The Mexico boys came into Wednesday as the returning district champions and had the No. 1 seed in this year's tournament.

However, the Bulldogs wanted to avoid any disappoint in the Class 4 District 8 semifinals in Moberly against Centralia and did with a decisive 72-42 victory. Mexico eliminated the team it defeated for its third district title in four years and advances to Friday's 6 p.m. championship against No. 2 seed Hallsville (21-5).

Mexico did defeat Centralia 66-46 in last year's district championship game, but that was after the Bulldogs trailed 30-29 at halftime. Head coach Darren Pappas said that plus the semifinal exit two years ago via Kirksville on that same court in Moberly was on his players' minds.

"Our senior leadership, those guys are really locked in and focused on the task at hand," Pappas said. "They want to come out and play and put on a good performance. Our guys really handled themselves in a business manner and did a great job of being focused on the details and executing the plan."

Two Mexico seniors, Jaydon Eldridge and PJ Perkins, each led with a game-high 21 points. Eldridge knocked down five 3-pointers and grabbed five rebounds, and Perkins finished with six rebounds and six assists. 

Eldridge hit three of his 3-pointers and three of the team's four perimeter shots in the first quarter, when Mexico surged to a 13-5 lead after an 8-0 run and then a 24-9 advantage. Perkins slammed one of his two dunks in that first quarter and displayed good vision in transition when finding teammates who could score.

"They were all over the place," Pappas said. "Jaydon got it going from the outside and his midrange game. PJ did a really good job of not just settling, attacking the rim and getting putbacks."

Perkins also hit a 3-pointer -- one of nine team 3-pointers -- after Pappas said he has been shooting "really, really well from the perimeter this past week." Kaden Benne had two 3-pointers as part of his 10 points, and James Matthews added another as part if his nine points off the bench.

"I have no clue," Perkins said when asked how the offense was so crisp early. "Shooters were shooting. In the locker room before the game, we had a lot of energy. We had our coach Pap drawing up plays so we didn't forget the plays."

Mexico carried a 63-33 lead going into the fourth quarter to reach the threshold to begin the quarter with a running clock. However, Mexico staved off a Centralia rally in the third that saw the Bulldogs only lead 43-30 before they called a timeout.

Perkins said Mexico felt fresher compared to its previous 60-47 win over Centralia at home this season. He recalls that being Mexico's first game in weeks after Christmas break but were more ready to match Centralia's effort this time.

"We remember we did end their season last year so we knew they would come harder at us this year," Perkins said. "After playing a game last week, we were still pretty fresh on our legs so we just came out and started hitting shots in the first half."

Ethan Ross led Centralia with 10 points, Travis Brooks followed with nine points, and Anthony Ford also had nine points along with 12 rebounds and three blocks. Ford scored six of his points in the first quarter.

Pappas said another senior Aulbur was primarily in charge of guarding Ford, who is a focal point of Centralia's offense. Ford grabs plenty of rebounds and are counted on to score inside to set up the Panthers' offense, but Pappas said Aulbur did well guarding him and then Ryan and Perkins filled in well when Aulbur was in foul trouble.

"We did a good job of limiting him in not getting second and third opportunities," Pappas said. "He draws so much attention that we have to dig down from the perimeter onto him. He catches it in the post and that leaves shooters open so we have to make sure we close out. Holden did a good job of bodying him up as much as he could and not get pushed around."

Mexico will go for its fourth district title in five years when it plays Hallsville, who defeated Kirksville 66-60 on Wednesday. Isaac Stinson led Hallsville with 20 points, Tatum Braman followed with 17 points, Cameron Cox had 12 points and Keilin Dorman finished with 10 points.

The Bulldogs have beaten conference foe Kirksville twice this season but haven't played Hallsville since the 2020-21 season. Mexico won that game and went on to win its first district title in this current five-year stretch. 

"We're going to have to definitely look at the film and come up with a good game plan on whoever we play," Pappas said when asked before Hallsville's semifinal game. "Both teams are very good and well-coached. We put ourselves in a good situation in competing for a district title, and now, we have to make sure we go out and execute our plan."