The Mexico High School boys basketball team entered Tuesday nights match up with Fulton knowing two things. One is that the Hornets had dominated their earlier matchup in the finals of the Montgomery County Tournament, winning 69-52, and two, that if they lost that would be the only MHS team on the night to do so.
The boys responded with a resounding 56-45 win, for the quad-header sweep and evened both teams record in the North Central Missouri Conference at 3-1.
Mexico jumped to a 4-0 lead, but saw Fulton answer with five of their own as both teams felt each other out early. The Hornets scored the final four of the first quarter to take a 17-14 lead after one.
A Walker Gohring free throw to start the 2nd quarter gave Fulton their largest lead of the night. It was also the last time FHS would lead.
Mexico scored nine straight points sparked by their defense. After a Jordan Shelton three, Dante Kelly got a steal and fed Shelton for a layup, and then on the ensuing possession Shelton got a steal of his one, chased it down in the corner and ran the baseline for a reverse layup. The Bulldogs led 21-18 and the offense continued to strike, and strike fast, as Mexico outscored Fulton 19-7 in the 2nd quarter and took a 33-24 lead into the half.
The Hornets made a run to start the third as they fed the ball into big man, Colby Lancaster. He scored 10 of his 16 points in the third as FHS cut the lead to 33-30 early, but Mexico answered with five straight and eventually opened an eleven point lead at the end of the third, 49-38.
The game was virtually over in the 4th quarter when Shelton dribbled between his legs to split two defenders at mid court and took a trip down the block for a contested lay-up which gave Mexico a 51-38 lead and momentum for the final frame. MHS led by as many as 14 en-route to the 56-45 win. Shelton led all scorers with 19, DJ Long had 11, Anthony Shivers 11, and Jaydon Eldridge 9.
Gohring led the Hornets with 17 to go with Lancaster’s 16.
Mexico is now 8-3, 3-1 and Fulton 8-2, 3-1 in conference.
In JV action, Mexico dismantled the JV Hornets, 61-15 to move to 5-0 on the year under Dion “Bosco” Nunnelly.
In girls action Mexico jumped to a 15-2 first quarter lead behind Claire Hudson’s and Kenzie Taylor’s strong play and never looked back.
The MHS ladies 21-14 at the break, 30-21 after three before closing the door on a 41-29 win. Hudson finished with a game high 13, while Lexie Willer added 9 and Taylor had 7 points for the Lady Dawgs.
Fulton was led by Kenzie Washington’s 8, and Kier Henderson’s 7 points. The Hornets fell to 2-8, 1-4 in the NCMC.
Mexico improved to 5-8, 2-2 in conference play. The also got a 26-22 JV win to complete the quad sweep.