Hallsville and Mexico have battled for the past two years for the Class 4 District 8 Championship. Last year Mexico blew away the Indians, 82-61. This year was different. Much different. Mexico came in at 20-7. Hallsville had an almost identical mark of 20-8.
The two teams met this afternoon in Fulton, and the game started with close play from both ballclubs early before HHS moved to a 19-14 first quarter lead. The second quarter saw the game tighten up as Mexico took it’s first lead of the game at the 5:30 mark of the 2nd quarter when Matai Holman got a steal, scored and hit the and-one, for a 23-21 Bulldog lead.
MHS’s leading scorer Kaden Benne had to go to the bench midway through the quarter in foul trouble. Mexico continued to lead the Indians in a close game before a corner three as time expired by Hallsvile’s Keilin Dorman tied the game at 33-all at the half. The Indians’ Dorman led all scorers with 14 at the break. It was a trend that would continue.
Hallsville dominated most of the third extending to a game-high nine-point lead, but a late flurry by the Dawgs, including a buzzer-beating three by Kinser Groves, closed the lead to 52-47 Indians, after three quarters.
Mexico’s momentum continued into the fourth as they pulled to within two and then with 1:45 left a Kaden benne layup tied the game at 58. Tatum Braman answered with a layup for HHS before a James Mathews scoop and score tied the game 60-60 with a minute left.
Hallsville’s Abe Rhoades scored on his a third attempt with eight seconds left to take the late lead, before Brady Thoenen scored on a putback to tie the game at the buzzer 62-all, and force the game to overtime.
In overtime, Hallsville struck first when they hit for two free throws, and then again as Dorman hit an and-one for a five point lead. Mexico’s answer came in the form of a Kaden Benne and-one. After a Hallsville make, Groves then was fouled by Rhodes and completed an and-one to trim the Hallsville lead to 69-68 with one minute left.
Dorman hit a reverse layup for a three-point lead, and then Charlie Fisher committed a charge. It was Mexico’s second charge of overtime. On the ensuing Hallsville possession, Fisher got a steal and a layup to cut the lead back to one. Mexico then fouled on the inbound and Hallsville made one free throw. Hallsville got a steal at Mexico’s end and Braman was fouled just before he hit a layup, but he hit both free throws to seal the win, 74-70.
Hallsville got win #21 and will play Tuesday in Sectional action against the Class 7 winner, Orchard Farm. A team they lost to earlier in teh season, 67-56.
Hallsville can thank their free-throw shooting for the victory as they went 17-of-21 at the charity stripe. Dorman led all scorers with 34 points followed by Braman with 22.
Mexico was led by Fisher with 20, Benne added 16 points and Groves added 11.