Note: For more photos from Austin Hogan-McCool, click here.

Mullen is a bubble team with a championship pedigree.

A possible worst-case scenario for a top seed in the first round.

Time will tell.

As the days fizzle out in the girls basketball regular season, the winners of three straight state titles in Class 4A finds itself on the edge of contention for the 6A state postseason, ranked 31st in the latest CHSAA Selection and Seeding Index.

In this week’s look at the big classifications in girls basketball, we take a look at some of the more intriguing fringe playoff teams in 6A, 5A and 4A.

Class 6A

No. 31 Mullen: To be fair, the difference between this team and last year’s goes deeper than just a two classification jump. Though, that’s a heck of a jump.

The Mustangs (9-12), from then to now, graduated their top-three scorers from a seasoned title team and transitioned from legendary coach Frank Cawley to first-year coach Tonia Jones.

This winter, the Mustangs had top-32 wins over 6A No. 18 Eaglecrest and 5A No. 32 Dakota Ridge. Junior Allison Schwertner averaged nearly 13 points per game and eight rebounds to lead the way.

Their regular season ended last weekend.

No. 32 Legacy: The Lightning (12-11) lost three expected starters early in the winter, including point guard Madison Allshouse.

Building back from it, constructing a new-look … well everything, they grew stronger as the season progressed.

Led by sophomore Olivia Mortensen, the kind of player who does a bit of everything for them, averaging 17.7 points and 12.5 boards a game, the Lightning won eight straight before falling to No. 29 Fort Collins by five in the regular-season finale Tuesday.

During their late run of wins, they beat three expected 6A postseason teams in No. 20 Horizon, No. 23 Rocky Mountain and No. 24 Fossil Ridge.

Class 5A

No. 31 Longmont: The Trojans (10-12) did what they needed to over the last two weeks to keep their postseason hopes alive.

They won three of four following a four-game skid at the end of last month. The lone loss was to 4A No. 3 Holy Family last week.

Wednesday, they showed a balanced attack in a 49-22 win over Silver Creek. Savannah Pohl (13 PPG, 7.7 RPG) had 14 points and 11 boards, Ella Pears had 10 and 15 and Kaila Patterson had 14 points.

The Trojans — who have wins over projected postseason teams in 4A No. 15 Summit and 5A No. 27 Greeley Central and No. 30 Bear Creek — close their season out with No. 11 Centaurus Friday.

No. 33 Thomas Jefferson: With the regular season officially over for the Spartans (11-11), the incredible high school career of Brooke Murrell could be finished, too.

And possibly not.

The Spartans appear to be on the outside heading into Thursday’s games, though with three days remaining and all the weirdness that goes into the rankings, plenty can change.

To their credit, the Spartans have three wins over top-32 teams this winter in 5A No. 30 Bear Creek, No. 31 Longmont and 4A No. 31 Sierra.

If this is the end for TJ, though, Murrell will finish high school with 1,359 points and 921 rebounds. The senior had nine double-doubles in her last 12 games, averaging 17.6 PPG and 11.9 boards this winter.

Class 4A

No. 31 Sierra: The Stallions (10-12) put themselves in playoff position with five straight wins heading into their regular-season finale against No. 19 The Classical Academy Saturday.

Last week, they beat No. 27 Elizabeth 33-24, holding the Cardinals to just two points in the fourth quarter. Senior Torrai Logan led the way with 14 points.

Logan will likely need another strong game in the finale as she’s scored at least 14 over their last five wins.

Sierra lost to TCA by 19 earlier in the month.

No. 32 The Academy: The Wildcats (7-15) would probably feel a bit better about their prospective playoff chances with a win over 3A No. 36 Prospect Ridge Academy Friday. A loss, meanwhile, could sink them.

The Academy has benefited from a tough league, the 4A/3A Metro, which includes No. 5 Colorado Academy, No. 10 Peak to Peak, No. 12 Kent Denver, No. 17 Jefferson Academy, No. 29 Eagle Ridge Academy and 3A No. 16 St. Mary’s Academy.

In stats available, Akari Murillo Franco leads the Wildcats, averaging 7.1 points, 9.9 rebounds and 4.4 blocks this winter.