Pulaski County Cougars knock off fifth-ranked Knights

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Boone Blevins

By RODNEY YOUNG

Patriot Publishing

Playing on the road for the first time this young basketball season the Cougars traveled Tuesday to Cave Spring.

Pulaski County used a huge second half to upend the Knights, 77-65.

The Cougars placed five players into double figures as they outscored Cave Spring – ranked fifth in the state coming in – 48 to 35 in the second half.

The five players who were in double figures for the Cougars were Boone Blevins with 18, as he came

12
Silas Sweet

off the bench to help spark the team, stroking five three’s. Braxton Merchant continued his good play with 17 points. Justus Hash scored 16, while Jalere Harlow scored 15. Silas Sweet would chip in with 10.

Playing in front of a big Cave Spring crowd the Cougars committed just seven turnovers as they played better as the game went on in the second half. The Cougars had a big third quarter scoring 25 points while holding the Knights to just 13.

Cave Spring got a game-high 24 points from Ashton Cornett. Shawn Turner scored 19 in a losing effort.

In a joyful locker room, Cougar head coach Anthony Akers remarked, “This was a big win for the Cougar basketball program. A much-needed win.” He then added, “I”m so proud of our guys with

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Braxton Merchant

their hustle and hard play tonight. This is one of the biggest wins in years for Pulaski County basketball and it was a team win.”

The win was the first for the Cougars over Cave Spring since 2018 and the first win at Cave since 2015.

The Cougars took a 16-12 lead after the opening period, but found themselves down 30-29 at intermission. They would retake the lead early in the third and never trailed after that going up 35-32.

Blevins would hit three big threes in the third quarter and Hash scored 11 of his points in the quarter hitting three threes and a two.

 

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Justus Hash

Harlow then would score 11 of his points in the final period and the Cougars would hit 10 of 13 free throws to keep the Knights from mounting a comeback.

Sweet would score five points in the first half and five in the second as he and Sammy Carrasco would defend the Knights’ point guard and make him work for his 19.

The Cougars held off any Knight comeback by hitting foul shots, playing smart defense and handling the basketball well down the stretch.

The Cougars improved to 2-2 and 1-0 in district play. Cave Spring (3-1) lost for the first time this season.

 

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Jalere Harlow

Sweet led the Cougars with eight rebounds, Blevins and Harlow both had five, while  Carrasco had six assists.

The Cougar JV (2-2) team lost to the Knights, 63-48. The Cougars were led in scoring by Ade Jackson with 22 and Braylen Anderson’s 16.

The Cougars will be back in the Cougar Den to take on Floyd County Thursday and Blacksburg on Friday. JV action both nights will tip at 5:30 and varsity to follow.

 

PC – 16  13  25  23- 77

CS- 12  18  13  22- 65

 

Scoring– PC – Blevins 18, Merchant 17, Hash 16, Harlow 15, Sweet 10, Nottingham 1, CS – Cornett 24, Turner 19, Holbrook 6, Urgo 6, Doucoure 7, Lang 3

3 PT. Goals – PC -11 ( Blevins 5, Hash 4, Merchant , Sweet), CS- 5 ( Cornett 3, Lang, Urgo)

 

Total FG’s – PC – 27, CS – 25

 

FT’s – PC – 12-16, CS – 10-19

Total Fouls – PC – 20, CS – 19

Fouled Out– PC – Carrasco, CS – Holbrook

Technicals – PC – Sweet, CS – Cornett

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