For Peyton Willer the equation is pretty basic.

“They leave me open and I’m shooting the ball,” the Bulldogs’ three-point specialist explained.

Four times during a critical stretch in the first half Centralia’s defense miscalculated, allowing Willer space to shoot from distance. He struck first with Mexico on top 19-11 in the waning moments of the opening quarter, sinking one from NBA distance.

Early in the second period he hit two more. The final shot of Willer’s three-point outburst came with 3:52 left before the half, converting after a kick out pass from Drew Blevins.

By the time he was done, Willer had helped stake Mexico to a 38-15 lead on their way to a 68-35 victory on Friday night and third place in the Macon Tournament.

The outcome helped soothe the sting of the Bulldogs’ first defeat of the season the previous night, taking their record to 12-1 on the year. Centralia fell to 6-7.

“That’s the team you’re familiar with – moving the ball, unselfish,” said head coach Darren Pappas. “I think we did an excellent job of rebounding from last night’s loss.”

Eleven Bulldogs scored points on the night, led by Willer’s 12. And the diversity of Mexico’s attack was on display from the beginning.

After the Panthers opened the scoring on a Jackson Wells lay up, Jordan Mitchell evened things up and Daeye Miller hit from the paint to put the Bulldogs ahead – a lead they would not relinquish the rest of the way. Raef Yager drove the lane for two more.

Blevins and Isaiah Reams would also put points on the board before the first quarter came to a close.

“The pace changed,” Michael White said, assessing the difference between Thursday and Friday.

Centralia refused to be shaken loose easily. Liam Hill hit from eight feet out just before Willer’s spree to keep things close in the first. But Reams countered with a driving lay up, creating a lane for himself with a perfectly timed fake pass. He then dropped a three to start the second.

The Panthers began to lag. Their slide was aided by Dante Billups, who snatched three rebounds in a three-minute spell before the break.

“It’s all about the bounce,” observed the diminutive but stout guard. “A lot of people don’t think I can rebound, but I jump at the right time.”

The Bulldogs took a 47-21 lead into the half and confirmed the final outcome in the third quarter. Blevins started things off with points from the low post. Miller followed up and Yager’s long pass to Mitchell led to a couple more.

Miller scored with an assist from Reams and sank one of two from the line.

Six minutes elapsed before Kile Chitwood dropped one from beyond the arc to give Centralia some third quarter relief. But Ty Prince responded with a baseline drive and a three for the Bulldogs.

If not for a buzzer-beating three by the Panthers’ Beau Gordon, it would have been a 15-4 quarter in Mexico’s favor.

Adding to Willer’s dozen were Reams and Miller with 11 points each and Mitchell with 9. Blevins knocked down 7, White and Prince picked up 5 apiece, Yager, Billups and Dominic McKeown put up 2 and Anthony Shivers hit one from the stripe.

Gordon paced the Panthers with 13 points, Chitwood fell just short of double digits with 9 and Hill scored 4. Wells, Grant Erisman, Nathan Greene and Eli Carter matched each other with 2 points on the night and Brooks tacked on a point from the line.