McALLEN — The McAllen High Bulldogs were tested in their Region IV-5A area round matchup against Corpus Christi King on Thursday in Alice.

The King Mustangs, who scored 74 points against Rio Grande City in Round 1, came out scorching against McHi. King was near perfect from the floor during the first quarter, jumping out to an early advantage.

It didn’t matter to the Bulldogs. McHi (21-7, 12-2) took the Mustangs’ best punch and responded with a non-stop flurry of their own for a 56-41 second-round playoff victory.

“I think the boys as a whole, as a team, we stepped it up and played at another level. I think it was a great team win,” McHi head coach Ryan Flores said. “In the first half, we kind of started off really slow, then we settled down and started competing. In the second half, I think we brought the intensity defensively to another level, and they didn’t match our energy and our motivation and our want to win that game.”

The Bulldogs shut down King during the second half by surrendering just 13 points over the final 16 minutes.

“That McHi pride came in right there. We just played with heart,” senior guard Quinllion Canada Jr. said. “That was heart, passion, and we got dudes that want the ball and that showed last night.”

McHi’s Quinllian Canada(4) snags a rebound away from Memorial’s Jalen Muhammad (11) during the first half of a boys District 31-5A championship game at McAllen Memorial High gymnasium on Saturday, Feb.13,2021. Photo by Delcia Lopez/The Monitor | [email protected]

Canada and sophomore post Kaharie Loggins led the Bulldogs with a team-high 14 points apiece, while freshman Danny Canul scored 10. McHi’s Jordan Chappell added six points, Jaylon Chappell had five, Robert Canul scored four and Nathan Mangum had three.

The defensive effort that led the Bulldogs past Corpus Christi King is nothing new, however. It’s what’s helped McHi win a share of the District 31-5A championship this season, the team’s first in seven years.

The Bulldogs have held 13 of their last 15 opponents to scores under 50. During that span, McHi is allowing a measly 41.2 points per game.

“We’re just out there playing with high-energy, that’s really what it is. We go out there with one goal, and that’s to win, and we win championships on defense and we’ve been doing that,” Canada said.

In their two playoff wins, the Bulldogs limited Weslaco East to just 31 points, and now King to 41 points. McHi’s wing defenders are tough to get by on the perimeter, while post players Loggins and Mangum are a load to deal with inside.

“We all have that desire to win. Every time we go into the huddle and break out as ‘Dogs, we mean it,” Canul said.

McHi’s Kaharie Loggins (3) and teammate crowd for a rebound against Memorial during the first half of a boys District 31-5A championship game at McAllen Memorial High gymnasium on Saturday, Feb.13,2021. Photo by Delcia Lopez/The Monitor | [email protected]

Now, McHi is set for another postseason test in the Region IV-5A quarterfinals against Corpus Christi Flour Bluff.

“We have to bring the same energy. It’s just another team,” Canada said. “We watch film, make our adjustments, and just go out there and play our game.”

The Flour Bluff Hornets (23-2, 14-2) beat Mission Veterans 58-45 in Round 1 and Brownsville Pace 63-57 on Thursday to advance to the third round. Tip-off between the Bulldogs and Hornets is scheduled for 7:30 today at Alice High School.