Cougars battle, but fall to Salem, 73-64

cougar pawBy RODNEY YOUNG

Patriot Publishing

When your opponent’s shot from 50-55 feet goes in to end a quarter, it may not be your night.

The Pulaski County Cougars found themselves down early 15-4, but had fought themselves back to tie the game at 17. That’s when Salem’s Jack Stroud hit that first quarter ending shot to put the Spartans up 20-17. It would be the only shot he would hit for the game.

Salem would stretch that lead into a 35-30 advantage into intermission.

Then the third quarter saw Salem once again outscore the Cougars 21-18 to take a 56-48 lead going into the final stanza. Salem would go up by 14 before the Cougars battled back to within seven with under a minute to go and the Spartans would re-enter a couple of their starters. Salem held on to win, 73-64.

Salem got a game-high 22 points from forward Cam Boles. Fellow forward Kam Brown knocked down 14 and guard LaMarius Foxx chipped in with 15.

Pulaski County (4-11, 1-5) was led by Justus Hash with 21 points, Jalere Harlow’s 17 and senior Tootie O’Dell knocked down 16 in the loss.

“I’m proud of the guys,” said Cougar head coach Anthony Akers. “The guys battled and never quit against a well-coached and good team in Salem. We made them put their starters back in there late in the game and we showed some Cougar Pride.”

Once again the Cougars were called for more fouls than their opposition. Salem kept posting up Boles and Brown, while Foxx would drive to the basket.

The Cougar trio would outscore the Salem trio 54-51, but the team came up short on the scoreboard.

The tough schedule doesn’t get any easier for the Cougars as they travel to Floyd County and Cave Spring before finally returning to the Cougar Den versus Blacksburg, Friday January 24.

The Cougar junior varsity team lost their second straight game, losing to Salem 36-21. Seth Carter led the young Cougars with six points in the loss.

 

PC –  17  13  18  16-64

Salem- 20 15  21  17-73

 

Scoring – PC – Hash 21, Harlow 17, O’Dell 16, Carrasco 2, O’Neal 6, Sweet 2, Salem – Boles 22, Fox 15, Brown 14, Paddyfote 8, Stroud 3, Hamm 7, Martin 2, Dallas 2

 

3-Pt. Goals – PC – 6 (Hash 4, O’Dell 2), Salem – 7 (Brown 2, Paddyfote 2, Stroud, Foxx, Hamm)

 

Total FG’s – PC – 25, Salem – 28

 

FT’s – PC – 8-13, Salem – 10-16

 

Total Fouls – PC – 19, Salem – 11

 

Fouled Out- PC – Sweet, Salem – None

 

Technicals – None