The Mexico High School boys and girls basketball teams split their games in Day 2 action of the 2022 Peak Sport and Spine Holiday Shootout, Friday afternoon.
The girls manhandled Van-Far for the first two and a half quarters behind the hot shooting of sophomore guard Claire Hudson. She scored 16 of her game high 18 points in the first half, including a 10-0 run to start the game.
The Lady Indians, who trailed at the half, 29-16, got down 19 in the third quarter but responded with a 11-0 run to work back into the game. Mexico was able to hang on though and came away with a 46-34 win.
Both teams struggled at the free throw line as Mexico (5-5) finished 10 of 19 at the line and Van Far was 15 of 28.
Lexie Willer finished with 11 to aid Hudson in the win. Mara Jenson (14) and McKenna Engh-Hoffman (10) paced the Lady Indians.
In boys action, the state ranked Mexico boys lost to Blair Oaks, 62-56 behind a late Falcons surge.
MHS jumped out front from the beginning, leading by as many as eight in the first half before settling for a 32-25 halftime lead. Both teams had trouble getting into an offensive flow.
BOHS shooting guard Dylan Hair hit an and-one just before the end of the third to knot the score at 45. His ensuing fourth quarter layup gave the Falcons their first lead of the game.
The Dawgs took the lead back 54-53 at the 2:32 mark of the fourth with a steal and behind the back inbounds save by PJ Perkins to DJ Long for the easy lay-in. BOHS answered with two free throws from Alec Wieberg. Mexico came right back to take their last lead of the game when Long found Perkins on the low block with a precision pass from outside the high block, 56-55.
Blair Oaks then hit their free throws down the stretch, 10 of 12 in the fourth, to seal the six point win. Hair finished with a game high 21 for Blair Oaks (4-4) and reserve forward Chase Schneiders added 18.
For Mexico (7-3), DJ Long hit for 14 and Donye Nunnelly added 10.The Bulldogs finished 10 of 19 at the line, while Blair Oaks was 14-19.