Skid reaches 5, but Mustangs improved

 

Another loss, yes, but the improvement was significant.

Mullen’s 69-57 setback to a good Smoky Hill in the Centennial League on Friday night at Hutchison Fieldhouse was the Mustangs’ fifth in succession and dropped them to 3-8 overall, 0-4 in the loop.

However, the good news is the Mustangs regrouped, executed, played at their pace, slowed down the Buffaloes (11-2, 3-1) and made a game of it until the final couple of minutes.

Overall, Mustangs head coach Bob Caton was pleased and could pinpoint some areas that became problems.

“If you have a lapse, one can cost you,” he said. “We had some shots that if they fell, it was good, but guess what – they didn’t fall in the second half.”

True. Mullen enjoyed a 33-26 lead at half. The Mustangs showed some patience, improved their shot selection, had Josh Lopez score 10 of his 11 points, Ethan Heffern eight of his 11 and Brayden Carter seven of his 11.

But the more-athletic Buffaloes gradually took command in the third quarter. They led 45-40 entering the final 8 minutes and owned a 42-24 second-half advantage. The Mustangs got within 52-50 on a Manny Essex 3-pointer, but Smoky Hill turned it around with four dunks and beat the Mustangs down the floor a few times to seal it.

Still, Caton was encouraged.

“We played very well in the first half,” he said. “We played hard. Effort should always be there.”

He told his team afterward that improved practice performance also will be a benefit down the stretch of the regular season.

Essex tied Heffern for team scoring honors with 12 points.

The Mustangs will have a second go at Denver East on Saturday, Jan. 18., 2:30 p.m. The Angels beat Mullen 78-65 on Dec. 21 in one of the holiday tournament at The Hutch. The loss also started the Mustangs’ five-game skid.

 

Smoky Hill -- Carter 1 1-2 3, Rock 7 5-7 23, Weaver 8 4-6 21, Horn 4 3-4 11, Whitaker 2 0-0 5, Darnell 1 1-2 3, Sanders 1 0-0 2, Harris 0 1-2 1, Walker 0 0-0 0. Totals 24 15-23 69.

Mullen -- Lopez 4 1-2 11, Berg 2 2-3 7, Bond 2 0-0 4, Heffern 3 4-4 12, Carter 4 3-4 11, Haas 0 0-0 0, Essex 4 0-0 12. Totals 19 10-13 57.

3-pt. goals – Rock 4, Weaver, Whitaker; Essex 4, Heffern 2, Lopez 2, Berg. Fouled out -- Weaver.