Facing the Manor Mustangs, runner-up in district 17-4A, in the first round of the Region III Class 4A playoffs at A&M Consolidated High School, head coach Danny Randall’s Bulldogs were up against a formidable opponent.

The Bulldog offense came out hitting on all cylinders in the first quarter, led by Jay McDade’s eight points, which helped Magnolia take a 16-14 lead over the Mustangs after the end of the first period.

The Mustangs rallied, however, in the second quarter, scoring 15 points while holding the Bulldogs to just 9. At halftime, the Bulldog’s 2-point lead had been erased and Magnolia found themselves trailing, 29-25.

The Bulldogs found themselves an even deeper hole by the end of the third period, as the Mustang offense came out of the locker room at halftime red hot. The Manor offense netted 19 third quarter points, while their defense held the Bulldogs to just 11.

Manor’s Dominique Hinton was the main culprit behind the offensive explosion, hitting a pair of three’s in the third for six of his eight points on the night.

Going into the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs trailed by 12, 48-36. It would take a near-miraculous fourth quarter comeback by Magnolia if they were to advance to the second round.

The comeback nearly happened, as the Bulldogs tallied 18 points while holding Manor to 11. But in the end, Magnolia fell just short, losing by a final score of 59-54.

Leading the way offensively for the Bulldogs was Jesse Jones, who scored 12 points. L.D. Williams led the Mustangs with 15 points.

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