Locker Room: This Cougar team can play the game

The Pulaski County girls basketball program is about to head back to the Class 4 state basketball tournament. Congratulations to them for a job well done, and to head coach Brad Sutphin and his able assistant Mike Anders.

Most people from across the state were likely surprised the Cougar girls made it to the state title game last year. Two reasons. The team was so young, and two, most of the other teams in the tourney likely had little understanding of just who Pulaski Co. is. Yes, when you talk about Pulaski Co., northern and eastern Virginia still have little understanding of who Pulaski Co. or all of southwest Virginia is for that matter, or what we’re about. We’re different. In this case, I’m very pleased to be different.  We fought the same battle back in the 80 and 90s in football. When that period of time was over, they still might not have known how to get down there, but they knew what Pulaski Co. football was.

The girls basketball program can chart that same course. Just keep knocking on the door. You do it long enough and hard enough, one day it will open. You’ll knock it down! Maybe this is the year.

But it’s down to Lynchburg to face a strong and top seeded E.C. Glass team Friday evening in the effort to repeat as Region D champions. Should the Cougars win they will be a top four seed and host a state semi-final game, or at least Region D will host, however, that game can be as close to PCHS as possible but cannot be played on the Cougar court.

Likely, should Pulaski Co. win it would host a state semi-final in the Dedmon Center at RU, at least that would be preferred. If not that, the game would be at another location within the bounds of the region, but certainly as close to home as possible at an appropriate facility. Should Glass be the region winner, then Pulaski Co. would be on the road at the location of another region. Then it’s on to Richmond for the Final Four.

This Cougar team has all that is required. It can play on the perimeter, a good floor game, it can play on the baseline, it can make plays, make shots, it defends, it is a “team.” Not one or two players have to make all the big plays. Most all of them can come through and have. This Cougar basketball team can play the game. It has the necessary talent, and also the necessary grit.

So, the effort to be considered among the best programs in the state will continue. This team will be well prepared. It will play hard. It is well coached. I wish them well.

By DAN CALLAHAN, The Patriot