Cougars win, halt losing streak
By RODNEY YOUNG
Patriot Publishing
MAX MEADOWS – A win is a win, even if it’s not pretty. Such was the case for Pulaski County’s Cougars Wednesday night as they defeated Grayson County, 45-42 in the First Community Bank Christmas Tournament held at Fort Chiswell High School.
The Cougars (3-6) got a game-high 18 points from senior Lane Nester as he hit four of six free throws in the final quarter to help propel PCHS to the victory halting a five-game losing streak. Senior Marcus Reed had a double-double scoring 11 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Sophomore Jalere Harlow chipped in with 10 points with eight of those coming in the first half.
Grayson County (2-6) got 14 points from point guard Austin Dowell, and Maverik Goad knocked in eight points in a losing cause.
The Cougars led for most of the contest, leading 10-8 after the first quarter and 23-19 at intermission.
Leading 34-29 after the third period the Cougars stretched their lead to nine at 41-32.
But Pulaski County had to hold on for the win.
The Cougars struggled to hit open shots and made turnovers down the stretch that put the Blue Devils right back in the game.
“It was an ugly game,” said Cougar head coach Anthony Akers. “We have trouble making open shots. Marcus Reed, Jalere Harlow and Lane Nester really carried us tonight. We played hard at times, but we didn’t play smart at times.”
With the win, the Cougars advanced to the tournament semifinals against an undefeated Narrows Green Wave on Thursday at 8:30 p.m.
PC – 10 -13 – 11 – 11 = 45
GC – 8 – 11 – 10 – 13= 42
PC – Nester 18, Reed 11, Harlow 10, O’Dell 2, Hash 2, Anderson 2, Grayson – Dowell 14, Mav. Goad 8, Gillespie 4, Mac Goad 4, Mak. Goad 3, Walls 5, Weatherman 2. Pennington 2
3-PT. Goals – PC – 2 ( Harlow, Nester) , Grayson -5 ( Mav. Goad 2, Mak. Goad, Walls. Dowell)
Total FG’s – PC – 16, Grayson 17
FT’s – PC – 11 -20, Grayson – 3-8
Total Fouls- PC – 11, Grayson – 21
Fouled Out – Grayson – Mak. Goad
Technicals – PC – O’Dell
Other first round games in the First Community Bank Tournament saw the Radford Bobcats come from behind to down Tazewell, 54-46.
Radford got 26 points from Mekih Martin. Sincere Taylor and Daniel Dehart-Lewis both scored six points each for the Bobcats.
Tazewell was led by T. J. Barrett with nine points. Carter Creasy, Chase Brown and Matt Clifton all scored seven points each.
Narrows got a game-high 25 points from Levi Smith and Kolier Pruett finished with 22 in their 65-59 win over the Fort Chiswell Pioneers.
The Pioneers were led by Brayden Billings with 17 and Broderick Gunter had 12 in the losing effort.
Narrows head coach Patrick Bailey remarked, “It was a grind here tonight. We got three guys that can score 20 or more a night, and two of them did.”
Derrick Jackson, head coach for the Pioneers after the loss said, “We played hard, but turnovers really hurt us late in the fourth quarter.”
Narrows improved to 8-0, while Fort Chiswell fell to 5-3.
The other first round game saw the undefeated Carroll County Cavaliers (7-0) smash East Wilkes (NC), 71-48.
Davis Reitzel had a game-high 27 points and Bryce Smoot scored 17 for Carroll.
East Wilkes got nine points from Mason Sparks. Phoenix Blackburn and Andrew Tharpe both chipped in with eight points apiece.