12-11 Roundup
Boys hoops takes down talented TJ for 1st win; girls hoops responds to 1st adversity in handling Palmer Ridge; wrestling remains impressive as well as undefeated; and young ice hockey members dip to 0-4.
Mullen boys basketball can verify – the first one usually is the sweetest.
The Mustangs racked up their initial victory of the season on Saturday, a convincing 73-59 handling of usually good Thomas Jefferson in nonleague at Hutchison Fieldhouse.
They are 1-3 and glad to be on the board.
“It was pretty frustrating,” sophomore guard Jordan Leslie said. “We played some good teams. In this game, we actually executed.”
TJ (4-2) entered with its usual speed, quickness and inside ability, plus some outside shooting. It was evident after Mullen ran to an early lead only to have the Spartans quick close the gap and take the lead.
However, Mullen never flinched and competed with the effort head coach Bob Caton so desires.
“Every game we’ve played in,” he said, “(the opposition) has had talent and this was good for us.”
The Mustangs led 32-30 at halftime and put it away with a rousing 28-10 performance in the third quarter that featured eight of their 11 3-pointers. Over the 8 minutes, Mullen canned 10-of-14 shots with Josh Lopez and Eddie Roth each making three 3s.
“This feels really good,” Lopez, a senior, said. “And we had good ball movement.”
Still missing two starters – junior Hunter Lay returned after missing Friday’s game – the Mustangs combined big effort, consistent defense and, at Caton’s behest, a willingness to fire up 3-pointers. It worked. Plus, Lay inspired a charge that competed inside.
“All of the guys contributed,” Caton said.
Leslie led the scoring with 21 points. Lopez had 18, Ethan Heffern nine, Jack Diasselliss eight and Hunter Lay six.
Next for Mullen is its Christmas Tournament that will begin on Thursday, Dec. 16, an eight-team group.
MULLEN 73, THOMAS JEFFERSON 59
Thomas Jefferson 15 15 10 19 -- 59
Mullen 15 17 28 13 -- 73
Mullen – J. Lesiie 7 5-8 21, Lopez 4 7-10 18, Heffern 4 0-0 9, Diasselliss 3 0-0 8, Roth 4 0-0 11, Lay 1 4-4 6, Castillo 0 0-0 0, Jones 0 0-0 0. Totals 23 16-22 73.
3-pt. goals – Lopez 3, Roth 3, DiasseJlliss 2, J. Leslie 2, Heffern.
Girls Basketball
For first time in 2021-22, it began slowly.
But the eruption eventually came and Mullen’s girls rolled again, 66-38 over visiting Palmer Ridge in a Saturday afternoon matinee in nonleague at The Hutch.
The Mustangs, top-ranked in Class 4A, moved to 4-0, and head coach Frank Cawley had no issues with the outset. The first taste of adversity for his team didn’t have to be bitter.
“Coming into the season,” he said, “I told the girls that our main concern is that we don’t beat ourselves. Body language doesn’t whisper.”
In reality, he added of his team’s sluggish, dull start, “it was actually good for us. And I was impressed with Palmer Ridge, which played hard.”
Overall, Mullen, the three-time-defending 4A champion, has won its past 15 games in succession.
Palmer Ridge (4-2) actually led the Mustangs in the first quarter. However, Mullen scratched back to grab the lead and used an 18-5 binge in the second quarter to take full command.
Mullen looked like, well, Mullen again in the second half, gradually pulling further away and using its superior length, height and savvy to a fourth-consecutive rout in nonleague.
Senior Gracie Gallegos, experiencing early foul trouble, got going late for 30 points, 17 in the fourth quarter and five-of-five in 3-pointers. Kilah Freelon, despite rough shooting early, added 14 as well as defense, rebounding and shot-blocking.
The Mustang who caught Cawley’s eye was pivot Imani Perez, who added eight points as well as defense shot-blocking, passing, creating space, filling lanes and stability when the Mustangs needed it.
“Imani played the best game she has played, she was phenomenal,” Cawley said. “She did lots of things that don’t show up in the stats.”
Said Perez: “It was good. We had some ups and downs, but we worked through it.”
Mullen will be at parochial-rival Regis Jesuit in Aurora on Monday, Dec. 13, tip-off at 5:30 p.m. in nonleague.
MULLEN 66, PALMER RIDGE 38
Palmer Ridge 7 5 12 14 -- 38
Mullen 10 18 17 21 – 66
Mullen – Gutierrez 1 1-2 3, Freelon 7 0-3 14, Schwertner 1 2-4 4, Gallegos 12 0-0 30, Perez 3 2-2 8, Jones 0 0-0 0, Deloach 2 2-2 6, Thomas 0 1-2 1, Wood 0 0-0 0, Arangua-Egbert 0 0-0 0, Giacomin 0 0-0 0. Totals 26 8 -15 66.
3-pt. goals – Gallegos 6.
Wrestling
This is good stuff – the Mustangs went 5-0 in Saturday’s dual tournament at Denver North and are 12-0 in head-to-head meets to date this season.
A thrilled head coach John Howes said “a lot of these guys are stepping up. Today was probably the biggest surprise. We came here with (nine) guys.”
Before a wave of regular forfeits at higher weights, defending 3A 106-pound champion Dale O’Blia, Antonio Herrera, Gilbert Antillon, Cayden Robbins, Noah Linares, Adam Domenico, Mark Troni and Kaleb Valdez-Lemos each performed at a high level for the Mustangs, who next will have a Centennial League dual at Smoky Hill in Aurora on Thursday, Dec. 17, 7 p.m.
They also will complete the first month of the season at the annual Holiday Tournament at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley Dec. 17-18, the top regular-seaosn gathering that serves as a high-end gauge.
MULLEN 36, SKYVIEW 31
106 pounds – Antonio Herrera, M lost by maj. dec. 15-3.
113 – Dale O’Blia, M won by pin, 1:58.
120 – Gilbert Antillon, M lost by dec. 8-1.
126 – Cayden Robbins, M, won by pin, 1:43.
132 – Noah Linares, M won by pin, 1:55.
138 – Double forfeit.
145 – Gabriel Carrington, M lost by pin, 2:45.
152 – Adam Domenico, M won by pin, 3:48.
160 – Mark Troni, M won by pin, 1:35.
170 – Kaleb Valdez-Lemos, M won by pin, 3:55.
182 – Forfeit.
195 – Forfeit.
220 – Forfeit.
Hwt. – Forfeit.
MULLEN 48, DENVER NORTH 16
106 pounds – Antonio Herrera, M won by pin, 4:30.
113 – Dale O’Blia, M won by pin., 2:30.
120 – Gilbert Antillon, M won by pin, 1:14.
126 – Double forfeit.
132 – Cayden Robbins, M lost by dec., 8-2.
138 – Noah Linares, M won by oin, 3:45.
145 – Gabriel Carrington, M won by forfeit.
152 – Double forfeit.
160 – Adam Domenico, M won by pin, 1:50.
170 – Mark Troni, M won by pin, 3:25.
182 – Kaleb Valde3z-Lemos, M won by pin, 4:45.
195 – Forfeit.
220 – Forfeit.
Hwt. – Double forfeit.
MULLEN 54, ENGLEWOOD 30
106 pounds – Antonio Herrera, M won by pin, 5:40.
113 – Dale O’Blia, M won by forfeit.
120 – Gilbert Antillon, M won by forfeit.
126 – Cayden Robbins, M, won by pin, 4:10.
132 – Noah Linares, M won by pin, 3:17.
138 – Forfeit.
145 – Gabriel Carrington, M won by forfeit, 3:37.
152 – Adam Domenico, M won by forfeit.
160 – Mark Troni, M won by forfeit.
170 – Kaleb Valdez-Lemos, M won by pin, 1:13.
182 – Forfeit.
195 – Forfeit.
220 – Forfeit.
Hwt. – Forfeit.
MULLEN 52, DENVER WEST 18
106 pounds – Antonio Herrera, M won by forfeit.
113 – Dale O’Blia, M won by forfeit.
120 – Gilbert Antillon, M won by forfeit.
126 – Cayden Robbins, M won by pin, 5:48.
132 – Double forfeit.
138 – Noah Linares, M won by pin, 3:35.
145 – Gabriel Carrington, M won by forfeit.
152 – Adam Domenico, M won by forfeit.
160 – Mark Troni, M won by forfeit.
170 – Kaleb Valdez-Lemos, M won by dec., 10-2.
182 – Double forfeit.
195 – Forfeit.
220 – Forfeit.
Hwt. – Forfeit.
Ice Hockey
The young, inexperienced Mustangs slipped to 0-4 with a couple of weekend losses.
On Friday, Mullen lost 7-0 to Colorado Academy in the 4A North League on Friday at Big Bear Ice Arena.
And on Saturday, Battle Mountain grabbed an 8-1 victory in nonleague at The Edge in Littleton.
The Mustangs will resume action on Friday, Dec. 17, against Chatfield at The Edge, first puck will drop at 8:30 p.m.
COLORADO ACADEMY 7, MULLEN 0
Mullen 0 0 0 -- 0
Colorado Academy 3 1 3 -- 7
Shots -- Mullen 3-4-3--10; Colorado Academy 10-10-9--29.
Power plays -- Mullen 0-for-9; Colorado Academy 2-for-6.
Mullen goalie -- Logan Clothier 22 saves.
Mullen 0 0 0 -- 0
Colorado Academy 3 1 3 -- 7
Shots -- Mullen 3-4-3--10; Colorado Academy 10-10-9--29.
Power plays -- Mullen 0-for-9; Colorado Academy 2-for-6.
Mullen goalie -- Logan Clothier 22 saves.
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