Saturday, Jan. 3 -- The Rockbridge County High School girls basketball team held off a ferocious late rally from Parry McCluer to claim a 40-36 victory, while the Fighting Blues coasted to a 70-48 win over the Wildcats in the boys' matchup as the local rivals squared off for the second time in less than a week in Buena Vista.
In the girls' game, RC (4-6) built up a 36-24 lead in the fourth quarter and fended off the Fighting Blues (1-7) down the stretch. PM rallied to within four (40-36) on a basket from Josie Martinez with 1:07 to go, but the Blues missed out on several chances to pull even closer in the final minute.
Lola Mulitalo racked up 16 points and 19 rebounds to pace the Wildcats, who had beaten PM 50-30 in Lexington just five days earlier. Bella Dorey chipped in 12 markers for RC in Saturday's rematch. Martinez led the Blues with 11 points and 10 boards, while Emory Slagle finished with 10 points and nine rebounds.
The boys' contest did not provide the same drama, with PM (5-2) cruising to another lopsided victory after beating RC 71-38 earlier in the week. Langston Cook, who surpassed 1,000 career points in Monday's game, led all scorers with 22 points for the Blues on Saturday, while Nathan Glass had 12 markers and Jamier Jordan chipped in 10. Brayden Camden scored 15 points for the Wildcats (3-7).
Both PM squads will take on Auburn on Monday, with the girls traveling to Riner and the boys playing host to the Eagles. RC returns to Shenandoah District action on Tuesday, when the girls take on Wilson Memorial in Lexington and the boys travel to Fishersville for a matchup with the Green Hornets.
