner-up.
215 – Amani Fuqua (13-8) fourth place.
Hwt. – Caleb Van Meter (12-10) runner-up.
MULLEN 41, HOLY FAMILY 36
106 – Tony Herrera won by pin.
113 – Dale O’Blia won by pin.
120 – Lost by forfeit.
126 – Gilbert Antillon won by pin.
132 – Lost by forfeit.
138 – Lost by forfeit.
144 – Cooper Loth lost by pin.
150 -- Richard O’Brien won by pin.
157 – Colin Hart won by dec.
165 – Estavan Loya won by pin.
175 – Kaleb Valdez-Lemos won by tech fall.
190 – Oliver Scelza won by dec.
215 – Amani Fuqua lost by pin.
Hwt. – Caleb Van Meter lost by pin.
Mullen team score – Tied for 33rd, 21 points.
MULLEN PLACER
190 – Jzunie Jones (16-4) fifth.
Boys Basketball
At home at The Hutch, the Mustangs ran into a talented Smoky Hill that won easily, 91-49.
Mullen is 7-9 overall, 1-2 in the Centennial.
Smoky Hill, ranked No. 2 in 6A, gave Mullen difficulty inside, regularly dunked and beat the Mustangs down the floor.
The Mustangs trailed by 17 points at halftime and were outscored 26-7 in the third quarter.
Tops in scoring for Mullen was Lukas Castillo, who came off the bench for 12 points. Anderson Brendle scored 10 and Jordan Leslie eight.
Next for Mullen is the makeup game at Overland in Aurora on Monday, Jan. 30, 7 p.m., in league.
SMOKY HILL 91, MULLEN 49
Smoky Hill 26 21 26 18 – 91
Mullen 19 11 7 12 -- 49
Smoky Hill – Basquez 3 1-2 7, Mitchell 7 4-6 21, Contreras 5 5-6 17, Gasaway 5 0-1 11, McGrew 5 0-3 10, Lewis 3 2-2 11, Graham 1 2-4 4, Sylla 0 0-0 0, Brown 1 0-1 3, Dirden 1 2-2 4, Campbell 1 0-0 3. Totals 32 16-27 91.
Mullen – Leslie 1 6-8 8, Brendle 3 4-6 10, Stewart 1 3-5 5, Archibald 1 0-0 3, Aceves 2 0-1 4, Jones 1 2-5 5, Castillo 4 3-5 12, Roth 0 0-0 0, Medina 0 0-0 0, Duke 1 0-0 2, DePizzol 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 18-29 49.
3-pt. goals – Lewis 3, Mitchell 3, Contreras 2, Brown, Campbell, Gasaway; Archibald, Castillo, Jones. Fouled out – Aceves, Archibald. Technicals – Aceves, Mitchell, Smoky Hill Bench.
Ice Hockey
On the road, the Mustangs lost 4-0 to host Durango in nonleague.
Mullen is 2-11.
The Mustangs will host Air Academy on Tuesday, Jan. 31, at The Edge, first puck will drop at 1:30 p.m.
DURANGO 4, MULLEN 0
Mullen 0 0 0 -- 0
Durango 2 1 1 -- 4
Mullen shots 7-2-5 -- 14
Mullen saves – Cooper Pucket 20.
© 2024 Mullen High School. All Rights Reserved.