PMGirlsFallInOpener
Blues’ Offense Struggles In Home Defeat To Auburn
The Parry McCluer High School girls basketball team dropped its season opener to Auburn, falling 47-21 in Buena Vista last Wednesday.
Kaylen Mitcham notched game-highs of 12 points and three assists to pace the Eagles (2-0). Carli Christian and Ariel Mullins scored 10 points apiece for Auburn, and Johnnie Gaynor tallied seven points and 12 rebounds.
Emory Slagle led the Fighting Blues with six points, while Kat Zissi and Caroline Watts each chipped in five markers. Josie Martinez had four points and a team-high seven rebounds, and PM got two assists apiece from Slagle, Watts and Patience Hill.
“Defensively, we played pretty well in the first half,” PM head coach Adam Gilbert said. “We just struggled to score the basketball, plain and simple. We got good looks at times, and we just weren’t able to capitalize.”
The Eagles started the game with a 7-0 run, assuming a lead that they would never relinquish. Following a timeout, the Blues finally got on the board on a set play, with Zissi cutting to the rim for a layup at the 1:07 mark. Auburn led 7-2 at the end of the opening period.
PM started to find a little offensive rhythm in the second quarter, and two early hoops from Martinez pulled the Blues to within 9-6 with 5:46 to go. Slagle would score a pair of baskets later in the frame, but 3-pointers from Autumn Rorrer, Mitcham and Christian helped send the Eagles into halftime up 21-12.
The PM offense went cold again in the third quarter, and a 10-0 stretch from Auburn pushed the margin to 31-12 and effectively put the game out of reach.
“We were within striking distance at the end of the first half,” Gilbert said. “Third quarter, they just kind of came out and went on a little run, and we just couldn’t recover from that.”
In addition to neutralizing the PM offense, Auburn held a 43-27 advantage on the glass, getting seven boards from Kennedy Marshall and six from Ava Marrs. The Eagles also won the turnover battle 21-14.
With just one returning senior, Kayleigh Ramsey, and five underclassmen on an eight-player varsity roster, the Blues can expect some growing pains early in the season. But PM still showed some promising flashes in Wednesday’s game, especially in the first half.
“This group, they’ve got some potential,” Gilbert said. “They’re just young, a little inexperienced. The more game reps they get under their belts, hopefully the better they’ll be.”
PM’s Friday contest at Riverheads was postponed due to inclement weather. The game was rescheduled for Saturday, Dec. 20, at 6 p.m. The Blues will take on the Gladiators at 6 p.m. tonight, Wednesday, in Buena Vista.
The Blues will start next week with a home game against James River on Tuesday at 6 p.m. They’re slated to play host for the 11th annual Jaden Baker Tournament on Friday and Saturday. The tournament honors the memory of Buena Vista native Jaden Baker, an 8-year-old who died in a car accident in 2013.For the tournament schedule and results, visit www.thenewsgazette. com.
WHILE CLOSELY guarded, PM junior guard Emory Slagle looks for an open teammate. Slagle led the Blues with six points. (Ronnie Coffey photo)
FIGHTING BLUE sophomore forward Josie Martinez (right) tries to box out Auburn’s Autumn Rorrer for a rebound. Martinez led PM with seven rebounds and scored four points. (Ronnie Coffey photo)
