MyMullen

2-1 Winter Roundup

2/1/2023

By Neil H. Devlin, Mullen Sports Information Director

Roth leads 'Stangs on a 'strange' night; girls hoops begins slowly; wrestling has a makeup meet.

It was an interesting Wednesday night to state the least …

For one thing, Mullen head coach Roosevelt Leslie had to be attended to after halftime and was forced to leave the court for a bit as he felt dizzy and faint.

For another, his son, Jordan, a junior and the Mustangs’ top player, took a shot across his chin, needed multiple bandages and stops in play because of bleeding, and had to head for stitches after the game.

For another, and best of all, Eddie Roth returned from two broken bones in his left leg, got his first start of the season and poured in a game-high 21 points to lead Mullen to a much-needed 76-71 victory at Cherokee Trail in Aurora in the Centennial League.

For everything involved, Coach Leslie termed the night as “strange,” but was thrilled “we got the ‘W’.”

He also insisted he felt fine, said he may have been dealing with the onslaught of the flu and was surprised he got light-headed.

The victory that pushed the Mustangs to 8-10 overall, 2-3 in league, also came with Roth’s first start. In September while a member of the Mullen soccer team, he broke a tibia and fibula early in the season. He missed the rest of the fall season, was forced to start slowly for basketball and had played just a few minutes.

So when he got his first start, he almost couldn’t believe it.

“I’ve been practicing the last four weeks,” the senior said. “I got in the Grandview game and (the one versus) Smoky Hill a little. (Coach Leslie) told me I would start tonight and I felt really good about it. I was just ready. I knew this was a big one and I just wanted to help my team anyway I could. It felt really good.”

Roth shot 8-of-11 from the floor, made five 3-pointers and missed a couple of free throws late that could have sealed it. But he wasn’t alone – Mullen made just 10-of-20 at the foul line.

In addition to Roth, Jordan Leslie scored 18 points, Anderson Brendle 15 and Thomas Stewart 12 as Mullen enjoyed some of its best balance of the season.

Next is a home game in league against Arapahoe on Friday, Feb. 3, 7 p.m.

MULLEN 76, CHEROKEE TRAIL 71

Mullen 18 17 16 25 -- 76

Cherokee Trail 26 10 20 15 -- 71

Mullen – Leslie 8 2-3 18, Brendle 5 3-5 15, Stewart 5 1-3 12, Jones 0 3-5 3, Roth 8 0-2 21, Archibald 0 0-0 0, Castillo 1 0-0 2, Medina 1 0-0 2, DePizzol 1 0-0 2, Jerez 0 1-2 1. Totals 29 10-20 76.

Cherokee Trail – Petre 0 0-0 0, Ghide 0 0-0 0, Chandler 2 5-7 9, Rodgers 4 0-0 12, Lloyd 2 3-4 8, Niyongabo 9 4-4 24, Steinbrinck 3 0-0 8, Behrendt 3 0-0 8, Brook 1 0-2 2. Totals 24 12-17 71.

3-pt. goals – Roth 5, Brendle 2, Stewart; Rodgers 4, Behrendt 2, Niyangabo 2, Steinbrinck 2, Lloyd. Fouled out – Leslie, Niyongabo.

Girls Basketball

In Aurora, Mullen got off to a slow start, never recovered and dropped a league game at Cherokee Trail 51-30.

The Mustangs slipped to 8-10 overall, 2-3 in league.

Cherokee Trail is the No. 4-ranked team in Class 6A.

Mullen managed only 15 points in each half, including four in the opening quarter.

Sofia Zienkewicz battled inside and led the Mustangs with nine points. Freshman Emma Kerchen came
off the bench to add seven.

The Mustangs will host Arapahoe in league on Friday, Feb. 3, 5:30 p.m., at Hutchison Fieldhouse.

CHEROKEE TRAIL 51, MULLEN 30

Mullen 4 11 6 9 -- 30

Cherokee Trail 13 15 16 7 -- 51

Mullen – Johnson 0 0-0 0, Aranga-Egbert 0 2-2 2, M. Wood 1 0-0 2, Jones 2 2-3 6, Zienkewicz 4 1-3 9, Thomas 1 1-2 4, Pelster 0 0-0 0, G. Wood 0 0-0 0, Archibald 0 0-0 0, Kerschen 3 0-0 7. Totals 11 6-10 30.

Cherokee Trail – Gibbs 5 0-0 11, Strode 4 0-2 11, Miller 0 0-0 0, Biosse 4 0-0 9, Allen 3 0-0 7, Broadus 1 0-0 2, Banks 0 2-2 2, Hart 1 0-0 2, Garza 0 0-0 0, Hodges 1 0-0 3, Lane 1 0-0 2, Turnbull 0 2-2 2. Totals 20 4-6 51.

3-pt. goals – Kerschen, Thomas; Strode 3, Allen, Biosse, Gibbs, Hodges.

Wrestling

The Mustangs dropped a home dual meet to Cherokee Trail in the Centennial.

It was a make-up meet postponed early by one of January’s multiple snowstorms.

Mullen didn’t opt for a full lineup (four foefeits) as it will host Eaglecrest tonight at 7 in another league match and the team is preparing for regional rounds to be held at nearby Abraham Lincoln.

Isaak Chavez (138 pounds), Cooper Loth (144), Kaleb Valdez-Lemos (175), Oliver Scelza (190) and Amani Fuqua each earned victories. Caleb Van Meter (Hwt.) won by forfeit.

CHEROKEE TRAIL 45, MULLEN 32

106 pounds – Trace Taylor lost by pin.

113 – Lost by forfeit.

120 – Lost by forfeit.

126 – Lost by forfeit.

132 – Lost by forfeit.

138 – Isaak Chavez won by tech. fall.

144 – Cooper Loth won by pin.

150 – Richard O’Brien lost by pin.

157 – Colin Hart lost by dec.

165 – Estevan Loya lost by pin.

175 – Kaleb Valdez-Lemos won by pin.