Bulldogs at disadvantage in conference after 73-71 loss at Fulton
The North Central Missouri Conference title might have been on the line Tuesday night in Fulton.
Mexico and Class 4 No. 7 …
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Bulldogs at disadvantage in conference after 73-71 loss at Fulton
The North Central Missouri Conference title might have been on the line Tuesday night in Fulton.
Mexico and Class 4 No. 7 Fulton each have two conference games remaining, starting with matchups Friday, but the two faced each other in their most important game of the season while each owning NCMC records of 6-1. The Bulldogs came up just short 73-71.
Kaden Benne hit his lone 3-pointer late in the fourth quarter, but it was a vital shot as it tied the game at 68 with seconds remaining. Fulton’s Donovan Weigel hit a pair of free throws after that, and the Hornets were able to seal the game.
Mexico (15-9) had 18 personal fouls compared to Fulton’s 12, leading to the Bulldogs going 4-for-12 at the free throw line and Fulton finishing 15-for-20 at the free throw line.
DJ Long led Mexico with 21 points, five assists, and three 3-pointers, Jordan Shelton followed with 17 points, five assists and two 3-pointers, PJ Perkins finished with 11 points and seven rebounds, and Anthony Shivers had nine points.
Walker Gohring led Fulton (19-3) with 23 points, Weigel followed with 18 points, Colby Lancaster had 17 points and Rowdy Gohring finished with 15 points.
Mexico responded to an early 16-8 first-quarter deficit by outscoring Fulton in the middle quarters to make it 50-49 Fulton going into the fourth quarter.
Mexico played at Moberly (3-18) on Friday and then hosted Hannibal (8-13) on Tuesday for Senior Night. Fulton had a game Friday in Hannibal and a home game Tuesday against Moberly.
In the Class 4 District 8 tournament in Moberly, Mexico is the No. 3 seed that will face the host Moberly at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 27.
Lady Bulldogs ward off Fulton in 36-27 conference victory
The Mexico girls were able to defeat their North Central Missouri Conference rival three times this season, but the third was the toughest yet.
The Lady Bulldogs won 36-27 in Fulton on Monday, holding off a Lady Hornet comeback in the second half that saw Mexico’ 18-9 halftime lead turn briefly into a two-point advantage.
Head coach Ed Costley said Fulton (7-17, 2-6 NCMC) was more physical on defense in the second half so he credits his players from taking back momentum when they were on defense.
“I thought Jo Thurman and Lexie Willer really led us on the defensive end in containing the dribble,” Costley said.
Costley said he also liked how Mexico (9-15, 5-3 NCMC) did on offensive rebounds, scoring 10 second-chance points, and how it played late in the fourth quarter.
Claire Hudson led the Lady Bulldogs with 10 points, Willer followed with nine points and six rebounds, Thurman had eight points, and Messiah Simpson had five points.
Mexico played at conference foe Moberly on Friday before its Senior Night and regular season finale at 6 p.m. Tuesday against conference opponent Hannibal (15-7, 5-3 NCMC).
The Class 4 District 8 tournament bracket was released recently and showed the Lady Bulldogs as the No. 6 seed going up against Hallsville (14-9) at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 28 in Centralia.
