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The Parry McCluer High School boys basketball team fended off a comeback to earn a 48-43 home win over Rockbridge County and completed a sweep of the season series on Saturday night in Buena Vista.
It was the fourth consecutive win for the Fighting Blues (6-3) over the Wildcats (1-10). PM, which also swept the season series last year, defeated RC 72-68 eight days earlier in Lexington.
Braedyn Houck led the Blues with 16 points, while Noah Hamm led the Wildcats with 14 points.
The rematch similar to the first showdown this season. The Wildcats led 14-13 at the end of the first quarter, but the Blues outscored them 17-6 in the second quarter to take a 30-19 lead into halftime.
PM stretched its advantage to 17 points by the end of the fourth quarter, leading 40-23. However, following an ankle injury to star sophomore guard Langston Cook early in the second half, the Blues had trouble containing the Wildcats.
The Wildcats cut into the lead, hitting big shots and making crucial stops late in the fourth quarter, but Houck came through with clutch free throws to seal the win for the Blues.
It was an intense game in a raucous gym, with three technical fouls called, two on RC players and one on a PM player.
Helping Houck with the offense were Cook and Quentin Rosser with nine points each, while Peyton Montgomery and Jamier Jordan each chipped in four points.
Bradi Ziegler scored seven points for the Wildcats, while Luke Eversole, Gardner Clement and Brayden Camden each had four points.
The Blues will return to Pioneer District action when they play host to Eastern Montgomery on Tuesday, while the Wildcats will resume Valley District action at home against Rocktown then, starting with junior varsity action at 5:30 p.m.
For the full stories on this week’s action, with photos from Saturday’s game, please see our Jan. 8 newspaper.
