Going into Monday night’s district semifinal at The Sports Complex, there was one name on the mind of every Bulldog.

Moberly’s Grace Billington has a habit of taking over games. In December she toyed with Warrenton to the tune of 43 points. Less than two weeks ago, she scorched Mexico for 32 and forced the game into overtime.

“If we shut her down, that gives us an edge,” Mexico forward Mya Miller said.

That job fell to Taylor DeMint, Jordyn Thurman. And they took to it so well that Billington put up just 10 points on the night and drew a technical foul. And to Miller’s point, the edge was clear – a 58-32 Bulldogs romp and a spot in the district finals.

Mexico head coach Ed Costley deployed a box and one formation, with guards glued to Billington. DeMint and Thurman harried the sharpshooting freshman all night, preventing open looks.

“When we do that, she gets frustrated,” DeMint observed.

Slowing Billington proved critical, as the Bulldogs struggled to hit the basket early on. Miller reeled off 6 points to start the game, but was soon matched by the Spartans’ Kennedy Messer and Alaina Link.

It was a tight 12-9 affair after one, with Miller responsible for 10 of Mexico’s points.

A minute into the second quarter, Billington got loose and connected from three point range to knot the score at 12-12. Both sides slumped after that – possession followed possession with nothing to show for the effort.

It was still tied 12-12 two minutes later, when Jordyn Thurman drained one from beyond the arc.

“When Jo Thurman hit that three, everybody relaxed,” Costley said.

Riley Thurman took a feed from Abby Oetting and rolled it in. Riley Blevins made a nifty fake in the paint to open a lane for two. Suddenly the Bulldogs were on a 14-2 run.

DeMint’s buzzer-beating three at the end of the half put Mexico on top 31-16. It was never close after that.

“Our freshmen really stepped up,” Riley Thurman said, a reference to Blevins, who moved the ball well all night and Jordyn Thurman, who helped nullify Billington and hit some big threes.

“I’m a proud big sister,” Thurman added.

Miller led all scorers with 23. Riley Thurman put up 12, with her little sister chipping in 8. Oetting and Blevins fired in 6 each and DeMint threw in the buzzer beater.