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The Parry McCluer High School boys basketball team earned a 67-61 home win over Nelson County on Monday of last week before cruising to an 84-46 road win over Pioneer District rival Craig County on Friday.
The Fighting Blues would extend their winning streak to eight games with a 71-58 home win over Rockbridge County on Saturday, and they would end the week with an overall record of 11-3. (See separate story).
When PM and nondistrict rival Nelson County met on Dec. 29 in Lovingston, the Blues won 74-69.
In the rematch, Nelson’s Colton Ward scored the first basket two minutes into the game. PM’s Nathan Glass and JJ Jones both made three-point plays to give PM a 6-2 lead. The Blues held a 13-9 advantage heading into the second quarter.
Ward put Nelson back on top 14-13 by making a layup and 3-pointer. With PM down 29-26 late in the first half, Braedyn Houck sank a 3-pointer to tie the game 29-29 at the buzzer.
With the Blues down by one, 33-32, points by Jones and Evan Cook helped PM regain a lead that they held for the rest of the game, going up 38-33. The third quarter ended with the Blues leading 44-38.
The final quarter saw a total of 46 points scored between the two teams. Although Nelson (5-6) made a late push, the Blues were able to outlast the Governors and win the game. Jones led PM with 17 points, and Landon Catlett added 15.
“Nelson is a good ball club,” said PM coach Tyler Kerr. “They have some great big players. They are really set up for years to come.”
Kerr said his team’s intensity was critical. “Couldn’t be prouder of the intensity that we showed,” he said. We’re mature enough to show that effort for four quarters now.”
PM 84, CC 46
PM defeated Pioneer District foe Craig County 84-46 on Friday in New Castle.
Leading the Blues, who improved to 3-1 in the district, were Glass and JJ Jones with 14 points each, while Landon Catlett had 12 points.
“They are a tough team, especially in the physical aspect of the game,” said Kerr of the Rockets (4-9 overall, 0-4 district). “I think we did an extremely good job being unselfish. It’s easy to get selfish in games where you pull away but we never did that.”
The Blues were scheduled to play at Bath County on Tuesday of last week, but that game was rescheduled to Tuesday, Feb. 6 due to inclement weather. PM will continue district action at Narrows on Friday before playing at Eastern Montgomery on Tuesday, starting with junior varsity action at 5:30 p.m. on both nights.
