Sports

Bulldogs break down Hannibal

Published by admin on Sun, 02/28/2021 - 3:39pm

Watching the Bulldogs take apart Hannibal on Tuesday night at the Sports Complex was like looking on as a veteran crew dismantle a building. The structure’s collapse is piece by piece and inevitable.

“We came in and we knew we had to get the job done,” said foreman – senior guard, rather – Abby Oetting.

The 49-31 win gave Mexico the North Central Missouri Conference title and an 18-3 record. And on this night, coach Ed Costley’s team was methodical more than splashy.

Bowen becomes first Mexico girls wrestler to qualify for state

Published by admin on Wed, 02/24/2021 - 3:28pm

Katie Bowen made Mexico High School history several times this year. She took home the first ever weight class victory. She was a district champion. And now the 102 pounder is headed to state.

Bowen qualified for the state girls wrestling tournament in Independence thanks to a silver medal performance at sectionals in Versailles on Saturday, becoming the first girl to represent the Bulldogs at the highest level.

All five from Mexico’s inaugural girls team qualified for sectionals. And coach Tony Senor’s squad almost sent two wrestlers on to Independence.

Trojans win defensive battle, CAC title

Published by admin on Wed, 02/24/2021 - 3:26pm

A pattern emerged shortly after the Trojans took the court at Glasgow on Saturday afternoon with the Central Activities Conference title at stake.

The Yellowjackets tried to move the ball up the court, Brianna Beamer stole it back. They tried again, Beamer intervened again. Another turn on offense for Glasgow, Sarah Angel picked it off. Attempt to pass across the paint, Alexis Welch is there to intercept.

Van-Far girls top Wellsville-Middletown in districts

Published by admin on Wed, 02/24/2021 - 3:24pm

A year ago, the Van-Far girls basketball team had just three wins.

Now, the Indians are enjoying their best season in 10 years.

Van-Far clinched its first .500 season since the 2010-11 season after cruising to a 61-32 win over the Wellsville-Middletown Tigers on Saturday in a Class 2, District 5 quarterfinal game at home. The Indians improved to 11-10.

“I think it’s a good start to the program,” Van-Far junior Haley Baskett said. “Hopefully, after the season ends, we could keep it going next year, too.”

Wild night in Moberly as Mexico girls win in OT

Published by admin on Wed, 02/24/2021 - 3:23pm

In the aftermath of the Bulldogs 66-61 overtime win at Moberly on Friday night, head coach Ed Costley could only heave a sigh and shake his head in disbelief.

“It was pretty wild,” he said.

The two sides combined for 61 turnovers, 28 on the part of Mexico. They exchanged the advantage twice in the final 15 seconds of regulation. Indeed, it seemed as if the Bulldogs and their hosts traded the lead every other quarter.

“Thank goodness it didn’t go another overtime period, it would have been them,” Costley noted.

Trojans standout to play for Webster University

Published by admin on Wed, 02/24/2021 - 3:21pm

Brianna Beamer can score. She can distribute the ball around the court. She is almost fiendish in Community R-6’s defensive press.

If her brand of basketball had a spirit animal, it might be a Gorlok. And if you must ask, the Gorlok is a mythical creature that serves as mascot for Webster University’s athletic teams.

On Friday, Beamer signed a national letter of intent to play basketball for the school starting in the fall.

“I’m really excited,” she said. “I think it’s going to be good – Webster is ranked number one.”

Second-half defense clinches road game for Mexico boys

Published by admin on Wed, 02/24/2021 - 3:19pm

In January, Mexico lambasted the Spartans at home, 81-45. On Friday night in Moberly, the Bulldogs chewed them up again, winning 73-56.

But this game had a different tone from the start. Moberly held a 35-33 lead at the half and clung to the narrow gap into the third quarter, thanks to a 20 point outburst by Jaisten Payne.

Still on top by one, Jordan Mitchell sparked a turnaround on a coast to coast break. Drew Blevins found a comfortable spot at the top of the arc and sank a three. Daeye Miller intercepted a pass and it was off to the races again.

Van-Far boys play three in a row

Published by admin on Wed, 02/24/2021 - 3:17pm

Any way you draw it up -- on paper, on screen or on an old fashioned chalkboard, the Van-Far boys were faced with a difficult problem: three days, three games, no practice time.

“This isn’t a good recipe for success especially when your first day back is against an 18-4 Clopton team at their place,” observed Indians head coach Pat Connaway.

Yet Van-Far didn’t fare badly in the improvised final three days. They lost at Clopton 69-35, rebounded to knock off Wright City 59-50 and battled back to within striking distance of Louisiana before falling 57-49.

After ravages of COVID, winter is wiping out games

Published by admin on Mon, 02/22/2021 - 9:42am

The winter sports season continues the most remarkable – although coaches don’t use that word – of high school sports schedules.

First coronavirus quarantine protocols threw things out of whack. Now the weather is taking its turn. The Mexico girls basketball game set for Wednesday night didn’t happen. It was postponed until Thursday in tandem with a boys game at home against Marshall – both after the Ledger’s deadline.

Mexico’s chance to host Kirksville on Monday night was also wiped out. And it was a reset of the original Dec. 30 date.

Ransom, Sewell and Haag crowned district wrestling champs

Published by admin on Wed, 02/17/2021 - 2:34pm

It took Keith Ransom 62 seconds to become a district champion. And the Mexico 126-pounder didn’t really need that much of the clock.

The top seed in his weight at Saturday’s Class 2 District 4 tournament at The Sports Complex in Mexico, Ransom received a bye into the title round. He quickly scored takedown points against Fulton’s Kaden Barnes, and then added more to go up 6-0. Only then did he turn his attention to pinning his opponent.

“It’s always important to get points on the board just in case,” Ransom reasoned.

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