Girls set to host Canon City in Great 8

 

It appeared Mullen was going after a second straight Class 4A championship in an odd sort of way – the Mustangs had only one postseason game at Hutchison Fieldhouse in 2019, when they took their first title in 13 years, and just one to date in 2020.

Not that they can complain. The Mustangs won by first-round scores of 77-21 and 86-42.

It’s just that Canon City, the No. 16 seed, rose up the past Tuesday and handled Sand Creek, the host No. 1 seed, 69-55. Most assumed the Scorpions would hold serve and have the Mustangs southbound on the road.

Most assumed incorrectly.

And not only did the Tigers winning in the Round of 16 give Mullen a quarterfinals home game, which will be played on Friday (March 6), 7 p.m., but the Tigers are its opponent.

Canon City is 20-4, including 14-1 to tie with Sierra (on the other side of the 48-team bracket) for the 4A Colorado Springs Metro League title. The Tigers actually began 0-3 in 2019-20 with losses, in order, to Falcon, Liberty and Glenwood Springs, the first and third coming by double figures,

However, they went on an 18-game winning streak that didn’t reach 19 with the loss in the regular-season finale to the Stallions. Canon City also has beaten Evergreen (60-43) in the postseason.

Five-foot-7 senior Jerika Moore is tops in scoring (16.7 points). Another senior, Kate Tedquist is at 13.3 points. Sophomores Madelyn Ley (7.7) and 5-11 Emily Till (7.3) are next. Till also is the Canon City leader in rebounding (7.3), followed by Moore (5.8).

As for senior-less and No. 9 Mullen (18-7), its second victory in consecutive postseasons at Montrose – Tuesday’s was by 65-40 – also was its seventh overall since the past February. News of a home game afterward made it seem better.

Junior point guard Megan Pohs (10.8) has back-to-back 24-point outings, including nine 3-pointers. It’s her turn to be in front of the Mustangs, apparently, as the spot has been revolving all season, mainly between six players. Sophomores Gracie Gallegos (9.8 points, 3.5 rebounds) and Imani Perez (9.3 rebounds, 7.6 rebounds), and juniors Alexa Dominguez (5.6 points, 5.8 rebounds), Elaina Martinez (6.9 points) and Haley Van Horn (5.2 points, 5.1 rebounds) have provided regular balance as well as taking turns taking over games, including with defense. When the Mustangs defend, head coach Frank Cawley knows, it fuels their scoring, and augments their 3-point shooting and ball movement.

Here’s a link to the 4A bracket as the other three quarterfinals also will be played on Friday: