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The Parry McCluer High School boys basketball team saw its six-game winning streak snapped with a 67-65 loss to Gretna on Saturday morning at Rockbridge County High School.
In a game that was close the whole way, Gretna (13-1), a larger Class 2 team, overcame the Fighting Blues (11-4), a Class 1 team, by hitting a layup and clutch free throws at the end of the game.
The Blues started the game off with an early lead behind 3-pointers from Braedyn Houck, Jamier Jordan and Quentin Rosser. At the end of the first quarter, PM led 21-13.
The Hawks found their groove in the second quarter and came back to take a 25-23 lead. Rosser hit a triple for another lead change, but Gretna went on an 8-2 run to take a 33-25 lead into halftime.
PM came out of halftime and quickly closed the gap with a layup from Langston Cook, and Houck stole the ball and scored a basket to cut it to 34-32. With Gretna leading 45-43, PM’s Nathan Glass stole the ball from a pass from inbound play to tie the game, and Cook followed with a shot. Cook hit a 3-pointer before the buzzer to put PM up 50-47, the Blues’ first lead since midway through the second quarter.
The Blues and Hawks traded points the rest of the way, with PM leading 64-63 in the final minute. After Gretna’s Tayvion Johnson hit a free throw and Rayshaun Logan made a layup in the final 15 seconds to give the Hawks a 66-64 lead, the Blues were forced to foul after a lost possession, and Johnson converted at the free throw line. The Blues were able to get a play in motion in the final two seconds but they weren’t able to make a shot.
Reviewing the game, PM head coach Tyler Kerr said, “I’m not about moral victories, but there is nothing but good that can come from this game. Whether we made that last shot or not, that’s a tournament game. and there’s nothing but good from that. That’s a big-time team in a big-time game to help us prepare for our district stretch.”
Cook, who was named PM’s Most Valuable Player, led the Blues with 25 points, Houck scored 15 points, and Rosser chipped in nine. For Gretna, Logan led all players with 32 points.
GRETNA’S RAYSHAUN Logan (3) guards Parry McCluer’s sophomore guard Langston Cook. (Ronnie Coffey photo)
