Bulldogs pull out 67-60 win to end regular season

The Mexico boys did enough on Tuesday to extend their season-high winning streak to 13.

The Class 4 No. 8 Bulldogs go into the Class 4 District 8 tournament in Centralia as the No. 1 seed, with a perfect 10-0 North Central Missouri Conference record after a 67-60 win at Hannibal (7-15, 2-6 NCMC). Mexico (24-2) followed up another conference victory at home the previous night against Moberly.

Hannibal made eight 3-pointers, but Mexico scored 16 points off turnovers and 40 points in the paint.

DJ Long finished with 21 points, Jaydon Eldridge had 18 points, Kaden Benne had 11 points and PJ Perkins pulled down eight rebounds.

As the No. 1 seed, Mexico awaits the winner of conference foe Kirksville and Moberly in the semifinals at 6 p.m. Feb. 29.

Lady Bulldogs receive big boost from Hudson, lose final regular season game at Hannibal

The Mexico girls have lost four consecutive games to end the regular season but feel good heading into districts.

The Lady Bulldogs lost 60-51 at North Central Missouri Conference foe Hannibal (13-10, 6-2 NCMC) on Tuesday, bringing Mexico's records to 10-15 and 3-7 in conference, despite 32 points coming from Claire Hudson. In the first meeting this season, Mexico lost to the Lady Pirates by 30 points.

"We played overall pretty well, definitely showed some fatigue from playing (state-ranked) Moberly on Monday night," head coach Makenzie Mudd said. "We lost by 30 the last time we played them so it was a positive shift."

Mudd said it was also a positive shift to only to lose by 18 points against Moberly after almost a 30-point loss the first time. She said the Lady Bulldogs dsiplayed "spurts of strong defense" this time to force turnovers.

Jo Thurman followed Hudson's scoring with eight points.

Mexico has the No. 3 seed in the Class 4 District 8 tournament in Fulton and will play No. 6 Wright City (7-19) at 7:30 p.m. Monday.