Cherry Creek edges 'Stangs late
Mullen can't hang late in 64-57 loss in the Centennial League.
Mullen came up just short of Chery Creek on Friday night.
The Mustangs fell 64-57 to the Bruins in Centennial League play at Hutchison Fieldhouse, a back-and-forth game that was decided late by a couple of surges.
The scoring differences in quarters were, in order, by one, two, four and two points, so the Mustangs (4-5 overall, 1-1 in league) had their chances. They missed some shots and had a few execution errors.
Still, “the effort is there,” Mullen head coach Bob Caton said.
Seniors Josh Lopez and Micah Leslie each scored 17 points to top Mullen. Lopez had his second consecutive game of 10-of-10 free throws and Leslie, in just his second outing since returning from off-season knee surgery, looked more fluid and stronger.
Mullen ran into another height disadvantage, but fared well inside, banging with the Bruins and making the work on the perimeter.
Both the Mustangs and Cherry Creek (3-6, 1-1) had chances to pull away before suffering counter moves, although the Bruins went up by 10 points late and were able to hold it.
Again, 10 Mustangs were deployed by Caton in waves – “To play hard is expected,” he said -- and the transition and quick pace occurred regularly.
Sophomore guard Jordan Leslie added nine points for Mullen, which will host Parker’s Legend in nonleague on Monday, Jan. 10, at 7 p.m.
“There are no moral victories and every game will be tough,” Caton said.
CHERRY CREEK 64, MULEN 57
Cherry Creek 11 16 16 21 -- 57
Mullen 12 14 12 19 -- 57
Mullen – J. Leslie 3 2-2 9, Lopez 3 10-10 17, Heffern 2 0-0 5, Smith 2 0-0 5, J. Leslie 8 0-2 17, Diasselliss 1 0-0 3, Roth 0 0-0 0, Lay 0 1-4 1, Castillo 0 0-0 0, Jerz 0 0-0 0. Totals 19 13-18 57.
3-pt. goals – Diasselliss, Heffern, J. Leslie, M. Leslie, Lopez, Smith.
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