The Mexico girls’ basketball team is entering its toughest stretch of the season.

 After dropping their season opener to Class 6 Battle, the Lady Bulldogs ripped off nine straight wins—most of them in convincing fashion—on their way to a No. 5 ranking in the latest Class 4 poll.

 But on Thursday the Lady Bulldogs kicked off what head coach Ed Costley said is the most difficult stretch of the season. Mexico traveled to Hallsville, before heading to Macon this week for the 44th Annual Macon Invitational Tournament.

 “We knew that this next week and a half was going to be a really tough stretch and kind of one of those things that can just pinpoint who you are as a team going forward and finishing out the last half of the season,” said Costley. “It can propel you to where you need to be or you can find out a little bit more; that you need to look at how to cover up some of your weaknesses going forward. I felt like this was that key moment for us and these four games coming up, to kind of tell us what we need to do and who we need to be.”

 The Lady Bulldogs played Hallsville close throughout, ending the opening frame down just two and leading 29-27 at the half. But the hosts knocked down three triples in the third and outscored Mexico 36-26 in the second half to pull away for a 63-55 win, dropping the Lady Bulldogs to 9-2.

 “We did a good job defensively, making them a one-dimensional team and taking away a lot of their interior stuff,” said Costley. “We just gave up too much. I thought our detail to the ball help when we needed it wasn’t as good as it has been in the past, and that kind of let us down throughout the ball game.”

 Costley said his squad wasn’t quite in tune with its zone rotations, which led to Hallsville 3-pointers. And offensively, the Lady Bulldogs were unable to convert on their opportunities.

 Running down the stat book, Mexico outrebounded Hallsville and committed just two more turnovers, 22 compared to the hosts’ 20. Trying to pinpoint the main factor in his team’s loss, Costley pointed to shooting.

 “We had a lot of good looks,” Costley explained. “Inside, right underneath the rim within three-to-four feet, we got 36 shots and we only made 16 of them. So, we had opportunities. We missed some of those easy gimmies and then we didn’t capitalize enough from the free-throw line.”

 Mexico got to the free-throw line 17 times, but made just 10. Hallsville was 9 of 12 from the stripe.

 The Lady Bulldogs finished 3 of 12 from the 3-point line, while Hallsville knocked down 7 of 22 from deep.

 “I mean, you just look at it,” Costley continued. “I dunno, 3-pointers were the difference, really.”

 Riley Thurman led Mexico with 22 points and seven rebounds; Jordyn Thurman scored 11; Mya Miller finished with 10 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists; Taylor DeMint and Claire Hudson each scored four; Messiah Simpson tallied two points and Lexie Willer added two points and four assists.

 Mexico continues its rocky patch with the Macon tournament this week. The Lady Bulldogs will see some familiar foes, scheduled to take on Harrisburg on Monday and Kirksville on Wednesday, results were unavailable at press time.

 Mexico previously defeated Kirksville 47-37 and Harrisburg 67-38, but Costley expects tougher matchups the second time around.

 “We’ll see a different look from Harrisburg and we’ve got to be up to the challenge,” said Costley. “They’ll be a little more physical with us, I’m sure, and come right at us. So, two teams we’re familiar with.”