Round 1 to Mullen and its defense

  Give Round 1 of Mullen-Grandview in the always good Centennial League to the visiting Mustangs, who went into Aurora on Wednesday night and grabbed a 58-46 victory. It was convincing, telling and quite entertaining, a much-anticipated league opener that was sparsely attended during a Rocky Mountain snowstorm with near-zero-degree temperatures. Mullen, top-ranked among Colorado’s Class 4A teams and the three-time defending champion, also snapped a 22-game losing streak to the 5A No. 3 Wolves. Mullen’s previous victory over Grandview occurred on Jan. 29, 2010, or before any current layer on the roster has=d entered first grade. Here’s some of what was on display: --- Mustangs senior [player_tooltip player_id="95172" first="Gracie" last="Gallegos"], PGH-Colorado 2022 No. 4, will make a player-of-the-year bid. Don’t argue. The 6-foot guard led all scorers with 21 points. In the closing minutes, she made two free throws following a Grandview technical foul before drilling one of her four 3-pointers that all but capped a resounding victory. Headed to UC-San Diego, Gallegos also held Grandview’s [player_tooltip player_id="117679" first="Marya" last="Hudgins"], PGH-Colorado 2022 No. 3 and bound for Santa Clara, to just two baskets and eight points. Don’t forget – Mullen’s best aspect has been its defense and Gallegos has regularly guarded the opposition’s best player since her first game as a freshman. --- [player_tooltip player_id="95167" first="Lauren" last="Betts"], the 6-7 pivot, PGH-Colorado 2022 No. 1, National Team member and top recruit nationally in this class, probably ran into the toughest in-state defense she’ll face this season. With Mullen’s Gallegos, the very athletic [player_tooltip player_id="117681" first="Kilah" last="Freelon"] (PGH-Colorado 2022 No. 5), 6-3 [player_tooltip player_id="95170" first="Imani" last="Perez"] (PGH-Colorado 2022 No. 8) and emerging [player_tooltip player_id="216722" first="Allison" last="Schwertner"] (PGH-Colorado 2024 No. 11) leading a parade that played behind her, offered help, fronted or tried to keep her off the blocks, Betts was held to 17 points, 10 in the first half. --- With point guard [player_tooltip player_id="117685" first="Evenyce" last="Gutierrez"] (PGH-Colorado 2022 No. 59) in foul trouble in the seond half, the Mustangs showed they can stay big with Gallegos handling the point or employing interesting freshmen such as Riker Thomas (guard) and [player_tooltip player_id="361573" first="Tatum" last="Jones"] (forward). --- Both Freelon (Texas Tech) and Perez (Hawaii) had moments bringing the ball up the floor and/or finding others down low on the break. --- In her first big game in Colorado – the Wolves actually faced six of the top-25 teams in some national polls in tournaments in Texas and Arizona – 6-3 freshman [player_tooltip player_id="352917" first="Sienna" last="Betts"] was held to six points.  Coach Josh Ulitzky acknowledged that she’s a ninth-grader who will have periodic apprehension, but said he really likes what he has seen to date and anticipates much more in the future. --- In her first season as a starter, Gutierrez (10 points) managed a career-high, including two early 3-pointers that extended the Grandview defense. --- The 6-1 Schwertner, too, continues to get better at handling the ball on the perimeter, looking for her shot, making free throws and developing on defense, where she’s usually good for multiple steals, cutting off passing lanes, rebounding and discouraging shots. --- Turnovers abounded on both sides with a fair amount of the miscues occurring while in transition. One of the fastest players on the floor was Grandview’s [player_tooltip player_id="117689" first="Amaya" last="Charles"] (PGH-Colorado 2022 No. 35), who had six points. Of note, the two teams will meet again on Jan 29, 2:30 p.m., at Mullen. And with the league opting to have the two teams meet struggling Overland and Smoky Hill once instead of twice, both Grandview and Mullen filled a couple of the open dates with defending 5A champion Valor Christian (6-3 [player_tooltip player_id="95168" first="Raegan" last="Beers"], PGH-Colorado 2022 No. 2, Oregon State, and [player_tooltip player_id="210292" first="Macey" last="Huard"], PGH-Colorado 2023 No. 2 ). Grandview will host the Eagles on Sat., Jan. 8, 7 p.m., and the Mustangs will take their turn at home on Jan. 14, 7 p.m.