Benchmarks
Reserves spark 56-51 decision.
How many times have you heard it? At some point(s) during the season, basketball teams need a bench, as in reserves needed to win.
It was relevant on Friday night for Mullen, which rode a wave of reserves to earn a hard-fought 56-51 victory over Cherokee Trail in Centennial League play at Hutchison Fieldhouse.
Mustangs head coach Frank Cawley was ecstatic with the victory that pushed his group to 12-7 overall, 7-3 in league, even more so with the way it occurred.“They really did,” Cawley said of reserves playing well. “Even just the moral and encouragement and everything on the bench ... it’s true, we are 14 deep. They all did something.”
It also was the Mustangs' third victory this season over the Cougars. They were by a combined 17 points, none more than six.
The Mustangs entered the game against the Cougars, now 10-8, 5-5, without senior and super substitute Iliana Perez, who missed her second consecutive game with a rib injury, and watched as her sister, top-flight freshman Imani Perez, got elbowed in the face in the first half. She didn’t return and may have to go through concussion protocol.
So players who didn’t start were even more vital. And there were a lot of them.
For instance, Alexa Dominguez contributed six points, rebounding and defense. Grace Oswald made two free throws in the third quarter. Makenna Elges battled inside. Abby Webster made two key 3-pointers in the second quarter on the way to eight points. Colleen Hart helped with ball-handling and made another 3-pointer in the second quarter as Mullen was attempting to fend off the Cougars. Jessica Oates-Stamm made a basket in the third and Jordyn Medina spelled a couple of players.
“Everyone had a little part, we all did a little something to help out,” Dominguez said. “Some of it was big and some was small, but it all helped.”
As for missing the Perez sisters, Dominguez said “we adjusted to it.”
But don’t forget the starters. Sophomore Megan Pohs scored 11 points, including 8-of-10 free throws, four down the stretch. Another sophomore, Elaina Martinez, made three 3-pointers in the first quarter on the way to matching Pohs with 11 points. Freshman Gracie Gallegos continued to emerge with another strong defensive effort as well as seven of her nine points in succession in the fourth when Cherokee Trail made its strongest move. And sophomore Haley Van Horn made a basket and contributed her usual defense and rebounding.
“Everyone came out so strong tonight,” Dominguez said. “We got a little slow, but came back and we were so excited!”
The Mustangs, who continue against a demanding Class 5A schedule and will play in the 4A postseason, have only lost in-state games to nationally ranked Regis Jesuit, two-time defending Colorado 5A champion Grandview and ever-present Cherry Creek.
“That’s a good team and they’re going to beat some people,” Cawley said of the Cougars. “We did good enough to get a win and we’ll take it. We’re doing OK.”
Mullen will host Eaglecrest in league on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 5:30 p.m.
MULLEN 56, CHEROKEE TRAIL 51
Cherokee Trail 8 11 11 21 -- 51
Mullen 14 9 16 17 -- 56
Cherokee Trail – Rodriguez 2 2-2 7, Paulk 3 5-8 11, Fason 0 0-0 0, Hemingway 3 2-6 9, Neyland 4 10-12 19, Pare 0 0-0 0, Collins 1 0-0 3, Villegas 1 0-0 2, Lee 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 19-33 51.
Mullen – Pohs 1 8-10 11, Martinez 4 0-0 11, Gallegos 3 2-2 9, Van Horn 1 0-0 2, Im. Perez 1 0-0 2, Dominguez 2 2-2 6, Oswald 0 2-2 2, Elges 0 0-0 0, Webster 3 2-6 8, Hart 1 0-0 3, Oates-Stamm 1 0-0 2, Medina 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 16-22 56.
3-pt. goals – Collins, Hemingway, Neyland, Rodriguez; Martinez 3, Webster 2, Gallegos, Hart, Pohs.
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