'Stangs can't handle No. 1 Bruins
Mullen downed 83-58 by 5A top-ranked Cherry Creek, falls to 5-4; Mustangs next will visit Smoky Hill in 2nd of a 3-game week.
The final score was Cherry Creek 83, Mullen 58 at Hutchison Fieldhouse.
And that’s all Mustangs head coach Bob Caton wants to remember about it.
“They have so many weapons, they play good basketball and they have players,” Caton said on Tuesday night of the Bruins.
The Mustangs, who had won two straight games, both on 3-point, buzzer-beaters, dropped to 5-4 overall, 5-4 in the Centennial League. The Class 5A top-ranked Bruins are 9-0, 9-0, and they played liked it.
“I thought we’d have a little momentum, but it wasn’t there,” Caton said.
The Bruins led early and often, 17-7 after a quarter, 41-26 at halftime and had their bulge crest at 31 points late. They made 11 3-pointers, fared well defensively both on the perimeter and inside, and kept Mullen chasing.
Despite Brayden Carter, Micah Leslie and Ryan Schmitt each dunking, the Mustangs spent the night chasing. Carter (13 points), Leslie (12), Callen Smith (nine) and Schmitt (eight) topped Mullen scoring.
“This one’s in the rearview mirror,” Caton said. “We played the No. 1 team and I think they have a shot (at the 5A championship). We have to let this one go and we have some tough ones coming up … but one game at a time.”
The Mustangs will be at Smoky Hill on Wednesday, Feb. 24, at Smoky Hill in Aurora, 7:15 p.m. And in their first three-game week in this new Season B, they will host Overland on Friday.
CHERRY CREEK 83, MULLEN 58
Cherry Creek 17 24 19 23 -- 83
Mullen 7 19 11 21 -- 58
Cherry Creek – Penry 4 1-2 10, C. Hammond 3 1-3 7, J. Hammond 10 0-0 24, M. Purchase 7 0-0 16, Walker 1 0-0 2, B. Purchase 0 1-2 1, Chambers 2 0-0 5, Booth 3 0-0 8, Nofziger 4 1-2 10, Ladson 0 0-0 0, Lang 0 0-0 0. Totals 34 4-8 83.
Mullen – Lopez 2 0-0 5, Berg 1 0-0 2, Heffern 1 0-0 3, M. Leslie 6 0-0 12, Carter 6 1-1 13, Smith 2 4-4 9, Schmitt 4 0-3 8, J. Leslie 1 0-0 3, Dominguez 1 0-0 3. Totals 24 5-8 58.
3-pt. goals – J. Hammond 4, Booth 2, M. Purchase 2, Chambers, Nofzinger, Penry; Dominguez, Heffern, J. Leslie, Lopez, Smith.
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