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Parry McCluer High School kicked off its Pioneer District girls basketball schedule with two road victories, fending off Narrows 48-45 before downing Eastern Montgomery 41-27 last week.
Last Wednesday, the Fighting Blues (4-1 overall, 2-0 district) outscored the Green Wave 21-13 in the fourth period to claim a three-point win.
Victoria Hamilton tallied 20 points and six rebounds, while Payton Emore notched 16 points and eight boards to propel PM on the road. Marayka Knoetze led Narrows with 16 points and eight rebounds, and Karsyn Reed chipped in 13 points and six assists.
The Green Wave led 32-27 entering the final eight minutes, but the Blues quickly erased that deficit by starting the period on a 6-0 run. PM held a 48-43 advantage in the closing seconds, and – despite a Narrows field goal and a late turnover by the Blues – the visitors held on for the win.
“Experience helped us in this one,” PM head coach Adam Gilbert said. “The kids never looked rattled. We weren’t perfect, and we turned the ball over far too many times, but our body language was good all night.”
PM overcame 23 turnovers in the game in large part by shooting 45 percent (17-of-38) from the field while limiting Narrows to a 28 percent clip (17-of-61). The Blues also knocked down 11-of-15 free throws in the fourth quarter.
Addisen Roberts recorded five points and three steals for the Blues, and Tatyana Turner finished with four points and five rebounds. Emma Helvey posted six points for the Green Wave, while Addyson Johnson and Ellyn Bowles added five points apiece.
Gilbert anticipated that Narrows would pose a stern challenge to PM’s designs on a fourth straight district title. Opening up Pioneer play with a road victory over the Green Wave is certainly a feather in the Blues’ cap.
“This was a huge win for our group – on the road, in a tough environment and against a quality opponent,” Gilbert said. “We have put ourselves in a good position, but we understand it is just one game. We understand that we have a lot of basketball left to play.”
PM 41, EM 27
PM took to the road again two nights later, earning a 41-27 victory over Eastern Montgomery in Elliston on Friday.
The Blues used a dominant second half to pull away from the Mustangs and improve to 4-1 overall. Leading just 13-12 at halftime, PM proceeded to outscore EM 28-15 after the intermission – including a 14-6 margin in the final quarter.
Hamilton led a balanced scoring attack with 12 points. Natalie Mohler added nine points for the Blues, while Emore and Emory Slagle each tallied seven points. Hailey Akers paced the Mustangs (0-5, 0-1) with 11 points, and Macie Akers recorded six markers.
PM will take part in the Smoky Mountain Christmas Classic in Gatlinburg, Tenn., which runs from today through Friday. The Blues then visit rival Rockbridge County for a 4 p.m. tip-off next Wednesday, Dec. 27.
