Gallegos, Mustangs off to rousing start

By Neil H. Devlin, Mullen Sports Information Director
Defense, 2nd-half surge large in winning southern tourney.

HIGHLANDS RANCH -- Three games into the season and Mullen girls basketball is attaining heights.

The Mustangs, defending Colorado 4A champions, used a big second half to blow past Cherokee Trail 51-29 on Saturday to win the Castle View/ThunderRidge Tournament for a second consecutive season.

Even better are the facts that Mullen faced and overcame its first taste of adversity, and is beginning to understand its capabilities.

“We struggled a little bit, we struggled a little bit,” coach Frank Cawley said. “We develop bad habits when we play from outside-in. We’re not very good … or as good. When we play inside-out, we’re tough.”

Now 3-0 and winners of 11 consecutive games, the Mustangs certainly began well in terms of sharing as all five starters scored in a 10-6 lead that grew to 17-11 after a quarter. However, they got away from their game over the next 8 minutes, were tied at 22 at halftime and were asked to respond.

They did and in a big way.

With Gracie Gallegos, Megan Pohs and Imani Perez leading the way, the Mustangs rolled to a 37-23 lead and were particularly dominant on defense. They held Cherokee Trail without a basket – and just one point -- for all but 38 seconds of the second half as it was 0-for-20 shooting.

“I think we just came out in the second half with a lot of energy and we were able to keep our composure,” Gallegos said.

Haley Van Horn, Elaina Martinez and Alexa Dominguez also took turns in taking charge, and in more ways than scoring.

“They’re listening, they’re making the adjustments we’re asking them to make and I couldn’t be more proud of a team,” Cawley said.

Gallegos led all scorers with 15 points and added seven rebounds. Pohs had scored 10 and Perez turned in eight points and 10 rebounds.

“We got our minds right in the locker room,” Gallegos said of going on a third-quarter binge.

Said Cawley: “This team will go as far as it handles adversity.”

Some will be available on Tuesday, when Mullen will host parochial-rival Regis Jesuit – a 5A semifinalist the past season – in its home opener at Hutchison Fieldhouse on Tuesday, 7 p.m.
 
MULLEN 51, CHEROKEE TRAIL 29

Cherokee Trail 11 11 1 6 – 29

Mullen 17 5 15 14 – 51

Mullen – Pohs 4 0-0 10, Martinez 2 0-0 6, Van Horn 0 1-2 1, Perez 4 0-0 8, Gallegos 6 1-3 17,
Dominguez 2 1-2 5, Webster 1 0-0 2, Elges 0 0-0 0, Oates-Stamm 0 0-0 0, Freelon 2 0-0 4,
Gutierrez 0 0-0 0, Totals 21 3-7 51.

Cherokee Trail – O. Lee 0 0-0 0, Rodriguez 4 1-4 10, Paulk 1 0-0 2, Hemingway 1 1-2 3, Roberson 0 0-2 0, Leu Pierre 3 1-2 8, Collins 1 0-0 2, Thomas 0 0-0 0, Culbreath 1 0-2 2, A. Lee 1 0-0 2. Totals 12 3-12 29..

3-pt. goals – Gallegos 2, Martinez 2, Pohs 2; Rodriguez, Leu Pierre.
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