State ranked boys down North Point High School in Gary Filbert Classic nightcap
The Mexico boys’ basketball team knows a thing or two about rhythm. Saturday night, in the nightcap of the 12th annual Gary Filbert Classic, their offense and defense were a finely tuned instrument. The Bulldogs faced a 4-5 North Point Grizzly team from Wentzville.
From an opening dunk by Jordan Shelton, to the 9-0 first quarter run, and on to the 12-0 second quarter run, it was Bulldog basketball at its finest. Mexico led 20-11 after the first quarter. Then extended to a 32-11 early second quarter lead and the substitutions began in earnest for Head Coach Darren Pappas’ ballclub. He saw his entire bench play, in the first half. It didn’t slow down the MHS scoring machine as they knocked down 20 points in the first quarter and 21 more in the second frame for a 41-22 lead at the break. DJ Long, Shelton led an exhausting defensive effort that continually turned over the Grizzly offense.
The scoring pace slowed in the third as the Bulldogs went for 16 and 12 in the final two quarters, and every JV player got meaningful varsity minutes and extended the lead against the Grizzlies. The final was 69-38.
Mexico was led by Shelton’s 17 points and DJ Long’s 12. Pappas said in the post-game interview he really like the play of Long in particular. “That’s the best job he has done all season. Tonight, he played as a true point guard.” he said. Others in the crowded score book included Anthony Shivers and Charlie Fisher with 7, Jaydon Eldridge with 6, PJ Perkins and Austin Maxwell with 5 apiece, Kaden Benne with 3, Sam Ryan, Aiden Knipfel and Donye Nunnelly each had 2, and Dante Kelly had 1.
Trammel Mooney and Tyler Standridge paced the Griz with 12 each.
Mexico is now 7-2 and off until December 30th when they face state-ranked Blair Oaks in the MACC Classic. North Point is 4-6.
In Girls action, Mexico faced the frenetic pace of the trapping Harrisburg Lady Bulldogs and did not fare well. The MHS ladies scored just 6 points in the first quarter and 4 in the second, as they trailed 30-10 at the break. Harrisburg continued to turn the girls over in the second as Mexico once again scored just 4 points in the third quarter, before breaking out for 9 in the final frame.
Jordyn Thurman led Mexico with 7 points, while McKenzie Taylor added 4. Six other players tossed in two points apiece. Emma Fischer added 16 for Harrisburg, while Carli Ellis added 12.
Mexico falls to 3-7 overall and will play Boonville at home on December 20th.