The mood in the building changed dramatically on Monday in St. Charles.

Mexico at Orchard Farm Sectional Photo Gallery

Mexico went from a 16-4 lead to an 18-16 deficit at state No. 10 Orchard Farm in a Class 4 sectional game. A 10-0 Bulldog run right after eventually turned into a 55-49 victory for Mexico and a fourth trip to the quarterfinals in five years.

Head coach Darren Pappas said he "reiterated" what Mexico (23-6) needs to do on defense to be successful during the timeout he called following Will Wolf's 3-pointer. Mexico took a 26-18 halftime lead and didn't lose the lead again.

"We became more aggressive on the defensive end," Pappas said. "Coach (Dion 'Bosco') Nunnelly did a good job of dialing it up and putting pressure on their guards, which generated some turnovers. We were able to capitalize off those live-ball turnovers."

PJ Perkins provided a spark during that run and whenever Mexico needed a response to a mounting momentum from Orchard Farm (22-7). Perkins scored off an assist, picked up a steal before finding James Matthews for an easy transition bucket and then muscled in a 3-point play on a fastbreak.

Perkins led Mexico with 19 points, 10 rebounds and four assists. Kaden Benne had 10 points and eight rebounds, Charlie Fisher finished with 10 points, and Jaydon Eldridge had nine points and six rebounds. 

"I always call myself the energy man for my team," Perkins said. "Once the team sees I go, that's when they start going."

The senior Perkins normally tries to be a spark of energy for his team and especially came though in that way against Orchard Farm. To end the third quarter, Eldridge perfectly aimed a pass to an alley-oop dunk by Perkins for the 41-28 lead to end the third quarter.

Pappas said it was easy to feed off the energy already in Orchard Farm's gym, which he called "probably one of the loudest venues we've been in." He said Perkins' energy was "contagious" and was one of the Bulldogs scoring necessary buckets this game. Pappas added Fisher had some timely field goals, including two 3-pointers.

"That's what great about this team is anybody can get those tough buckets when times are needed," Pappas said. "Charlie Fisher can get them and also Kaden Benne and Jaydon Eldridge. Holden Aulbur can finish around the rim, with a big-time dunk by Holden. As a group, I thought they did a really good job of playing through adversity."

Perkins said he and Bulldogs thought they could match up well with Orchard Farm being about the same size overall. The difference lied in Mexico playing its best basketball right now, with Monday's victory being the team's seventh straight win.

Pappas said he thought Mexico wasn't at its best defensively at times in the second half and were much better in that area in the first half.  In the good defensive possessions, he said the Bulldogs shut down dribble drives well, containing Max Dietrich, Will Wolf and Collin Sinclair. 

Dietrich led Orchard Farm with 16 points but scored 12 points in the fourth quarter, when the Eagles cut their deficit to five points in the final minute. Wolf and Josh Wolf each finished with 10 points. 

"We didn't guard in the half court as well as we did in the first half," Pappas said. "We really sat down and guarded for long possessions because they are a very disciplined team that will try to move the basketball and try to get exactly what they want."

Mexico will once again have to beat the top-ranked reigning state champion Vashon (24-2), who defeated MICDS 75-33 on Monday. The Bulldogs have met Vashon in the quarterfinals three times in the past five years and lost at Vashon 87-51 last season.

Vashon will have to play in Mexico for the first time, however, leaving the Bulldogs hoping they can use home court energy to finally make it past this obstacle. The quarterfinal game starts at 6 p.m. Friday on Gary Filbert Court.

"They have to come to us this year," Pappas said. "We need to pack the gym. It needs to be just as packed or more packed with Bulldog Nation. I can't say enough about them coming out and supporting our guys tonight. We need them just as much (Tuesday) night for the girls at Westminster Christian Academy and also Friday night at home in the quarters."