PM Boys Win 14th Straight, Improve to 6-0 In Pioneer
The Parry McCluer High School boys basketball team cruised to a 67-40 home win over Pioneer District rival Eastern Montgomery on Friday, Jan. 23 in Buena Vista.
It was the 14th consecutive victory for the Fighting Blues (14-2 overall, 6-0 district), who had beaten the Mustangs 75-51 on Dec. 15 in Elliston.
The Blues took an early lead over the Mustangs (8-8, 4-3) in the first quarter, going up 16-8 after baskets from Nathan Glass and Quentin Rosser. The Mustangs keyed in on Langston Cook, PM’s leading scorer. “Eastmont started the game in a box and one against Langston, and even with that he was patient,” said PM head coach Tyler Kerr, who praised Rosser for attacking the paint early and often.
PM outscored the Mustangs 15-8 in the second quarter to take a 31-14 lead at halftime. Kerr said the Blues “weathered the storm” throughout the first half. “EastMont does an outstanding job of sending people to the glass and being relentless from that,” he said. Even so, Glass pulled down four of his eight rebounds in the second quarter.
The Blues maintained their lead in the third quarter behind five points from Cook. Kerr gave credit to Rosser for finding open teammates for eight assists, mainly in the third quarter. “I was very proud of how he handled the game, with Eastmont trying to cut into Langston’s touches,” said Kerr.
In the final quarter, the Blues outscored the Mustangs 14–9. Cook led the Blues with 21 points and had four rebounds and three steals. Rosser scored eight points while grabbing five rebounds and two steals.
All three of the Blues’ games that were scheduled for last week were postponed due to Winter Storm Fern and its aftermath. The Blues were slated to play at Narrows last night and will continue district action at home against Bath County on Thursday, with the varsity game only at 5:30 p.m., preceding the 7 p.m. varsity girls’ game between the two schools. On Saturday, the Blues will face Floyd County in an invitational at Salem High School.
PM will start next week at home against district rival Highland County, with the 7 p.m. varsity boys’ game following the 5:30 p.m. girls’ game. Before the boys’ game, the Blues will honor their three seniors: Glass, Sam Griffin and Landon Orren.
ABOVE, PM junior guard Jamier Jordan looks for an open teammate while guarded by an Eastern Montgomery player. AT RIGHT, Fighting Blue senior forward Sam Griffin dribbles down the court while a Mustang tries to take the ball from him. BELOW, PM junior guard Langston Cook takes the ball toward the basket. Cook led the Blues with 21 points and grabbed four rebounds and three steals. (Ronnie Coffey photos)
