SAN ANTONIO — McAllen High’s magical playoff run came to an end with a 57-40 loss to Leander Glenn in the Region IV-5A final Friday night at Littleton Gym at Blossom Athletic Center.

McHi (23-8, 12-2) came out playing well on both ends of the floor to start the game, taking a 15-6 advantage after one quarter, and a 21-12 lead heading into the final minute of the second quarter. Senior Nathan Mangum had the hot hand early with 10 first-half points for McHi.

Just before the first half buzzer sounded, however, Glenn began to build momentum. Guard Robbie Marshall drilled back-to-back 3-pointers to send the Grizzlies into the break down trailing by just three points.

Glenn kept up its shooting from deep during the second half, eventually pulling away to capture the Region IV-5A championship.

“I thought we started off the game really, really well. I think we dominated the first half except the last 45 seconds,” Flores said. “We gave up those two big 3-pointers before the half, gave them life and some momentum going into the second half and we just never recovered. They did a good job. They hit some shots they weren’t hitting in the first half from 3. I think that was the difference in the game.”

McHi’s defense played air-tight as it has throughout the postseason, but had no answer as Glenn hit seven 3-pointers over the final 17 minutes to bury the Bulldogs.

“They picked it up, they started hitting some shots. It’s very discouraging when they’re hitting low-percentage shots and they’re hitting them back-to-back-to-back,” Flores said. “Credit to them, they’re a good team.”

Mangum led McHi with 14 points and six rebounds. Fellow seniors Quinllion “Q” Canada and Michael Echazarreta both added four points apiece. Kaharie Loggins scored six for the Bulldogs, while juniors Jaylon and Jordon Chappell each had three. Robert and Danny Canul also chipped in four and two points for McHi, respectively.

McHi’s Quinllion Canada Jr. (4) is hugged by Assistant Coach Omar Guerra after the Region IV-5A final state playoff game against Leander Glenn held Friday March 5, 2021 at Littleton Gym in San Antonio, Tx. Leander Glenn won 57-40.(Special To The Monitor / Photo By Edward A. Ornelas)

The McHi Bulldogs finish the 2020-21 season as District 31-5A co-champions, the program’s first district title in seven years. They also tied the program record by reaching the regional final, the furthest a Bulldogs team has advanced in the playoffs in the school’s rich history.

“This team is a very special group, a group I’ll forever remember. It’s because of our seniors leading our team — ‘Q’ Canada, Nathan Mangum, Michael Gonzalez and Michael Echazarreta,” Flores said. “We’re going to miss them, but I think they established very high expectations for our program now. Born and raised in the Valley, seeing Valley basketball get to the level we can get to now, it’s just amazing. There’s nothing to be ashamed of. Regional final championship for a Valley team, especially with the challenges and obstacles we had this year, it’s something special. It hasn’t really hit me, but we’re in the record books. They made McHi history.”

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