It is early in the year for the Mexico boys, but they feel good.

Fulton Shootout Photo Gallery

The Bulldogs only lost two games this summer amongst the 26 they played over several shootouts. That schedule ended on June 24 with two victories at the Fulton league shootout against North Central Missouri Conference rival Fulton and South Callaway.

“Defensively, we’ve gotten after it,” head coach Darren Pappas said. “Our senior leadership is really good. The guys have bought in, playing good team basketball. They move the ball and are unselfish.”

Pappas said Mexico has a veteran group in store for next season so he believes his observations from the summer will carry over into the winter. It helps that the Bulldogs have been tested against competition from far and wide.

Mexico has played in shootouts including, but not limited to, ones at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, the Rib City Shootout in Dexter and the Monroe City Shootout. This has set the Bulldogs up against teams from states other than Missouri.

“It’s very, very encouraging,” Pappas said in response to Mexico’s performance against this summer’s competition. “Obviously, we’ve got to tweak and do some things and still commit to the weight room. When we get into the season, we’re really break down things with a lot of practice time on the court.”

Pappas said Mexico will only get stronger after more trips to the weight room and will only get more accustomed to the team’s fast style of play with more practice. Throughout the summer, he said he has seen some players that look good right now.

The names that stick out to Pappas are some of his upcoming upperclassmen like seniors Jaydon Eldridge, PJ Perkins and Holden Aulbur and juniors Charlie Fisher and Kaden Benne. Pappas said Eldridge, in particular, has really settled into a leadership role, and Sam Ryan and Kinser Groves have stepped up while another key leader Perkins has been injured.

“Holden Aulbur has much improved inside,” Pappas said. “He’s a beast down low and has been doing a great job on the rebounds. Kaden Benne has done a good job of putting the ball on the floor and attacking the rim. Charlie Fisher has done a really good job of being that floor general — the guy dictates what we do offensively.”

Last year’s freshmen could amount to be key contributors judging from this summer, Pappas said, including James Matthews, Landon Johannaber and Brady Thoenen. 

“James Matthews is a sophomore guard that is really, really fast and really, really active on the defensive end,” Pappas said. “Landon Johannber and Brady Thoenen both played (on June 24). I brought them up to evaluate where they are, and they did a good job tonight.”