Overland defense suffocates Mullen
Defensive pressure rattles Mustangs in 77-61 Centennial League loss. 'Stangs slow start too much to overcome.
AURORA – Mullen ran into a buzzsaw of sorts on Thursday night.
The Mustangs didn’t handle it well, losing 77-61 to host Overland in the Centennial League.
And it wasn’t as if the Mustangs, who are 2-2 overall and in league, didn’t know it was coming.
“They always play good defense,” Mullen head coach Bob Caton said of the Trailblazers (4-0, 3-0). “Our guys don’t even see that at a (recreation) center. They were very aggressive.”
Basically, Caton added, “we need to learn how to score with someone around us.”
It was evident at the beginning as the Mustangs had trouble with Overland’s defensive pressure both out front and inside. They shot only 1-of-13, trailed 16-3 after a quarter and 40-15 by halftime.
While they followed with assorted moves in the second half, including outscoring the Trailblazers 20-7 in the third quarter and getting within nine points three times over the final 8 minutes – the last of which at 53-44 – playing catch-up proved draining as did missing 10 free throws, having some lapses on defense and failing to finish.
“We missed a lot of easy shots,” Caton said.
Senior Brayden Carter again led Mullen with 23 points (and eight rebounds). Juniors Josh Lopez (13) and Micah Leslie (11) were next with Leslie managing the team’s lone basket in the first quarter.
Caton also said the Mustangs “we’re a little banged up.” They will resume play in league on Wednesday, Feb. 10, at home at Hutchison Fieldhouse against Cherokee Trail, 7 p.m.
OVERLAND 77, MULLEN 61
Mullen 3 12 20 26 -- 61
Overland 16 24 7 30 -- 77
Mullen – Lopez 4 2-5 13, Berg 1 3-4 5, Dominguez 0 0-0 0, M. Leslie 5 1-3 11, Carter 7 7-10 23, J. Leslie 2-2-2 7, Smith 0 0-0 0, Schmitt 1 0-1 2. Totals 20 15-25 61.
Overland – Brown 3 2-2 11, Harp 3 0-0 6, Ilela 1 0-0 2, Wedgeworth 2 8-10 13, Wright 10 4-8 24, Lampley 4 4-4 13, Royston 2 0-0 4, Patterson 1 0-0 2, Linzy 1 0-2 2. Totals 27 18-26 77.
3-pt. goals – Lopez 3, Carter 2, J. Leslie; Brown 3, Lampley, Wedgeworth. Fouled out -- Berg; Lampley. Technical foul -- Berg.
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