When Mexico girls head coach Makenzie Mudd was a freshman, the Lady Bulldogs won a district title under former head coach Ed Costley.

Mexico vs Kirksville District Title Game Photo Gallery

That was back in 2006, and the program hadn’t won a district championship game since then. That drought ended on Saturday when No. 3 seed Mexico defeated No. 1 seed and North Central Missouri Conference foe Kirksville 52-34 in the Class 4 District 8 championship game in Mexico. 

“It is almost unfathomable. It is wild,” Mudd said. “We knew these girls could do it. We’ve had so many close calls over the last few years and so many district championship games we have lost. The first half was a little rocky, but the second half, they didn’t want to be done.”

Mexico (15-13) spent much of the first half trailing Kirksville (13-13), who had beaten the Lady Bulldogs twice by a combined nine points this season. The Lady Bulldogs were down nine points at 18-11 until halftime had Mexico ahead 23-20 before outscoring the Lady Tigers 20-6 in the third quarter. 

Last year, Mexico lost in the district championship game to Moberly. Four years ago, the Lady Bulldogs lost a district title to Kirksville. This year’s Lady Bulldogs, however, were capable of a comeback.

“I was worried, but all season, we have been a second half team,” Mudd said. “Especially in the third quarter. That seems to be, for the most part, our quarter. I knew we had the potential to come back, once we get hot from the 3-point line especially.”

That is exactly what happened. Alyssa Miller nailed two 3-pointers near the end of the first half to vault Mexico in front at halftime and five of Mexico’s eight 3-pointers fell in the second half. Miller led with 17 points along with six rebounds and two 3-pointers, Claire Hudson followed with 15 points, nine rebounds and three 3-pointers, and Scottie Smith finished with 15 points, eight rebounds, and three 3-pointers. 

Miller and Smith knew how special a district title would be for Mudd. This season’s Lady Bulldog freshmen have made a big impact in the starting lineup and definitely sparked the team with their hot shooting.

“We just made sure to come out with high energy,” Miller said about Mexico’s third quarter after her 3-pointers going into halftime. “Then she started hitting her shots.”

“In the locker room (at halftime), we got really up and were clapping and stomping, getting ready to go out there,” Smith said.

“They work so well together,” Mudd said. “They’re good friends and have always been really strong playing together. Their vibe together makes a huge difference.”

Mudd said the girls wanted the championship “so bad” after the boys repeated as district champions the previous night in Moberly. It is the first dual district title season for Mexico basketball since 1997. Having Miller spark the team helped feed that determination.

“When she hit those shots, it gave us that energy going into halftime,” Mudd said. “Having that positive environment at halftime and being able to talk, ‘Hey, we’re good. We got it.’ We got to come out and continue it in the third quarter.”

Kenley Jones said she felt the momentum was on Mexico’s side going into the third quarter and her fellow senior Claire Hudson agreed saying, “The second half is our half.” Several girls hitting shots reinforced that thinking.

Defensively, both halves were strong for Mexico’s as Kirksville’s only double-digit scoring half was in the first quarter. Kirksville didn’t have a single 3-pointer, which Mudd said was a problem in the first two meetings with the Lady Tigers, and only nine field goals all game. Paishynce Fouts was the only Kirksville girl in double figures with 15 points and six rebounds.

“The first two times we played Kirksville, we were still working on our defense,” Hudson said. “It has been since the last couple weeks that our defense has really taken off and been able to stop people. I don’t think they were ready for the pressure, and we were able to change defenses a lot to throw them off.”

“I knew Eva (Danielson) coming out was going to be a really big scorer so I tried to shut that down and keep my eyes and thoughts on her,” Jones said.

While Mexico persisted through early adversity to win Saturday’s game, that has been a trend all season for the team. Hudson said it was such a big hit to lose her sister and starting point guard Grace Hudson for the season and then senior guard Haley Perkins in the semifinals after hitting her head on the floor. Perkins was on the bench in street clothes, cheering her teammates on.

“It was such a hard mental season,” Hudson said. “Basketball season is a really long season. Everybody gets tired and bodies start to hurt, so to get to this point in the season, you’ve got to fight mentally.”

“I’m really excited,” Jones said. “I thought we played well together and all came out as a team.”

Mexico plays its sectional game at Class 4 District 7 champion Westminster Christian Academy (12-16) tonight.