Mexico found some defense to keep its Saturday opponent off-balance.

The Bulldogs earned third place at the Rolla Boys Holiday Tournament on Saturday when they beat Class 5 Rockwood Summit 79-59. The boys made 10 3-pointers to put their total at 24 3-pointers in three games. 

Jaydon Eldridge drained four 3-pointers as part of his team-high 23 points along with five assists. PJ Perkins followed with 19 points and seven rebounds, Kaden Benne finished with 18 points and Charlie Fisher had eight points and six assists. Benne was selected to the all-tournament team after being nominated by opposing coaches.

Head coach Darren Pappas said those 10 3-pointers couldn’t have happened without the efforts by Mexico (7-4) elsewhere, including on the defensive end, against Rockwood Summit (5-4).

“We did a good job of pressuring their ball handlers which caused some turnovers and we were able to capitalize off those,” Pappas said. “Coach (Dion “Bosco”) Nunnelly did a great job of mixing it up defensively which kept Rockwood Summit off-balanced. Offensively. we spaced the floor well, attacked the paint and found open guys on the perimeter which turned into 10 made threes.”

Mexico increased a 15-12 lead after the first quarter to a 38-18 halftime lead. The Bulldogs were 16-for-18 from the free-throw line.

Mexico (3-0 NCMC) plays a North Central Missouri Conference game with district implications at rival Fulton (2-5, 1-2 NCMC) at 8 p.m. Jan. 7.