A lot was riding on Saturday’s Championship match up with the Fulton Hornets for the Mexico boys basketball team. An undefeated 3-0 regular season start; a 33-game regular season win streak, and maybe just as importantly a three-game win streak against their basketball rivals.
It all came crashing down in a hurry. Fulton (4-0) opened the game on a 12-0 run and never looked back as they defeated Mexico 69-52. The Walker brothers, senior Walker and sophomore Rowdy, paced the Hornets early as they scored six-apiece enroute to a 15-4 first quarter lead.
Mexico struggled both offensively and defensively throughout most of the first period before senior guard Jordan Shelton got going. He hit two lay-ups late to put Mexico on the board, then added a trey and free throw in the 2nd. They were sandwiched around a Jaydon Eldridge trey and two free throws, one each from Donye Nunnelly and Anthony Shivers. But it was no match for the Hornet scoring machine that went into half leading 28-13.
Shelton continued his strong game in the 2nd half, but the Dawgs mustered little other offense. Eldridge did connect on three fourth-quarter trey’s, but every time Mexico threatened, Fulton answered.
The Hornets finished with four players in double digits, including Walker Gohring with 24, Colby Lancaster with 20, Rowdy Gohring had 11 and Donovan Weigel added 10.
Shelton led the Dawgs with a game high 28, while Eldridge finished with 12.
Mexico fell to 3-1 and will go on the road Tuesday to face Marshal in their North Central Missouri Conference opener.
Shelton and DJ Long were both named to the all-tournament team, along with Fulton’s Walker Gohring and Colby Lancaster, who was named the tourney MVP.
In the girls edition of the Montgomery County Invitational, Hermann’s Ava Hughes hit a layup with 8 seconds left to give the Lady Bearcats a 32-31 win over the host Montgomery County Lady Wildcats.