Another sterling defensive effort made sure a one-point loss earlier in the season wasn’t going to happen again when Mexico High School basketball boys met NCMC rival Fulton for the second time in 2009-10.
The visiting Bulldogs extended their varsity winning streak to a season-high five games Tuesday night with a 52-41 triumph over the Hornets, who now have dropped four games in a row, all over the last 10 days.
Mexico improved its record to 13-5/4-2, while the Hornets fell to 11-5/3-3. Fulton edged the Bulldogs 51-50 in overtime in the early-season Montgomery County Invitational title game, but the Bulldogs have allowed no more than 46 points in four of their last five contests.
“We keep winning, and winning with defense, and the guys are doing a really good job,” MHS coach Brennan Scanlon said. “We held Verdis Lee to four points and he’s averaging 20.
“This was a game we really wanted, we had a good crowd and we played well,” he added. “Now we have to keep it up Friday at Marshall.”
Fulton’s last lead came toward the end of the first quarter at 10-9, only to see Sam Kelly put Mexico ahead 12-10 at the buzzer. The Bulldogs then closed out the second period with a 7-0 run to lead 30-18 at halftime.
The Hornets, held to 36-percent shooting from the field overall, outpointed Mexico 9-8 in period three, but gained no more ground when both teams scored 14 points down the stretch.
“Defense has been the key to our success,” Scanlon observed. “We know we’re going to score, but we have to be able to stop teams in the half-court.
“We’ve been doing a pretty good job of that, and we’re not giving up second-chance shots; we’re blocking out and holding teams to one shot.”
Austin Reed paced the Bulldogs with 16 points, while Regan Mudd added 12P, Kelly 9P, Marcus Bush 8P, Kurt Loyd and Dillion Shoemaker 3P and Colby Willer 1P. High scorer for Fulton was Wilson Christensen with 19P.
Mexico makes its first home appearance since Jan. 8 when it takes on Helias in V/JV play Tuesday.
The Bulldogs claimed the JV game 62-53, overcoming a 46-38 deficit after three quarters to climb to 5-3.
“We dug ourselves a hole in the third period, but the kids kept working hard and won the fourth by 17 points to give us a much-needed win against an undefeated Fulton JV,’ MHS coach Tyler Hudson said.
For Mexico, DJ Nunnelly scored 14P, Nick Jones 14P, Dillion Jerichow 13P and Tyus Williams 8P. Both Bulldog squads return to action Friday at NCMC rival Marshall.
(Some information for this story courtesy of the Fulton Sun.)
AREA HOOPS: Boys action got under way Tuesday at the Sturgeon Invitational with Wellsville-Middletown pulling off the biggest surprise. The seventh-seeded Tigers knocked off No. 2 seed South Callaway 52-43. Other games went according to form: No. 1 Sturgeon 89, Madison 28; No. 3 Paris 69, Community R-6 31; No. 4 New Bloomfield 61, Westran 55 in overtime. Thursday’s semifinals match Madison vs. Westran at 4:30, Sturgeon vs. New Bloomfield at 6, Wellsville vs. Paris at 7:30 and SoCal vs. CR6 at 9. ... All-stater Jon Gilliam pumped in 25P, making 11 of 22 shots from the field Tuesday, to pace Paris to its 11th victory in 14 games. Alex Thomas joined him in double figures with 10P. Gilliam also had 8R/3S/8A; Tyler Dunlap added 5S/4A and Thomas 6R/4S. The Coyotes led 15-8, 36-17 and 51-25 at the quarters. ... North Callaway boys improved their record to 8-6 with a 53-45 win Tuesday at Russellville, converting nine of 11 foul shots in the final period. Brendan Borman netted 21P for the Thunderbirds, who led 23-20 at the half. NorCal’s JV boys moved to 8-1 with a 51-43 victory. ... At home Tuesday against Monroe City, North Callaway girls rode a season-high in points to a 75-47 triumph, following up a 36-21 first half with a 22-12 third period. Megan Williams hit a trio of 3-pointers for the 5-11 Ladybirds and totaled 18P/7A. Kelsey West added 17P/10R and Morgan Brown-Emmons 13P. NorCal JV girls bowed 46-12.
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Another sterling defensive effort made sure a one-point loss earlier in the season wasn’t going to happen again when Mexico High School basketball boys met NCMC rival Fulton for the second time in 2009-10.
The visiting Bulldogs extended their varsity winning streak to a season-high five games Tuesday night with a 52-41 triumph over the Hornets, who now have dropped four games in a row, all over the last 10 days.
Mexico improved its record to 13-5/4-2, while the Hornets fell to 11-5/3-3. Fulton edged the Bulldogs 51-50 in overtime in the early-season Montgomery County Invitational title game, but the Bulldogs have allowed no more than 46 points in four of their last five contests.
“We keep winning, and winning with defense, and the guys are doing a really good job,” MHS coach Brennan Scanlon said. “We held Verdis Lee to four points and he’s averaging 20.
“This was a game we really wanted, we had a good crowd and we played well,” he added. “Now we have to keep it up Friday at Marshall.”
Fulton’s last lead came toward the end of the first quarter at 10-9, only to see Sam Kelly put Mexico ahead 12-10 at the buzzer. The Bulldogs then closed out the second period with a 7-0 run to lead 30-18 at halftime.
The Hornets, held to 36-percent shooting from the field overall, outpointed Mexico 9-8 in period three, but gained no more ground when both teams scored 14 points down the stretch.
“Defense has been the key to our success,” Scanlon observed. “We know we’re going to score, but we have to be able to stop teams in the half-court.
“We’ve been doing a pretty good job of that, and we’re not giving up second-chance shots; we’re blocking out and holding teams to one shot.”
Austin Reed paced the Bulldogs with 16 points, while Regan Mudd added 12P, Kelly 9P, Marcus Bush 8P, Kurt Loyd and Dillion Shoemaker 3P and Colby Willer 1P. High scorer for Fulton was Wilson Christensen with 19P.
Mexico makes its first home appearance since Jan. 8 when it takes on Helias in V/JV play Tuesday.
The Bulldogs claimed the JV game 62-53, overcoming a 46-38 deficit after three quarters to climb to 5-3.
“We dug ourselves a hole in the third period, but the kids kept working hard and won the fourth by 17 points to give us a much-needed win against an undefeated Fulton JV,’ MHS coach Tyler Hudson said.
For Mexico, DJ Nunnelly scored 14P, Nick Jones 14P, Dillion Jerichow 13P and Tyus Williams 8P. Both Bulldog squads return to action Friday at NCMC rival Marshall.
(Some information for this story courtesy of the Fulton Sun.)
AREA HOOPS: Boys action got under way Tuesday at the Sturgeon Invitational with Wellsville-Middletown pulling off the biggest surprise. The seventh-seeded Tigers knocked off No. 2 seed South Callaway 52-43. Other games went according to form: No. 1 Sturgeon 89, Madison 28; No. 3 Paris 69, Community R-6 31; No. 4 New Bloomfield 61, Westran 55 in overtime. Thursday’s semifinals match Madison vs. Westran at 4:30, Sturgeon vs. New Bloomfield at 6, Wellsville vs. Paris at 7:30 and SoCal vs. CR6 at 9. ... All-stater Jon Gilliam pumped in 25P, making 11 of 22 shots from the field Tuesday, to pace Paris to its 11th victory in 14 games. Alex Thomas joined him in double figures with 10P. Gilliam also had 8R/3S/8A; Tyler Dunlap added 5S/4A and Thomas 6R/4S. The Coyotes led 15-8, 36-17 and 51-25 at the quarters. ... North Callaway boys improved their record to 8-6 with a 53-45 win Tuesday at Russellville, converting nine of 11 foul shots in the final period. Brendan Borman netted 21P for the Thunderbirds, who led 23-20 at the half. NorCal’s JV boys moved to 8-1 with a 51-43 victory. ... At home Tuesday against Monroe City, North Callaway girls rode a season-high in points to a 75-47 triumph, following up a 36-21 first half with a 22-12 third period. Megan Williams hit a trio of 3-pointers for the 5-11 Ladybirds and totaled 18P/7A. Kelsey West added 17P/10R and Morgan Brown-Emmons 13P. NorCal JV girls bowed 46-12.
