BOULDER - Aurora Central was so deeply talented last season that Caston Mabin stepped on the court only at the end of blowout victories.

Mabin destroyed junior varsity competition all year but finally achieved his crowning varsity moment in a 57-42 win against Mullen in the Class 5A state semifinals Thursday, just when the Trojans desperately needed him.

Aurora Central (27-0) will meet Denver East for the big-school title Saturday.

The Trojans were without starting center Joseph Goyer, who found out that the discomfort he has been experiencing recently was because of a broken foot.

Mabin, a 6-foot-4 junior, got the starting assignment and responded with an impressive performance. He scored 14 points and grabbed 16 rebounds, both game highs for the Trojans.

Mabin accomplished that while getting the toughest defensive assignment of the game.

"During practice, coach (Bob Caton) said he wanted me to guard Devin Aguilar (Mullen's standout guard)," Mabin said. "We went through tapes and coach ran the (Mustangs) offense for us in practice, so we would know what we'd come (up against)."

Aguilar had only five points through the first three quarters before busting loose for six more in the fourth. By then, though, the Trojans and Mabin had broken open the game.

"Basically, defense won the game for us (Thursday)," Mabin said. "We came out knowing what to do, denying everybody we knew we should deny. That's what really won the game for us."

Trojans standout Stephen Franklin, who is headed to Colorado State, had one of his toughest games this season. He was held to five points, argued calls and fouled out.

Point guard Sean Cunningham also had trouble getting his shots to fall, but did spot open teammates down the floor for easy baskets.

Cunningham also grabbed 10 rebounds, but that paled in comparison to Mabin's work on the boards. Mabin's total included nine offensive rebounds.

"I just went in there and battled and did the best that I could," Mabin said. "It came out (Thursday). I just hustled and I tried my hardest. So did the rest of the team. We all got our rebounds. We all got in there and did the dirty work. Now we're going to the state championship."

The Mustangs, the defending 5A champion, had their hot postseason streak end. Mullen was seeded fifth and had finished fifth in the Centennial League.

Mullen was led by Aguilar and Terrance Dent, who each finished with 11 points, and center Hassan Safieddine, who scored 10 and grabbed nine rebounds.

Aurora Central, though, had a number of clutch performances from players who ordinarily don't make headlines.

Forward Josh Bond was a strong force inside with 11 rebounds and also punctuated the victory with a ferocious two-handed dunk with about 30 seconds to play.

Guard Brock Veasley also shredded his defenders, easily driving and eventually dishing the ball to his teammates.

"He's a very quick player," Caton said. "He went in and made a lot of things happen."

Mullen......9	9	12	12	-	42
Aurora Central......14	9	11	23	-	57

M - Devin Aguilar 4 3-5 11, Kyle Theret 1 0-0 2, Terrance Dent 3 4-6 11, David Burns 0 0-2 0, Tony Arias 0 3-4 3, Calvin Smith 0 0-0 0, Spencer McCullough 1 0-0 3, Stan Jones 0 0-0 0, Hassan Safieddine 4 2-3 10, Cameron Friend 1 0-0 2. Totals 14 12-20 42.

AC - Davy Johnson 4 1-2 10, Sean Cunningham 3 2-5 8, Stephen Franklin 1 3-3 5, Josh Bond 4 2-6 11, Brock Veasley 3 3-6 9, Caston Mabin 5 4-6 14, Chris Kelly 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 15-28 57.

Three-point goals - M, Dent, McCullough; AC, Johnson, Bond. Fouled out - Jones, Franklin.

pearcea@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5352

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