Balance again carries Mustangs

 

AURORA – The simple things are happening for Mullen girls basketball, notably sharing the ball.

“I’m so proud of how unselfish we are,” Mustangs head coach Frank Cawley said after Friday night’s 80-23 pasting of host Overland.

In climbing to 11-4 overall and 5-1 in the Centennial League, the Mustangs were as thorough as they were sharing – they were within a basket or a couple of free throws of having all five starters in double-figure scoring and 10-of-11 players made at least one basket.

Tops on Friday was sophomore Gracie Gallegos with 17 points as she continues to evolve. And she takes it in stride.

“Yeah, I think I’m gaining a little more confidence,” she said. “I’m dribbling more before the game, just trying to to get more warmed up, which helps me.”

Junior Haley Van Horn also stayed warm (she had 14 in her previous outing) with 13 points. Elaina Martinez and Imani Perez each scored 10 and Perez added 11 rebounds. Point guard Megan Pohs had eight. Of the reserves, Kilah Freelon scored a quick eight and Abby Webster had seven.

“I just think we’re moving the ball and we have confidence in each other, and are playing pretty good together,” Gallegos said.

This one was over early – Mullen had a 26-0 lead over the Trailblazers (2-11, 1-5) after a quarter. It took Overland 9 minutes, 27 seconds to score a point and 10:43 to record a basket.

“We’re just so deep,” Cawley said. “We put that second group in and they were just as good as the first group.”

The Mustangs’ depth and evolvement will be tested on Wednesday, Jan. 29, when they will host all-powerful Grandview (at 5:30 p.m. at Hutchison Fieldhouse) to complete the first round of league. The Wolves, who won Class 5A titles in 2017 and 2018, and were Colorado runners-up to Cherry Creek a season ago, currently sit atop the loop and are coming off a quite large 65-40 waxing of Cherry Creek. They also have won 66 of their past 67 Centennial games.

“I’m really excited,” Gallegos said. “It will be a good game. We just have to be prepared and be ready.”

 

Mullen – Pohs 3 0-0 8, Martinez 4 0-0 10, Van Horn 5 1-3 11, Perez 5 0-0 10, Gallegos 6 2-2 17, Dominguez 1 0-0 2, Webster 3 0-0 7, Oates-Stamm 2 0-0 5, Elges 0 0-0 0, Gutierrez 1 0-1 2, Freelon 4 0-0 8. Totals 34 3-6 80.

Overland – Charles 4 0-1 9, Mahmoud 4 1-3 9, McNeil-Johnson 0 0-0 0, Prescott 0 0-0 0, Jackson 1 0-0 2, Hill 1 1-2 3, Escribano 0 0-0 0, Harris 0 0-0 0, Johnson 0 0-0 0. Totals 10 2-5 23.

3-pt. goals – Gallegos 3, Martinez 2, Pohs 2, Oates-Stamm, Webster; Charles.