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The Parry McCluer High School boys basketball team lost a tightly contested game against Eastern Mennonite 67-55 on Saturday at Rockbridge County High School. The game was a part of the ninth annual Rock the Ribbon Roundball Shootout, a two-day American Cancer Society fundraiser.
The Fighting Blues (10-8) found themselves trailing early in the nondistrict contest against the Flames (10-7), who won the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association state championship last year. PM never led after EM started out hot to take a 16-9 lead at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, the Blues began to trim the lead. John Snider made a free throw after a successful layup that cut EM's lead to five. PM's Nathan Glass made a 3-pointer before halftime, and Evan Cook made free throws to cut the Flames' lead to 32-30.
Right out of halftime, the Flames hit three three-pointers on consecutive possessions to extend their lead to 41-30. EM would get to 50 points before PM scored. The Blues went on another run, started by a Cook 3-pointer, to cut the lead to 50-45 at the end of the third quarter.
EM made another 3-pointer to start the fourth quarter and continued to extend its lead, outscoring the Blues 17-10 in the quarter.
Landon Catlett led the Blues with 14 points, while John Snider had 13 points and 11 rebounds.
The Blues will return to Pioneer District action when they play at Eastern Montgomery on Tuesday, starting with junior varsity action at 5:30 p.m. The PM varsity team will play at Highland County on Wednesday at 6 p.m. in a game rescheduled from Thursday, Jan. 26.
For the full stories and photos from this week's action, please see our Feb. 1 newspaper.
