Blues Claim Third Straight Pioneer Tourney Title
Surviving a back-and-forth battle, the Parry McCluer High School boys basketball team overcame Pioneer District rival Narrows 55-54 to win its third consecutive Pioneer District tournament championship on Friday night in Buena Vista.
The win came two days after the top-seeded Fighting Blues (20-3 overall, 10-0 district) coasted to a 92-29 home win over Bath County in the district quarterfinals.
The Blues were scheduled to play host to George Wythe yesterday in the Region 1C quarterfinals. For the result, visit www.thenewsgazette. com, and see next week’s newspaper for the full story and photos from the regional tournament.
In front of a packed gym on Friday night, the Blues opened the scoring against second-seeded Narrows (14-7, 6-3), with Quentin Rosser making a steal off the Green Wave inbounds pass and scoring.
Once the game settled, with PM leading 4-3, Narrows played a compact defensive style, blocking passes in the paint to force longer shots. Rosser and Langston Cook were up for the job, and scored three consecutive 3-pointers to give the Blues a 13-10 lead. Cook made two more threes in the first quarter, four in total, and the Blues led 19-15. Elijah Knoetze of Narrows hit three 3-pointers in the first quarter.
The Green Wave’s second-team all-district guard, Sam McGlothlin, traded baskets with Cook to open the second quarter. With PM leading 21-19, McGlothlin was fouled off a 3-point attempt and made two free throws to tie the game. Narrows took their first lead of the game when McGlothlin and Knoetze knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers, making the score 27-26. At the end of the first half, McGlothlin scored his 12th point, and Narrows led 31-30.
On his team trailing for the first time at halftime against a district opponent this season, PM head coach Tyler Kerr said, “Championship teams, when things aren’t going your way, you’ve got to weather the storm.”
Kerr also gave credit to the Green Wave’s game plan. “They put five guys in the paint, played the stats game and tried to work against our shots,” he said.
The Blues and Green Wave traded three lead changes to start the third quarter, with the Blues taking the first from Nathan Glass free throws, and Narrows’ Cooper Helvey shooting a three. Cook completed a three-point play to put the Blues back on top at 38-37. Glass ended the quarter with a layup, a dunk and free throws, and the Blues led 45-41 going into the fourth quarter.
“Nathan Glass took over in the second half,” said Kerr. “He got every rebound that we needed and made every shot that we needed.”
The final frame started with a scoring drought that continued until late into the game. In the final minute, with PM milking the clock, Mc-Glothlin stole the ball for Narrows and found Helvey for a quick basket to make the game 53-51. A Rosser free throw gave the Blues a 54-51 advantage with six seconds to go.
PM SENIOR forward Nathan Glass goes to the floor for the ball while junior guard Parker Snider (2) approaches to help. Glass scored 11 points and grabbed 14 rebounds and five steals. (Ronnie Coffey photo)
FIGHTING BLUE junior guard Langston Cook, the Pioneer District player of the year, is honored by teammates, coaches and fans for breaking PM’s career scoring record. (Ronnie Coffey photo)
Helvey made a fadeaway 3-pointer from the top of the arc to tie the game, 54-54. On the following inbound play, Cook was fouled while turning up the court. Cook, the Pioneer District player of the year, scored the second of his two free throws to seal the win for the Blues.
Cook led the Blues with 33 points, while Glass scored 11 points and grabbed 14 rebounds and five steals, while Rosser chipped in nine points.
Reviewing the game, Kerr said, “That was the type of game we needed and is going to help us in the playoffs. We needed a tight contest, and to have to find a way to win in front of our home crowd.”
Praising Narrows, Kerr said, “That’s the type of game I expected from Narrows. The way they played tonight is what I always expect from them. They have super athletes and are well coached.”
PM 92, BC 29,
In the semifinals on Tuesday of last week, the Blues cruised to a 92-29 home win over fifth-seeded Bath County (5-15, 3-7).
The Blues started the game with their back-court press to to force turnovers and score easy baskets. They jumped out to a 25-6 lead after the first quarter.
“It’s a big emphasis for us to get into passing lanes, apply ball pressure and be disruptive,” said Kerr, “The amount of deflections we had this game is off the charts, and that leads to steals and more buckets.”
PM’s dominance continued well into the second quarter of play, as they outscored Bath 28-8. Cook took over the quarter, scoring 14 of his game-high 26 points. PM led 53-14 at halftime.
Also scoring in double figures for the Blues were Glass with15 points, Jamier Jordan with 14, and Brody Coleman with 13.
The third quarter started with PM going on an 8-0 run, helped along by Glass and Coleman. Coleman made a three-point play after he was fouled at the basket, and made his free throw, to extend PM’s lead to 80-23 at the end of the third quarter.
Kerr spoke of the benefits of the squad’s current rotation. “We have a good eight-man rotation going on right now, with Parker [Snider], Kyle [Smals] and Brody coming off the bench,” said Kerr. “It really keeps everyone’s legs fresh throughout the game, and keeps that defensive intensity high.”
The Blues played mostly reserves in the final quarter.
