'Stangs too much for Cougars

By Neil H. Devlin, Mullen Sports Information Director
Mullen blitzes Coronado 71-18 in the 2nd round of the 4A playoffs; 15th postseason win in a row; Mustangs will host Berthoud Tuesday in the Sweet 16.
 
Mullen knew what was going on and acted accordingly.

The Mustangs simply overmatched visiting Coronado 71-18 at Hutchison Fieldhouse on a cold Friday evening in the second round of the Class 4A playoffs.

It pushed the Mustangs, three-time-defending Colorado champions and who had a first-round bye, to 17-6 on the season and it was their 15th playoff victory in succession. Second-seeded Mullen will host No 15 Berthoud, a 66-21 victor over Mesa Ridge, on Tuesday at 6 p.m.

Against No. 34 Coronado, which ended 12-13, Mullen was business-like and moved on to the Sweet 16 like it has been there before, and it has.

“You want to win,” Cawley said of the blowout. “We came out and did exactly what I wanted them to do.”

True – Mullen motored to a 28-5 lead, was relentless with its defensive pressure, substituted freely, got bench players a bunch of minutes and never trailed. It also heled the  Cougars scoreless in the second quarter.

“We didn’t play a starter in the second half,” Cawley said. “It worked out really well and got them some confidence. We could need them down the road.”

Said point guard Evenyce Gutierrez: “We were definitely aware (that it could be a romp), but no matter what we were going in there to defend like we have for the past three years. We just came out strong defensively.”

Indeed, and as usual, Mullen’s defense fed everything else it does. The press led to sophomore Allison Schwertner scoring 11 of her team’s first 16 points. The Mustangs cut off passing lanes, rebounded and blocked shots.

Schwertner was tops with 13 points. Kilah Freelon and Gracie Gallegos each added 12. Hannah Giacomin came off the bench for nine.

“Everyone’s back (from injury) together and we can’t wait to play again,” Gutierrez said.
 
MULLEN 71, CORONADO 18

Coronado  5  0  9  4  --  18

Mullen  28  21  14  8  -- 71

Mullen  --  Gutierrez 0 2-2 2, Perez 2 0-0 4, Freelon 6 0-0 12, Schjwertner 5 1-2 13, Gallegos 5 0-0 12, Jones 1`4-4 6, Giacomin 3 0-0 9, Thomas 2 0-0 4, DeLoach 1 2-4 5, Wood 1 0-0 2, Zienkewicz 0 2-4 2, Berumen 0 0-0 0, Wright 0 0-0 0, Arangua-Egbert 0 0-0 0. Totals 26 11-18 71.

3-pt. goals – Giacomin 3, Gallegos 2, Schwertner 2, DeLoach.
 
Back