Mullen-Grandview, Round 1
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In resuming play following the mandatory holiday break in Colorado, Mullen will visit Grandview in Aurora on Wednesday, 5:30 p.m., to open Centennial League play. Two of the top teams in upper classifications will combine for as many as five…
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Continue ReadingIn resuming play following the mandatory holiday break in Colorado, Mullen will visit Grandview in Aurora on Wednesday, 5:30 p.m., to open Centennial League play.
Two of the top teams in upper classifications will combine for as many as five Division-I signees on the floor as well as the distinct possibility of several others in coming seasons.
Questions abound.
For instance:
— The host Wolves are 1-6, yet ranked No. 3 in Class 5A. They already have their most losses in a season since 2011-12, when they were 20-6. It’s their first in-state game in 2021-22, so when considering their talent, they really aren’t a 1-6 team, are they?
— The visiting Mustangs, 7-2, top-ranked in 4A and winner of the past three Colorado titles (including the tie with Holy Family in 2019) had won 17 games in a row before dropping a couple in the same out-of-state tournament, the Nike Tournament of Champions, in Phoenix. Since the 2006-07 season, Mullen is 6-24 against Grandview and hasn’t beaten the Wolves since Jan. 5, 2011, a losing span of 22 consecutive games. Can Mullen put an end to it?
— Grandview’s Lauren Betts Lauren Betts 6'7" | C Grandview | 2022 State #1 Nation CO , the 6-foot-7 post, missed her team’s season-opening tournament in Dallas, but played in Phoenix and has averaged 12.3 points and 11.3 rebounds. She’s 35 points from 1,200 in her career. Will the Prep Girls Hoops-Colorado 2022 No. 1, National Team player and Stanford signee dominate again as she has in her four seasons?
— Mullen’s Gracie Gallegos Gracie Gallegos 6'1" | SF Mullen | 2022 State CO , 18.7 points per game, tops for Mullen, PGH-Colorado 2022 No. 4 and arguably as good of a two-way player as there is in Colorado, is 80 points from 1,000 for her career and being asked to do more than in seasons past, particularly in handling more of the ball. How will that translate against the Wolves, who obviously will target her?
— Marya Hudgins Marya Hudgins 6'0" | SF Grandview | 2022 State CO , PGH-Colorado 2022 No. 3 and a Santa Clara signee, is Grandview’s answer to versatility – the 6-footer can shoot from the perimeter, drive to the basket, run the offense and contribute rebounding. Will she be bothered by Mullen’s defense, which can start five players 6 feet or taller?
— Kilah Freelon Kilah Freelon 6'0" | PF Mullen | 2022 State CO , PGH-Colorado 2022 No. 5 and a 6-footer with mad hops – she was credited with a dunk the past month in a tournament in Thornton – serves as a matchup problem as she also has a quick first step, good speed and gets into high gear quickly. Will the Texas Tech signee’s jumping a ability help to negate Betts’ height and length?
— Sienna Betts Sienna Betts 6'5" | PF Grandview | 2025 State CO , Lauren’s sister and a 6-3 Wolves freshman (PGH-Colorado 2025 list of players to watch), has been a solid performer with 10.0 points and 10.1 rebounds. What can we expect from her first big in-state game?
— Mullen’s Imani Perez Imani Perez 6'3" | PF Mullen | 2022 State CO , PGH-Colorado 2022 No. 8 and a 6-3 center who has been solid defensively since her first game three years ago as a freshman, is averaging 6.7 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.0 blocks. The Hawaii signee has a chance to shine in another head-to-head battle with the elder Betts.
And here’s a good thing – if you can’t make Wednesday’s game, the two teams will do it again on Jan. 29, a Saturday matinee at 2:30 p.m., to begin the league’s second go-round.