The first four minutes of Thursday night’s clash at Capital City were slow, but the pace soon turned to Mexico’s liking as the Bulldogs closed out the regular season with a convincing 61-39 …
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The first four minutes of Thursday night’s clash at Capital City were slow, but the pace soon turned to Mexico’s liking as the Bulldogs closed out the regular season with a convincing 61-39 win.
Both sides combined for five trips to the line early in the opening period. When Mya Miller snaked her way to the rim midway through the quarter for only the game’s third basket from the field, however, things began to change.
For a moment the teams traded blows. The Cavaliers’ Kambry Pistel hit from three, Miller answered with another layup, Riley Blevis sank one from deep, but Capital City’s Natalie Allison followed suit.
“We knew we could control the pace of the game,” Mexico head coach Ed Costley said.
With just over a minute to play in the first, Taylor DeMint dropped a three from the wing. The shot started Mexico on a 14-2 run that included two more from beyond the arc – by Jordyn Thurman and Abby Oetting – and power moves by Miller and Riley Thurman.
It put Mexico up 28-11 midway through the second.
The Cavaliers never recovered. They never conceded, either. But each time they rallied, the Bulldogs would gather themselves.
In the third quarter Capital City went on an 11-1 outburst. But it was sandwiched by a 7-0 Mexico spurt and an unlikely play.
Lexi Willer converted from the top of the key and the two sides swatted back and forth trading turnovers – the last by the Bulldogs, giving Capital City an inbound from the baseline.
Miller feigned heading back down court, then stepped in and intercepted the pass. She went up one on two and missed, but was able to snatch the rebound and bank it in.
“I didn’t mean to miss the first time,” she said, pointing out that the ruse that started it all is not something you want to show too often.
The Bulldogs controlled the final period. Jordyn Thurman took a charge from the Cavaliers’ Rylea Sanning to snap a fast break. Blevins pulled a fast one on Capital City’s big inside line to roll in a layup – a no look drive that allowed her to slip through unhindered.
“It was a Euro step,” Blevins reported. “It faked her out.”
Blevins had 11 points on the night, as did Riley Thurman. Miller led the way with 17, Oetting tacked on 9. Willer and Jordyn Thurman each contributed 5 and DeMint had that important three pointer.
With the win, Mexico concludes the regular season at 19-3. They played their district opener on Monday.
“Going into districts it was good to have a non-conference game,” Riley Thurman said.
