Mexico boys basketball has had a lot of players in its gym during preseason practice.

The Bulldogs hope to rely on depth this season to continue its annual goal of having about four to five players scoring in double figures a night.

Mexico is coming off a four-year run of winning seasons, including two that were north of 20 victories and last season that ended at 18-10. Last year, the Bulldogs had many players come off the bench and will need more of that this season from a roster that includes a double-digit of freshmen to go with all the returning players.

“We have a talented bench,” head coach Darren Pappas said. “We have depth and guys that can score on any given night. Hopefully, they can’t key on one or two guys but key in on the whole roster.”

The team has several players who played significant minutes a year ago that opponents might be focused on initially, Pappas said, but hopes the rest of the roster can contribute to take some attention off them. DJ Long is one of four seniors and Mexico’s returning point guard that earned several postseason awards a year ago, junior Jaydon Eldridge was one of the Bulldogs’ best weapon from the perimeter and seniors Donye Nunnelly and Grant Broeker are Mexico’s primary post options along with junior Holden Aulbur.

Long was Mexico’s leading scorer and passer with averages of 18.1 points and 4.5 assists, but junior PJ Perkins is a returning player that led with 5.9 rebounds per game. Pappas said these two bring athleticism that has been integral to the Bulldogs over the last few years.

“Hopefully, DJ can bring his leadership and court vision and get other guys involved every single night,” Pappas said. “If we can move the basketball and find the open man to knock down perimeter shots, I like our chances a lot. We’ll try to use our athletes that can get downhill like DJ and PJ and try to help make the defense collapse.”

With there being so many guards on the roster this year such as senior Aidan Knipfel, juniors Sam Ryan and Austin Maxwell, and sophomores Kaden Benne and Charlie Fisher, Pappas believes the perimeter scoring can be better. Mexico nailed 152 shots from 3-point territory a year ago but wants to make even more.

Another area Pappas said must be better is free-throw shooting as that was the main reason Mexico lost 66-62 to Kirksville in districts last season – shooting 11-for-32 in the loss. The Bulldogs were 53 percent from the line and could attempt even more with the new free throw laws including five team fouls in each quarter and two shots being awarded instead of one-on-one situations.

“It’s kind of been an Achilles heel, and hopefully it’s not this year,” Pappas said. “We’ve got to go the line more frequently and often and knock down free throws. They’re there and they’re free and you’ve got to make both of them."

Pappas said goals start with improving on the 18 wins and second-place North Central Missouri Conference finish from a year ago to making a run in districts, as is the case every year.

“It’s going to take a lot of hard work and a lot of guys buying in defensively,” Pappas said. “That’s another goal is we want to try to hold teams to 50 and under in each contest.”