Points came in bunches as Mexico overpowered Liberty Christian Academy 61-24 in the opening round of the Montgomery County Invitational on Monday night.
Four Bulldogs put double digits on the …
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Points came in bunches as Mexico overpowered Liberty Christian Academy 61-24 in the opening round of the Montgomery County Invitational on Monday night.
Four Bulldogs put double digits on the board, led by Mya Miller with 23. Riley Blevins added 13, while Alexis Willer and Riley Thurman tacked on a dozen each.
“We worked together,” Thurman said. “It was a good team effort.”
It was also a season opener against an unexpected opponent – the Eagles were a last minute replacement after Fulton dropped out of the tournament – following an uncertain few weeks of practice. That translated into a number of fouls on both sides of the ball. Mexico went to the line nine times on the night. Liberty had seven trips.
“We knew there would be errors, but as long as we made up for it on defense it would be OK,” Blevins observed.
From the start Mexico’s defense took control, holding the Eagles in single digits until the second period. It was a hustling, physical style of play – Abby Oetting forcing a turnover here, Willer diving to cause a jump ball.
And yet it was the Bulldogs offense that put a stamp on the game. The team moved the ball with mid-season certainty and took advantage of breaks.
“Really, sharing the ball helped out,” Miller said, giving credit for the win to passing and looking for opportunities.
Willer opened the scoring 30 seconds into the game with a smooth as silk three, one of two she hit on the night. Blevins drained three from distance. But it was Miller who put the game out of reach with a second half flurry.
Willer’s second three pointer at 6:49 in the third quarter made it a comfortable 33-17 game. Then Miller took over, banking one off the glass, grabbing an offensive board and dropping it back in, nailing a jumper and hitting nothing but net from eight feet out.
All this took place in a span of a minute and a half, but she wasn’t done. The junior forward next found Thurman open under the net for a quick assist. She then wove her way through the Eagles defense for a layup.
Suddenly Mexico held a 45-17 advantage.
“I knew I needed to step up,” Miller said.
Head coach Ed Costley praised the passing game and the team’s energy on defense. Being matched up against a team on short notice hardly mattered.
“It’s one of those things,” he observed. “First game, let’s play.”
