Though the Wauneta-Palisade Broncos got off to a hot start Tuesday, Feb. 27 in Hershey, it was Mullen that had the final say in the D2-5 district finals.
    WP opened up an 8-0 lead halfway through the first quarter. After a basket by Cash Yearous, Duncan Rector knocked down field goals. Yearous added another bucket before two free throws by Mullen put it on the board.
    Dennis Cavanaugh got in on the act with a three-pointer. Holding an 11-4 lead, Dalton Harchelroad scored on three-straight possessions to help WP to a 17-7 lead at the end of the first quarter.
    Ben Anderjaska made two free throws two minutes into the second quarter to help WP maintain a 19-10 lead.
    As the Mullen defense shut down WP’s offense, Mullen went to work on the offensive boards. Mullen took its first lead of the game, 19-21, with just over a minute left in the first half.
    Yearous made one free throw with 22.3 seconds left, but another basket by Mullen capped a 3-22 run making the score to 20-27 at halftime.
    Both teams were cold starting the third quarter. Following a Mullen bucket, a hook shot by Caid Doetker kept WP within seven points.
    Just when Mullen looked like it would pull away in the third quarter, Yearous hit a three-pointer then got a steal and a layup to keep WP within striking distance.
    Doetker cut the Mullen lead to 28-35 with a free throw as the clock showed 31.7 seconds. A Mullen basket with three seconds left increased the lead to nine points going into the fourth quarter.
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