'Stangs hand Coach Cawley his 200th
Mullen overcomes slow start to roll Cherokee Trail 64-37 in league; coach's milestone comes in his 12th season; Mullen is 10-2 with 2 to play.
On a night when Mullen had early issues in terms of shooting and rebounding, it responded the way head coach Frank Cawley desired and it couldn’t have been much better.
On an historic Tuesday night, the Mustangs fought past Cherokee Trail 64-37 at Hutchison Fieldhouse in handing Cawley his 200th victory. The Centennial League triumph pushed Mullen to 10-2 overall and in league, and Cawley’s 12-year mark to 200-96 with two outright Class 4A Colorado titles and a shared one.
“It feels good,” the coach said after pictures with his team holding an assortment of 200 signs. “I wanted it with this team, too. And in this league …”
While Mullen had difficulty early, making just 6-of-21 shots in the first half and having Eaglecrest (3-8, 3-8) hang around despite having as many turnovers as points (16), the Mustangs played through it along with Cawley removing front-liners Megan Pohs and Gracie Gallegos so they wouldn’t have three fouls before halftime.
Plus, he sensed his players knew about his milestone.
“But their response in the third quarter was better,” he said.
Gallegos finished with 17 points, and Alexa Dominguez and Imani Perez each finished with 15 in addition to controlling the rebounding as Mullen outscored the Cougars 41-21 after halftime.
It ensured a celebration they craved.
“It’s just great to be a part of it,” Dominguez said. “This is a special group with everyone involved and just awesome to be a part of it.”
Perez, whose defense has been consistent all season, said “it’s a great opportunity for us and we all just played as a team and did it. It was fun to be a part of it.”
Another senior, Elaina Martinez, a guard, said “it definitely was nice to be a part of 200, 200 is a big thing. Having it being such a close game (for a while) is better than a blowout. It may have scared him a little, but it’s better.”
Mullen has two games to play this week to cap its regular season and secure second place in league. On Thursday, March 4, the Mustangs will be at Eaglecrest, 7 p.m., and on Saturday, March 6, will host Arapahoe at 2:30 p.m.
MULLEN 64, CHEROKEE TRAIL 37
Cherokee Trail 7 9 7 14 -- 37
Mullen 15 8 20 21 -- 64
Cherokee Trail – Bruning 1 1-2 3, Culbreath 2 4-4 9, Allen 1 0-0 2, Browitt 0 0-0 0, Turnbull 1 0-1 2, Roberson 0 0-0 0, Leu-Pierre 1 0-0 2, Banks-Poole 1 1-1 3, Faust 3 0-1 9, Estangle 1 0-4 2, Villegas 0 0-0 0, Lee 2 0-0 5. Totals 13 6-13 37.
Mullen – Pohs 3 0-0 8, Dominguez 7 1-3 15, Van Horn 3 0-0 6, Perez 6 3-6 15, Gallegos 8 0-0 17, Oates-Stamm 0 0-0 0, Webster 0 0-0 0, Martinez 1 0-0 3. Totals 28 4-9 64.
3-pt. goals – Faust 3, Culbreath, Lee; Pohs 2, Gallegos, Martinez.
© 2020 Mullen High School. All Rights Reserved.