AURORA | A tough start to the season continued for the Grandview girls basketball team, despite a return to play in the state of Colorado for the first time.
Five weeks into the new season, the Wolves — who played seven games in tournaments in Texas and Arizona prior to winter break — faced a Colorado team and opened the in-state slate Wednesday night against Centennial League rival Mullen, which had also spent considerable time playing out of state.
Ranked No. 1 in Class 4A in the Colorado High School Activities Association’s latest poll, the Mustangs came out firing and snapped a 22-game losing streak to Grandview (ranked No. 3 in 5A) with a 58-46 to take a league up in the chase for the league championship.
Senior Lauren Betts poured in 17 points for coach Josh Ulitzky’s Wolves, who dropped to 1-7 on the season. Senior Marya Hudgins added eight points and senior Amaya Charles and freshman Sienna Betts six apiece for Grandview, which has lost four straight after picked up a win over nationally-ranked La Jolla Country Day at the Nike Tournament of Champions.
The Wolves took the lead just five seconds into the contest when Lauren Betts won the tip off by tapping it to Hudgins, who found a streaking Sienna Betts for a layup. But early shots from 3-point fell for Mullen (8-2), which also flexed its ability on the offensive glass to build a lead of 13-6.
Grandview reeled the Mustangs back in at 15-15 after two Lauren Betts’ baskets sandwiched around a Hudgins 3-pointer before a Evenyce Gutierrez 3-pointer sent Mullen into the second quarter with an 18-15 lead. The Mustangs would lead the rest of the game and got their advantage into double figures in the fourth quarter.
The Wolves committed 24 turnovers in the contest.
Grandview has more challenges ahead with a visit to Cherokee Trail (6-5) at 5:30 p.m. Friday before it plays host to defending 5A state champion and top-ranked Valor Christian Saturday at 7 p.m.
Courtney Oakes is Sentinel Colorado Sports Editor. Reach him at sports@sentinelcolorado.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. IG: Sentinel Prep Sports
(4A 1) MULLEN 58, (5A 3) GRANDVIEW 46
Score by quarters:
Mullen 18 9 7 24 — 58
Grandview 15 8 5 18 — 46
MULLEN (58)
Evenyce Gutierrez 4 0-0 10, Imani Perez 2 4-5 8, Kilah Freelon 3 2-2 8, Allison Schwertner 4 1-2 9, Gracie Gallegos 6 5-6 21, Tatum Jones 1 0-0 2, Ryker Thomas 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 12-15 58.
GRANDVIEW (46)
Amaya Charles 2 2-2 6, Sienna Betts 3 0-2 6, Gabriella Cunningham 2 1-2 5, Marya Hudgins 2 2-2 8, Lauren Betts 7 3-6 17, Isa Dillehay 0 0-0 0, O’Brien 0 0-0 0, Auto Thomas 2 0-3 4, Paetyn Lewis 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 8-17 46.
3-point field goals — Mullen (6): Gracie Gallegos 4, Evenyce Gutierrez 2. Grandview (2): Marya Hudgins 2. Technical foul — Grandview: Hudgins
