Just like the 100th career win, Mexico boys head coach Darren Pappas has plenty of people to thank.

Mexico Senior Night Photo Gallery

Tuesday’s 65-33 victory over North Central Missouri Conference foe Hannibal was the 20th win in the final regular season game this season for the Bulldogs (20-6, 10-0 NCMC). On the same night seven senior boys were recognized during a Senior Night ceremony before the game, nine different Bulldogs scored.

Head coach Darren Pappas said the 150th career win did feel more special on Senior Night at home compared to the 100th at St. Elizabeth a couple years ago. He said there have been plenty of great players and great kids that have contributed to the program, which is no different from what happened against Hannibal (1-18, 0-9 NCMC).

“The 150 wins is a credit to all the great kids that we’ve been able to coach over the years and obviously my coaching staff are a valuable part of that,” Pappas said. “(Dion) ‘Bosco’ Nunnelly and Bill Gleeson, I can’t do it without them.”

Pappas added current athletic director Brandon Schafer was an assistant when Pappas took over the program and is thankful for his support back then and now as the AD. He is also thankful to the parents allowing their kids to be coached by him and his staff.

“I can only draw up the X’s and O’s,” Pappas said. “It’s them taking what we’re teaching and preaching at practice and executing it.”

Jaydon Eldridge led Mexico and the seniors with 14 points while fellow seniors PJ Perkins and Holden Aulbur had 12 points. Perkins grabbed seven rebounds, and Aulbur had five boards. All three of those seniors each had a dunk in the game. 

Eldridge gave Mexico a scoring boost early with 11 points in the first half until Mexico played with some running clock in the fourth quarter. Most of the seniors were taken out — accompanied by a huge ovation — with around five minutes left in the game.

“It means a lot,” Eldridge said about being part of the program the past four years. “I love being around coach Pappas, and he’s really taught me to be the player I am today. All of my teammates around me all these years really grew me as a player.”

Eldridge said “it feels great always giving back” to Pappas as he and the other seniors were proud to give him his 150th win after he gave so much to them. That was the cherry on top to the regular season Mexico wanted, which included a second straight conference title and second straight 20-win season. 

Perkins said it has been great seeing the ups and downs with mostly the same group during his four years in the program as Pappas said the group is seven is second largest senior group he’s had behind a batch of eight. That has aided in Mexico’s strong chemistry, especially in the defense that has grown tougher thanks to the guidance of coach Nunnelly. Mexico’s defense went into Senior Night allowing 48.1 points per game, which is a three-year low that the Bulldogs want even better.

“He really preaches that all practice that if we can find our defense, we can really find our team because we always had a missing part at the end of the year,” Perkins said. “Bosco is a hard defensive coach. We were there but not all the way there of where he wanted us to be.”

After holding an 18-10 lead over Hannibal after the first quarter, which only grew near the end partially due to three Bulldog dunks, Mexico allowed 10 points during the next two quarters. Pappas said the “havoc” the Bulldogs wanted was definitely there against the Pirates.

“We’re trying to create havoc in the half court, generate some steals and get out in transition,” Pappas said. “That’s where we’re at our best.”

Another way Mexico can be at its best is to have as many players with an ability to contribute. Coming off the bench in favor of starting seniors, Kaden Benne finished with nine points and three 3-pointers, and Charlie Fisher has five points and four assists. Sam Ryan and Austin Maxwell started after spending this season as the first ones off the bench.

Pappas said the great kids at the heart of why he has 150 career wins includes this year’s roster saying they might have “probably the most career wins as a group in four years.” The additional playing time against Hannibal gave them more experience before the Bulldogs begin the Class 4 District 8 Tournament at 6 p.m. Wednesday in Moberly as the No. 1 seed.

“You never know, when it comes playoff time, what kind of situation you’re going to be in, whether it’s fouls and hopefully it’s not injuries or sickness,” Pappas said. “Everybody has to be ready from one through 13.”