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Saturday, Jan. 7 -- The Rockbridge County High School boys basketball team earned a thrilling 59-52 victory over Parry McCluer in Buena Vista.
The Wildcats (5-7) closed out a seesaw fourth quarter with a 10-3 run to earn their fifth straight win. RC's current streak started with a 47-41 home victory over the Blues (6-6) back on Dec. 22.
Both teams placed four players in double figures in round two on Saturday. Andreas Poindexter scored 13 points to lead the Wildcats. Milo Mulitalo posted 12 points and 11 rebounds for RC, while Matthew Burkhart also scored 12 points, and Brandon Mays finished with 10 points and eight boards.
John Snider tallied a game-high 14 points and collected nine rebounds for the Blues. Evan Cook notched 11 points and three assists, while Braedyn Houck and Landon Catlett chipped in 10 points apiece for PM.
The Wildcats led for most of the first three quarters, though never by more than single digits. Trailing 39-31 late in the third period, PM closed the frame on a 9-2 spurt and pulled within one (41-40) on Catlett's three-point play with 15 seconds to go.
A wild fourth quarter started with six consecutive lead changes. Cook's triple put PM in front 47-46 at the 5:41 mark, but Burkhart answered with a trey of his own to give RC a 49-47 edge with just over four minutes to play.
But after Snider sank a pair of free throws to tie the game at 49-49 with 3:30 to go, the Wildcats took over down the stretch. Mulitalo and Burkhart hit consecutive baskets for a 53-49 edge. Snider answered with a post-up bucket with 1:20 to go, but RC connected on 4-of-6 shots at the charity stripe and got a key transition hoop from Mays inside the final minute to secure the win.
PM is slated to visit Nelson County on Tuesday, while RC returns to action at Stuarts Draft on Wednesday evening. The junior varsity game will tip off at 5:30 p.m. on both nights.
