Experienced Blues Ready To Start Season With Early Tests
Returning seven players, the Parry McCluer High School boys basketball team will look to build off last year’s success.
Last year, PM won the Pioneer District title over Narrows and was the Region 1C runner-up to George Wythe before ending its season with a Class 1 state quarterfinal loss to Patrick Henry. The Fighting Blues went 20-6 overall and 9-0 in the district last winter.
The Blues graduated four players from last year’s squad, led by all-district and all-region second-team guard Braedyn Houck and forward Peyton Montgomery, an alldistrict honorable mention selection.
However, the Blues retain several key leaders from last year’s title push and will look to lean on 6-foot junior point guard Langston Cook, their leading scorer and rebounder last season, and 6-4 senior forward Nathan Glass. Cook, the Pioneer District player of the year and an all-region and all-state first-team selection last winter, averaged 24 points while pulling down 8.3 rebounds and averaging 4.7 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.2 blocks.
After recovering from a knee injury suffered during his junior football season, Glass came on strong the second half of last winter, averaging 10.1 points and 5.4 rebounds. Glass was an all-district first-team and allregion second-team selection. Another returning leader is junior guard Jamier Jordan (5-10), an all-district secondteam selection last winter.
Also returning for PM are senior forward Sam Griffin (6-1), junior forward Kyle Smals (6-1), junior guard Parker Snider (5-10) and sophomore guard Quentin Rosser (5-8).
Newcomers to the team are senior forward Landon Orren (6-2), junior forward Duncan Romriel (6-0), junior guard Luke Morris (5-6) and sophomore guard Brody Coleman (5-10).
Entering his fourth year as PM’s head coach, Tyler Kerr emphasized the importance of the returning core group. “Having these guys who have played so much time together, they read each other like the back of their hand,” said Kerr. “They are unselfish, share the ball and just have a level of trust between each other because of their chemistry.”
Highlighting his two seniors, Kerr said, “The work ethic of Sam and Nathan is contagious. It starts at the top and works its way down.”
Praising his players for the work they put in during the offseason, Kerr said, “The guys that we had that weren’t in football or a fall sport, if the gym was open, they were there. We just have such an eager group of guys that are hungry to grow and get better.”
Helping Kerr guide the Blues are assistant coaches Conrad Patterson, Aaron Higginbotham and Cody Buchanan. Talen Roberts enters his second year as the junior varsity head coach and is assisted by fellow former PM player Will Dunlap, who went on to play Division III basketball for Bridgewater College before graduating this past spring.
The Blues will open their season at James River on Friday in Buchanan before playing host to Auburn on Monday, starting with JV action at 5:30 p.m. on both nights. Before the Blues start Pioneer District action, the highlight will be a holiday tournament at Alleghany High School in Covington next Friday and Saturday, Dec. 12 and 13. Other teams playing will be larger schools: Alleghany, Rocktown and Lord Botetourt.
“To be that early on in your schedule against teams of that quality, it’s just a great test to start your season,” said Kerr.
The Blues will begin Pioneer District action on Monday, Dec. 15, at Eastern Montgomery, starting with the JV game at 5:30 p.m.
