Business-like approach working for Mustangs
After a 2nd loss to Grandview and 2nd defeat of Cherry Creek, Mullen crushes Smoky Hill; team is 8-2 in with 4 to go before playoffs.
Mullen is taking a business-like approach.
What other choice do the Mustangs have?
After a second loss to nationally ranked Grandview and a second victory over 2019 Class 5A champion Cherry Creek, their most challenging of the season, the Mustangs wiped out hapless Smoky Hill 96-24 on a very snowy Wednesday night at Hutchison Fieldhouse.
The ebb and flow against its haves and have-nots certainly have kept 4A Mullen on its toes.
Again, what other choice do the Mustangs have?
“We’re just trying to get through it,” head coach Frank Cawley said. “We had some of our players who are going to be great players and are playing hard in practice get some time and we had our starters run some of our stuff, which was good. It was something we needed. We got the win and now we move on to the next one.”
In improving to 8-2 overall and in league, Mullen, senior Alexa Dominguez said, “is just all trying to mesh as a team and play as a team. It was good to get back into a rhythm and see what’s working.”
Certainly, Dominguez added, “we were a little upset about (losing to Grandview), but that’s a really good team, we did what we could and we’re just going to look forward to the next game.”
As it was, Mullen had a whopping 40 field goals, a 51-point first half and a 34-2 edge in scoring in the third quarter. All eleven players scored. Even with the mercy rule that forced a running clock in the fourth quarter, Mullen could have easily surpassed the century mark.
Megan Pohs, who needs 62 points to reach 1,000 in a terrific career, and junior Gracie Gallegos each led the way with 19 points. Dominguez added 12. Others who usually don’t get much playing time, such as Jessica Oates-Stamm (nine), and Evenyce Gutierrez and Abby Webster (eight each), took advantage.
Mullen will visit Overland in Aurora in league on Friday, Feb. 25, at 7:15 p.m.
“We had ball movement and communication and everyone was putting effort into it,” Dominguez said.
And perhaps the best thing, she added, is “everyone is excited for everyone else. There are no individuals here.”
MULLEN 96, SMOKY HILL 24
Smoky Hill 7 10 2 4 -- 24
Mullen 28 23 34 11 -- 96
Smoky Hill – Tuom 2 2-2 6, Naastad 1 0-1 2, Lindsey 3 0-0 7, Stangle 0 0-1 0, Garland 1 0-0 2, Johnson 3 1-32 7, Henderson 0 0-0 0, Calderson-Quijada 0 0-0 0. Totals 10 3-6 24.
Mullen – Pohs 7 0-0 19, Dominguez 6 0-2 12, Van Horn 2 0-0 4, Perez 2 0-0 4, Gallegos 8 2-2 19, Oates-Stamm 3 3-4 9, Martinez 2 0-0 5, Webster 4 0-0 8, Gutierrez 4 0-0 8, Schwertner 1 3-4 5, Aragon 1 0-0 2. Totals 40 9-13 96.
3-pt. goals – Pohs 5, Gallegos, Martinez; Lindsey.
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