Fun facts about a fun run
No. 46 Mullen has attained new 5A highs with its two victories; 'Stangs will take on host Chaparral in Parker in the Sweet 16,
With Mullen still alive in the Class 5A Boys Colorado bracket as the No. 46 seed, here are some interesting facts about the Mustangs’ unlikely but fun run in the playoffs:
--- Big schools have had 48 teams qualify under a 64-team bracket (including first round-byes) in every season but one (there were 32 in the COVID-19 2020-21) since 2010-11. The No. 46 seeds are a combined 3-8 in the preliminaries.
--- The only teams other than Mullen to advance to a second-round game in 5A as No. 46 over the past dozen seasons are Chatfield in 2018 and Lakewood in 2015.
--- Since the outset of the previous decade, the 46th seed has had only one team advance to the Sweet 16 – the current Mullen, which has beaten No. 19 Broomfield (59-38) and No. 14 Doherty (61-46), both on the road.
--- The past eight teams that have lost a first-rounder as the 46th seed did so by an average of 21.3 points.
--- After Chatfield and Lakewood advanced to the second round, they both fell – Chatfield by 61-33 to Rampart and Lakewood by 78-69 to Mountain Vista.
--- No 5A No. 46 seed has advanced to the quarterfinals.
--- No. 46 Mullen (10-14) will visit No. 3 Chaparral (19-4) in Parker in the Sweet 16 on Wednesday, tip-off at 6:30 p.m. The Mustangs had to win their final two regular-season games to qualify; the Wolverines have won nine games in succession and their four losses were by a combined 14 points.
--- Mullen head coach Bob Caton began his career at Manual in 1976, or 30 years before Chaparral head man Nate Rohnert graduated from Chaparral as a two-time all-stater.
--- Through two playoff victories, Ethan Heffern (21.5 points), Josh Lopez (10.0) and Jordan Leslie (9.5) top the Mustangs in scoring.
--- Mullen’s defensive effort has been turned up and coincided with its four-game winning streak, allowing, in order, 46, 52, 38 and 46 points.
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