Blues Drop Craig, Avenging Earlier Loss
The Parry McCluer High School girls basketball team picked up two Pioneer District road wins last week, routing Highland County and avenging an earlier defeat to Craig County.
The Fighting Blues also dropped a close nondistrict game at Auburn last Monday, capping the week at 2-1 in the Pioneer District and 3-8 overall.
On Thursday, PM bested the Rockets 56-40 in New Castle. Emory Slagle led the way with 14 points and five assists, knocking down 4-of-8 threepoint attempts. Josie Martinez tallied 12 points, nine rebounds and five assists, and Kayleigh Ramsey also scored 12 points.
Emily Smith posted gamehighs of 28 points and 10 rebounds for Craig (2-4 overall, 0-3 district).
“I thought we were pretty consistent in all phases of the game,” said PM head coach Adam Gilbert, whose team had fallen 46-37 to Craig in a nondistrict meeting in the Jaden Baker Tournament in Buena Vista on Dec. 13.
“This was one of our more complete games that we have put together so far this season,” Gilbert added. “We are a much better team now than we were when we played them in December, and that’s because of this group’s desire to become better.” Caroline Watts chipped in seven points for PM. Kat Zissi had six points for the Blues, and Patience Hill notched five points and five assists.
PM 56, HC 20
PM cruised past Highland 56-20 in Monterey on Tuesday of last week.
Ramsey recorded 19 points, seven rebounds and four assists for the Blues. Martinez had 14 points and six rebounds, and Hill finished with seven points and seven boards. PM also scored 30 points off of a whopping 44 turnovers from the Rams (2-5, 0-2).
Auburn 45, PM 42
The Blues opened the week with a 45-42 loss to Auburn down in Riner last Monday.
Ramsey scored a gamehigh 22 points, while Martinez added seven points and seven rebounds for PM. Although the Blues came up short, they narrowed the gap after falling 47-21 at home to the Eagles in their season opener back on Dec. 3.
Carli Christian led Auburn (6-4) with 15 points in Monday’s rematch, while Ariel Mullins had nine points and Kaylen Mitcham chipped in eight markers.
PM was slated to play host to Pioneer foe Narrows last night, and the Blues will play a district game at Bath County on Thursday before traveling for a nondistrict game at Smith Mountain Lake Christian Academy on Monday, starting at 5:30 p.m. on both nights.
