For the fourth time in five seasons, Discovery Canyon earned its region’s crown. The Thunder dispatched No. 20 Fountain-Fort Carson in straight sets (25-13, 25-11, 25-15) in the opening match at home Saturday and eliminated No. 12 Cherry Creek in four (25-21, 27-29, 28-26, 25-16) to secure the 5A Region 5 title. Thunder coach Mallory Richardson said “it means everything” to the coaching staff to see Discovery Canyon players thrive after a “rocky start” to the season. Yes, the team that owns a 21-2 record ahead of next week’s state tournament at Trojan Arena and has dropped just 11 sets all year, had a rocky start. However, for the Thunder coach, she gauges more than victories and defeats. The Thunder had the vigor of a potential championship team, but Mallory wanted her players sharper between the ears. “A lot of people look at volleyball and they look deeply at the physical aspect,” Richardson said. “But they fail to remember how much the mental game is involved in volleyball.…