CELINA The Merrol Hyde Magnet boys prep basketball team ended its season with a 76-29 loss at District 7-A champion Clay County in the Region 4-A Tournament quarterfinals on Saturday evening.
The Bulldogs (28-2) outscored the Hawks by a 28-5 margin in the second quarter, turning a 10-5 advantage into a 38-10 lead at halftime. Clay County led 63-20 entering the final period.
Merrol Hyde Magnet was the No. 4 seed team from District 8-A.
Merrol Hyde Magnet senior Jenord Taylor drives to the basket during a game earlier this season. Taylor scored two points in the Hawks’ 76-29, season-ending loss at Clay County in the Region 4-A Tournament quarterfinals on Saturday evening.
Senior forward Zach Shonting led the Hawks (6-16) offensively with eight points, followed by Kyle Richardson (6 points), Tucker Beals (5), Connor McCutcheon (3), Ollie Talmadge (3), Graceson Lawrence (2) and Jenord Taylor (2).
Tyreke Key, a Mr. Basketball finalist in Class A, led the Bulldogs with 29 points.
It was the second time in school history that the Hawks competed in the region tournament.
The Hawks lose four seniors – Beals, Richardson, Shonting and Taylor.