Boulder – One of the most obvious truths in Class 5A boys basketball is that Sean Cunningham and Stephen Franklin carry Aurora Central.
But on a night when the Trojans’ two senior stars were held in check, others carried the load as Aurora Central rolled into its first championship game in 24 years.
Behind Caston Mabin, Josh Bond, Davy Johnson and Brock Veasley, Aurora Central handled defending champion Mullen 57-42 on Thursday night in 5A’s Final Four at the Coors Events Center. The Trojans will take a 27-0 record into the final against East.
“Those guys did a good job,” Cunningham said after being held to eight points (Franklin had just five), although he grabbed 10 rebounds.
Mabin led the way with 14 points and 16 rebounds. Bond added 11 points and 11 rebounds, Johnson scored 10 points and all of Veasley’s nine points came in the fourth quarter.
“Coach (Bob Caton) says you’re only as good as your worst player, and tonight we didn’t have a worst player,” Mabin said.
Central withstood a handful of Mullen surges and limited the Mustangs’ Devin Aguilar and Terrance Dent to 11 points each.
Mullen shot poorly (14-of-45), including 2-of-11 on 3-pointers.
“We watched 26 other people have (Cunningham and Franklin) beat them, so we thought, ‘If we’re going to go down, we’re going to go down in a different way,”‘ Mullen coach Porter Cutrell said.
Mullen 9 9 12 12 – 42
Aurora Central 14 9 11 23 – 57
Mullen – Safieddine 4 2-3 10, Jones 0 0-0 0, Dent 3 4-6 11, Theret 1 0-0 2, Aguilar 4 3-5 11, Burns 0 0-2 0, McCullough 1 0-0 3, Belloni 0 0-0 0, Friend 1 0-0 2, Smith 0 0-0 0, Arias 0 3-4 3, McKenna 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 12-20 42.
Aurora Central – Mabin 5 4-6 14, Bond 4 2-6 11, Franklin 1 3-3 5, Cunningham 3 2-5 8, Johnson 4 1-2 10, Veasley 3 3-6 9, Kelly 0 0-0 0, Bonds 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 15-28 57.
3-pt. goals – Dent, McCullough; Bond, Johnson. Total fouls – Mullen 22, Aurora Central 17. Fouled out – Franklin. Technicals – None.
SCHEDULE
THURSDAY
At Coors Events Center, Boulder
Aurora Central 57, Mullen 42
East 72, Doherty 51
SATURDAY
At Coors Events Center, Boulder
Championship game: 8 p.m.
(2) East (23-3) vs. (1) Aurora Central (27-0)
