(McAllen, Texas)-McAllen High School three-year starter, Robert Canul scored his 1,000th career point on Tuesday night as the 31-5A Bulldogs (30-8) defeated 32-5A Brownsville Veterans (20-16) 52-31 in the Class 5A Bi-District Basketball Championships at the Teresa Casso Gymnasium. With the win, head coach Ryan Flores will lead his team to the area playoffs against 29-5A Victoria West (18-12), winners over La Joya Palmview. Site and time will be announced.
The Bulldogs, looking to advanced back to the UIL State 5A Basketball Quarterfinals after losing to Leander Glenn 57-40 in 2021, started the night off with Danny Canul hitting a three-pointer but it was Brownsville Veterans inability to make those easy, under the basket shots as Robert Canul hit his first three-pointer of the night to give the Bulldogs a 17-10 lead after the first period. “I was real pleased with our defensive efforts tonight,” said Flores. “Our team struggled a little bit on offense, but overall, I was pleased.”
In the second period, McHi’s 6’3 power forward, Jordon Chappell blocked a shot by Veteran’s Kenneth Davis and the blocks would continue with Bulldogs 6’4 Nyles Dos Santos De Oliveira over the Chargers Nicolas Fuentes followed by junior Erasmo Alvarado’s stuff against Brownsville Veterans Rodrigo Castaneda. By now, Bulldogs fans were cheering as they increased their lead 33-14 at the half. “We kept putting pressure on the Chargers,” added Flores.
At the start of the second half, McHi increased its lead to 40-16 with 3:56 left in the third period and continued their march with another block shot by Jaylon Chappell (6’3) from McAllen on Nicolas Fuentes of the Chargers. The Chargers had their opportunities under the basket but, on Tuesday night, their Chargers grew frustrated with missed shots. The Bulldogs were led by Robert Canul’s 13 points with Jaylon Chappell adding another 13 points and Darren Manriquez added another 11 points. Kenneth Davis led the Chargers with nine points. (HSSMImages)
