Mexico Academic Team sophomores Aaron Iman, Elliott DeVargas and Trey Steelman looked a whole lot like last year's A-team bringing home the top scorer of the tournament and a tournament championship …
This item is available in full to subscribers.
We have recently launched a new and improved website. To continue reading, you will need to either log into your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription.
If you are a digital subscriber with an active subscription, or you are a print subscriber who had access to our previous website, then you already have an account here. Just reset your password if you have not yet logged in to your account on this new site.
If you are a current print subscriber and did not have a user account on our previous website, you can set up a free website account by clicking here.
Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.
Please log in to continue |
Mexico Academic Team sophomores Aaron Iman, Elliott DeVargas and Trey Steelman looked a whole lot like last year's A-team bringing home the top scorer of the tournament and a tournament championship at Hannibal's Huck Finn II Novice Tournament on Nov. 15.
In the preliminary rounds, the Bulldogs won their first four games against Marceline 470 - 0, Columbia Independent School 320 - 290, Scotland County 415 - 230 and Kirksville 370 - 230 before falling to Washington in round 5 390 - 255.
Despite the loss to Washington, Mexico advanced into the playoff rounds, still in contention for the tournament title.
Mexico’s B-team, featuring freshmen Ian Whorton, Karis West-Allred and Seth Stevenson, went 2 - 3 in the morning rounds, winning their first two games against two A-teams — Marceline 275 - 165 and Rushville 245 - 195 — before falling to Hallsville 365 - 205, Marshall 355 - 170 and Novinger 245 - 190.
The 2-3 record put them into the consolation bracket in afternoon play.
In the afternoon rounds, the A-team began the playoff rounds with a 440-115 win over NCMC rival Marshall, coming back from an early deficit to Kirksville, to come out on top with a 335-325 win on the final question. The team demonstrated their resilience and mental fortitude before defeating Palmyra 400-240 and Hallsville 436-145 to end the playoff rounds 5-0 — carrying over the morning win against CIS. This cemented Mexico A as the tournament champions, as they were the only playoff team with a 5 - 0 playoff record.
Steelman, a sophomore, was Mexico's leading varsity scorer thus far into the season, showing his dominance as the tournament's top scorer through the preliminary rounds, averaging a clean 100 points per game.
He came away with 33 powers, 875 points while averaging 97.22 PPG through all 9 rounds. DeVargas powered 7 times and scored 255 points, averaging 28.33 PPG while Aaron Iman powered 6 times and scored 130 points, 14.44 PPG.
All three sophomores returned to Mexico’s varsity team joining seniors AJ Leon and Jude Yancey in looking to make the playoff bracket at the 2025 MOQBA Fall Championship at Columbia College Nov. 22.
Mexico B defeated Marceline 255-115 to begin consolation play, before falling to Scotland County 255-230 in the seventh round. After getting a bye game in the eighth round, Mexico B finished the day with a win over Rushville 270-185 leaving them with a 4-4 finish on the day.
“As coach of this team, I am left proud of the effort of all six novice players this weekend and left with the message that this team wants to show that the program isn't rebuilding, we are reloaded and ready to show the depth of the program,” Dale Schenewerk, head coach, said in a news release.
