Mustangs enjoy 'complete' effort

 

Heading into the final week of the regular season, Mullen is looking sharp.

The Mustangs, defending state champions in Class 4A, cruised past visiting 5A Cherokee Trail 65-48 in Centennial League play on Saturday at Hutchison Fieldhouse.

Advancing to 15-6 overall, 9-3 in league, coach Frank Cawley said he couldn’t have been much happier or encouraged this late in the season.

“From top to bottom,” the coach said, “this is probably the most-complete game all year … and probably our best in transition. We ran well.”

With second- and fourth-quarter scoring advantages totaling 30-14, Mullen pulled away for the season sweep of the Cougars (13-8, 5-7). The Mustangs’ defensive pressure was constant, Cawley said, and there was balanced scoring. Sophomore Imani Perez was tops with 15 points. Junior Haley Van Horn added 10. Junior Megan Pohs and sophomore Gracie Gallegos each scored nine, and junior Elaina Martinez had eight.

With just two regular-season games to go, Mullen will complete its home league schedule on Wednesday, Feb. 19, against Overland (5:30 p.m.), then head to Aurora for what could be an interesting finale –it will take on 5A top-ranked Grandview on Friday, Feb. 21, 5:30 p.m. The Wolves, who have won two of the past three big-school championships, have won 73 of their previous 74 league games.

Grandview also will take on 5A defending Colorado champion Cherry Creek on Wednesday.

 

Cherokee Trail – Lee 1 0-0 2, Villegas 1 0-0 2, Rodriguez 3 2-2 9, Culbreath 3 0-0 7, Thomas 1 4-6 6, Lee 0 0-0 0, Roberson 2 0-0 4, Faust 0 0-0 0, Collins 1 0-0 3, Hemingway 5 0-2 13, Leu-Pierre 1 0-0 2. Totals 18 6-8 48.

Mullen – Pohs 3 2-2 9, Martinez 3 1-2 8, Dominguez 1 1-2 3, Oates-Stamm 1 2-2 5, Van Horn 5 0-0 10, Perez 6 3-3 15, Webster 0 0-0 0, Elges 0 0-0 0, Gutierrez 0 1-2 1, Gallegos 3 2-2 9, Freelon 1 3-6 5. Totals 23 15-21 65.

3-pt. goals – Hemingway 3, Collins, Culbreath, Rodriguez; Gallegos, Martinez, Oates-Stamm, Pohs.