Boys basketball

Mexico boys swarm Fulton for 56-45 win in state-ranked showdown

Fulton has plenty of players to be concerned about.

The Mexico boys learned this in their first meeting this season, losing to their North Central Missouri Conference rival 69-52. The Bulldogs didn’t allow the Hornets much room in the rebound 56-45 victory Tuesday night at home in a matchup between the Nos. 5 and 6 ranked teams in Class 4..

Head coach Darren Pappas said coach Dion Nunnelly and the team had a game plan for the Fulton team that was allowed to do what it wanted offensively in the Montgomery County tournament championship game. The key Hornets of Colby Lancaster and Gohring brothers — Walker and Rowdy — had to work harder this time around.

“We doubled down on Lancaster and tried to limit him as much as possible,” Pappas said. “He’s a load so he’s going to still get his points. We contested their shooters — the Gohring brothers are really good ballplayers — and tried to limit other guys as well.”

Pappas said he likes how Mexico (8-3, 3-1 NCMC) rebounded the ball this time, limiting the big Lancaster to six rebounds and Walker Gohring and Donovan Weigel to five boards each. Gohring and Lancaster finished with 17 and 16 points, respectively, but the next highest scorer for the Hornets (8-2, 3-1 NCMC) was Dusty Hagens with five points.

Mexico, on the other hand, combined for 11 steals and had several score in double figures, including Jordan Shelton with a game-high 19 points along with two 3-pointers and two blocks. Anthony Shivers and DJ Long each followed with 11 points and five rebounds, Jaydon Eldridge had nine points, and Dante Kelley finished with four points but had four steals and two blocks.

Lancaster did eventually get his points in the second half but had four points through two quarters while Walker Gohring had eight points at halftime. Mexico made it uncomfortable for any Hornet that happened to be handling the ball and were especially focused on Fulton’s best ball handler in Gohring.

“I thought we did a good job of swarming when he did attack the basket and try to make it difficult because he does a really good job of finding the big when he does attack and the defense collapses,” Pappas said. “We did a really good job of getting our hands up, getting some deflections and then getting some steals.”

Pappas said the Bulldogs were at their best on the boards as that is the factor that helped Mexico open a consistent lead of around seven points, starting in the latter part of the second quarter.

“We did a good job of rebounding — trying to keep them off the glass and getting out in transition,” Pappas said.  

Weber scores 1,000 point in North Callaway boys 53-42 win vs South Callaway

It was just a matter of time for North Callaway senior Matthew Weber.

In a season he wasn’t able to begin right away because of an injury, Weber scored his 1,000 career point, leading the Thunderbirds with a game-high 14 points in a 53-42 victory Tuesday at home against South Callaway.

Going into the night, Weber needed 11 points to reach the milestone so it was fitting that North Callaway’s leading scorer gave the team more, head coach Matt Miller said. Weber also finished with eight rebounds.

“It doesn’t happen every day at a school,” Miller said. “I’m very pleased with that accomplishment for Matthew.”

The Thunderbirds (5-5) also had key games out of Braydn O’Neal as he finished with 10 points, going 6-for-8 from the free throw line. Trenton Jones recorded a game-high 16 rebounds, and Sam Pezold followed with eight boards to go with his eight points.

Ryan Lepper led South Callaway (5-6) with 13 points and two 3-pointers, and Tayber Gray followed with nine points. 

North Callaway goes to New Bloomfield (0-11) for a game that should start around 8 p.m., following a junior varsity boys game at 5 p.m. and varsity girls after that.

Community R-6 boys beat Sweet Springs 54-40 in physical game

The Community R-6 boys had to deal with Sweet Springs’ physicality and relentlessness but were up for the challenge.

The Trojans won 54-40 in the first round of the New Franklin Tournament on Tuesday, staving off a Sweet Springs (2-7) run that cut Community’s lead of 18 points to nine.

Head coach Tad Shotten said he is proud the boys kept their composure even though the team became a “little banged up.” The Trojans (5-6) still did well on the glass and were led in that effort by Gavin Allen, Mason Carroll and Eli Johnson. Allen led with 22 points, Carroll followed with 15 and Johnson had eight points.

“I think we got a little too cute at times and lost our defensive and offensive focus and that’s when they made their run,” Shotten said. “Gavin and Mason did really well on the offensive glass. I thought Eli did a great job even though he missed a few bunnies and didn’t shoot the best from the free throw line. He was very aggressive at getting to the rim, and we need him to do that. He is showing a lot of promise, and I think his ability to get to the rim tonight will do a lot for his confidence.”

In the next round, Community faces host and Central Activities Conference foe New Franklin (10-1), who was ranked No. 10 in the latest state Class 2 poll, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the new gym.

“They are very good and athletic,” Shotten said. “We will have to prepare (today) and be ready to play them.”

Bowling Green 58 Centralia 54 OT in Bowling Green

Girls basketball

Mexico girls limit looks for Fulton in 41-29 win

Two of the Mexico girls’ better defensive games have happened against their conference rival.

The Lady Bulldogs hosted North Central Missouri Conference rival Fulton on Tuesday night, having already defeated them 42-29 in the Montgomery County tournament earlier this season, and almost replicated the first meeting’s score at 41-29. 

Mexico (5-8, 2-2 NCMC) had a 15-2 lead after one quarter and never let Fulton (2-7, 1-3 NCMC) draw any closer than five points early in the third quarter. Head coach Ed Costley said Mexico did have some defensive slip ups in the second half but maintained a good defensive game as it did before against its rival.

“It was just our rotations and making sure we’re in the right spots,” Costley said. “We didn’t give up easy looks. In the third quarter, lack of focus with detail went away, but we forced them to stay out of the perimeter and we got some opportunities in traps.”

Costley said the traps on defense helped Mexico gain a sizable advantage early in the game and put away the Lady Hornets later in the game, with eight fourth-quarter points allowed after owning a 30-21 lead at the end of the third quarter. 

Claire Hudson finished with a game-high 13 points, Lexie Willer followed with nine points and six rebounds, Kenzie Taylor had seven points, and Jo Thurman picked up six rebounds. Costley said Karlee Sefrit and Kylie Burnett were also big off the bench, each coming away with steals in the second half to seal the game.

“Karlee had two charges, Kenzie Taylor had a charge and we had one other try to attempt one,” Costley said. “Those things right there, they kind of set the tone defensively. Kylie had a couple big steals on the baseline there at the end when they kind of made a run.”

Mexico had a 7-0 lead three minutes into the game following a steal and quick jumper by Messiah Simpson. Kier Henderson, who finished with seven points behind Kenzie Washington’s team-high eight points, had Fulton’s lone bucket in the first quarter with an offensive putback.

Costley said keeping Henderson at bay was what the Lady Bulldogs focused on, being successful for the most part.

“When we went to that 1-3-1, we kept their guard under control,” Costley said. “For the most part, she wasn’t able to get the paint throughout.”

Community R-6 girls defeat Bunceton/Prairie Home 62-50 in free-throw battle

Between the Community R-6 girls and their first-round New Franklin Tournament opponent, they combined for 62 free throws.

The top-seeded Lady Trojans defeated the eighth seed Bunceton/Prairie Home 62-50 on Monday, hitting seven 3-pointers.

Head coach Bob Curtis said Community was concerned about defending Madison Brown, who he regards one of the best players in Mid-Missouri. He thought they did but allowed too many opportunities at the line.

“I felt like we covered her pretty well as she managed just two field goals but went 10-for-12 at the line for 15 points,” Curtis said. “They are young but playing hard for their new coach. It was one of our better offense games, but we did not adjust well to a very closely called contest as 62 free-throws were shot between the two teams. We helped them score on many possessions by sending them to the line with the clock stopping in the second half. We will get better at adapting to what we are faced with.”

Sarah Angel led Community with 17 points and five assists, Kayla Jett followed with 12 points and two steals, Alyssa Beamer and Kylie Brooks each had eight points, and Olivia Kuda finished with six points.

Community (9-2) faces Sweet Springs (5-5) at 6 p.m. tonight in the new gym.

Centralia 46 Bowling Green 43 in Bowling Green

Look for the full stories in the Saturday, January 7, 2023, edition of the Mexico Ledger.