(San Antonio, Texas)-Brayden Baum (6’7 power forward) led the 26-5A Boerne Champion Chargers (32-6) with 20-points as they defeated 31-5A McAllen (32-9) Bulldogs 61-50 at the Blossom Athletic Center in the Class 5A Region IV Boys Basketball Semifinals on Friday night. The Chargers advances to the 5A Region IV finals and will meet 29-5A Corpus Christi Veterans or 26-5A San Antonio Veterans on Saturday.
The Bulldogs did not have their bite on Friday night. “I wish we could have scored more points in the first period,” said head coach Ryan Flores of McAllen. “Still, I’m real proud of our team’s fight down the stretch.” In the first period, the Bulldogs just watched their shots bounce off the rim while Boerne Champion built a quick 13-0 lead and finished the opening period, leading 15-2.
At the start of the second period, the Bulldogs played great defense. “We held them,” added Flores. Kayrie Loggins sparked the Bulldogs in the second period with eight points as they held the Chargers to six points and ended the half trailing 21-18, erasing a 18-4 deficit.
In the second half, the Bulldogs came alive in the final period hitting six three-pointers, with McAllen senior Jaylon Chappell hitting three straight threes to close the gap with Champion, trailing by nine points. But, the Chargers kept charging as 6’4 Jesse Peart raced down court and slammed dunk the ball to end the Bulldogs hopes of repeating as regional semifinalist champions. He finished the night with 19 points.
McAllen was led by Jaylon Chappell with 12 points, K. Loggins 10, and Robert Canul finished with nine points to end his career. (HSSMImages/Ruiz)
