Perez leads 'Stangs over Warriors in 2nd go-round

 

The first meeting between the two teams, the opener for the Centennial League last month, resulted in a 48-point victory for Mullen.

So when the Mustangs met Arapahoe on Saturday afternoon for the second time as well as the start of the second round of Centennial League play, head coach Frank Cawley made sure they were ready.

And they were in a 48-32 decision that required know-how and effort in a tester.

“It was a trap game,” Cawley said. “And I was pretty concerned about us. When you beat somebody by 40 or 50 and I think last game we shot 62 percent from the floor or something, you’re not going to do that again. (Arapahoe head coach) Jerry Knafelc does a great job with that team.

“(The Warriors) have an M.O., and they run it every time and they’re good at it. They cut and move ... that’s a tough team to defend.”

The Mustangs’ defense was up to it again – the first result ended 79-31.

Now 12-5 overall, 6-2 in league, Mullen never trailed the Warriors (8-8, 4-4), but was regularly taxed. Arapahoe kept at it, but had no answer for 6-foot-2 sophomore Imani Perez, who led all scorers with 16 points and all rebounders with 15.

“It was one of Imani’s best positioning games,” Cawley said. “She always gets her numbers, but she was around the basket, where she needs to be.”

Working through a minor shoulder problem, Perez said “I actually kind of got in there easily today. It was a pretty good rebounding game for me, one of my best, I think.”

The Mustangs built a 27-16 halftime lead as sophomore Gracie Gallegos scored 10 of her 13 points and Perez had nine.

Mullen also benefitted from another cold shooting effort by the Warriors, who were 11-of-38, including 3-of-12 on 3-pointers.

Two-time all-league point guard Megan Pohs, who came off the bench after battling a cold, added eight points.

“Any time you can beat Arapahoe … that’s a good team,” Cawley said.

Perez added she and her teammates were excited about beginning the league’s second go-round “and this was a good one for us, a good one to win.”

The Mustangs will be at Eaglecrest on Wednesday, Feb. 5, at 5:30 p.m.

 

Arapahoe – Shaw 1 1-2 3, Wortman 0 0-0 0, Crispe 4 1-1 10, Delaney 0 0-0 0, March 3 3-3 10, Morgan 2 0-1 4, Staab 1 0-0 3, Lenox 0 2-2 2. Totals 11 7-9 32.

Mullen – Martinez 0 0-0 0, Dominguez 1 0-2 2, Van Horn 0 3-4 3, Perez 7 1-2 16, Gallegos 4 2-4 13, Pohs 3 0-0 8, Webster 1 0-0 2, Elges 0 0-0 0, Oates-Stamm 0 0-0 0, Freelon 2 0-0 4. Totals 18 6-12 48.

3-pt. goals – Crispe, March, Stabb; Gallegos 3, Pohs 2, Perez.