In a hard-fought battle, the Parry McCluer High School boys basketball season came to a close with a 67-61 loss to Patrick Henry-Glade Spring in the Class 1 state quarterfinals on Tuesday night at Virginia High School in Bristol.
Patrick Henry (24-3), the Region 1D champion, overcame a 50-45 deficit at the start of the fourth quarter to defeat the Fighting Blues (22-5), the Region 1C runners-up.
The Rebels, who ended PM’s season in the state quarterfinals by defeating the Blues 84-60, were in for much more of a challenge this time and were trailing by double digits at one point in the fourth quarter. However, Patrick Henry came through with some big shots, stops and free throws to come back and put the game away.
Junior guard Langston Cook, PM’s all-time leading scorer, led the Blues with 25 points.
In the state semifinals on Friday, Patrick Henry will face Fort Chiswell.
PM had a remarkable season this winter, winning its third consecutive Pioneer District regular-season and tournament titles and making it to the Region 1C championship game before falling to Fort Chiswell 76-74 last Saturday in Pulaski County.
The Blues will miss their three seniors: forwards Nathan Glass, Sam Griffin and Landon Orren.
For the full story and photos from the state quarterfinals, please see our March 11 newspaper. The stories and photos from the regional tournament, as well as PM’s all-district selections, will be in this Wednesday’s newspaper.
