The McAllen High Bulldogs got off to a bit of a slow start in their Region IV-5A area round matchup against Corpus Christi King on Thursday at Alice High School.
After trailing 10-2 midway through the first quarter, McHi head coach Ryan Flores called a timeout.
From that moment on, the Bulldogs played like a team possessed as they raced their way to huge 56-41 second round playoff win.
The Bulldogs’ (21-7, 12-2) defense played a stingy second half, allowing just 13 points over the final 16 minutes.
“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,” 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. I think we did a great job defensively in the second half slowing them down and we executed and did what we wanted to do as far as attacking the basket and taking high-percentage shots.”
McHi found its rhythm on the offensive end of the floor with a balanced inside-out attack. Quinllion Canada Jr. and Kaharie Loggins led the Bulldogs with a team-high with 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 3.
The Bulldogs now turn their focus to the Region IV-5A Quarterfinals where they’ll take on Corpus Christi Flour Bluff. 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.
