Roanoke…The Pulaski Co. Cougar boys basketball team traveled to Cave Spring and lost their first game of the season 42-30. The Cougars had lots of open looks at the basket, but their shots just wouldn’t fall. They played well enough defensively as they held the tall and rangy Knights within striking distance.

The Knights got 13 points from Brody Hicks and nine from Jared Steele. The shortest Cave Spring starter is taller than any starter for the Cougars.

Pulaski Co. (4-1) started out well as they led 12-10 after the first quarter but a tough shooting second quarter saw them get outscored 15-5 as they went into intermission down 25-17. The second half saw the two teams having trouble putting the ball in the hoop. It was a physical game with both teams battling for loose balls and neither team giving an inch. The Cougars got eight points each from CC Grubb and Jesus Hickman.

The Cougars found themselves down 29-24 going into the last quarter. They had gone over two and a half minutes late in the third without a point. They then went the first four minutes of the final period without a point which put them down by nine points. Isaac Poe finally hit a bucket with just four minutes left in the game to pull them back to 33-26.

They then had to start fouling the last couple minutes, and the Knights would hit five of six foul shots to expand on their lead for the win.

“We played well defensively tonight,” said Cougar coach Andrew Hart. “Cave Spring’s length bothered us, and at times we rushed some shots.“

Coach then added, ”We had some great looks and chances, but the ball wouldn’t go in the hoop. Once again, they affected our shots. They are one of the best teams on our schedule. I think we can use this game as a barometer for where we stand in this early part of the season. I am happy about how we battled them.”

The young Knights trampled the Cougar junior varsity, 52-25. Dawson Hicks led the Knights with 10 points. Pulaski Co JV (1-4) got 11 points from Kellen Dalton, four apiece from Austin Reinhardt and Jarius Miller. Kohl Hedge, Jaylin Nowlin and Julian Black contributed two points each.

Pulaski Co. will get back into action this Friday as they play in the Cougar Den hosting the Titans of Hidden Valley. Junior varsity tips at 5:30 and the varsity around 7pm.

PC- 12 5 7 6 – 30

CS – 10 15 4 13-42

PC- Grubb 8, Hickman 8, Spencer 3, Poe 5, Garcia 6

CS- Hicks 13, Steele 9, Shannon 6, Havilland 4, Furrow 3, Beckner 4,

Reyer 2, Daniels 1

Dublin.. The Cougar girls improved to 4-2 with a hard fought win over the Lady Bengals 49-47.

The Bengals up 37-32 with six minutes remaining looked like they were in the drivers’ seat but the Cougars cut the margin in half and then tied the game up 42 all with three minutes to go ,on a three point old fashion way.by Alexis Phillips.. She then hit another bucket to put them up with 1:40 remaining and that lead would hold up for young Lady Cougars. Amiah Stables hit one of two free throws at the 45 second mark to make it 45-43.

The Bengals would tie the game at 45 on Tiasia Dillard two free throws with 39 seconds to go. Stables would hit a layup and then Phillips would draw a charge to put the game away.

The Bengals were led by Dillard with 15 points and got help from Jasmine Tinsley and Ashlee Turner , both had nine points each.

The Lady Cougars got 13 points from Taylor Dickerson. Savannah Coffey had eight, Phillips and Helen Counts both contributed six points apiece. Stables ans Tyanna Haynes both had five.

The Lady Cougars will play next Tuesday in the Cougar Den versus Cave Spring. JV starts at 5:30 and varsity at 7 pm.

Bassett… The Cougar boys basketball team went down to Southside Virginia and toppled the Bassett Bengals 61-37. Their impressive play improved their early season record to 4-0. They had three guys in double figures and a fourth just missed it.

Pulaski Co. jump out to an 11-4 score after the opening quarter and never looked back. Sophomore CC Grubb had a team and game high 17 points. Senior Isaac Poe had 13 and Sean Spencer contributed 11 coming off the bench. Bryan Roberson also gave the Cougars a spark from the bench as he tallied nine. Senior Hesus Hickman led the squad in rebounding and he chipped in with six points.

Bassett’s leading scorer was 6-5 center Bryce Varner who had nine points. Try Wimpish and Seven Ziegler both had six points apiece. Trevon Simon finished the contest with five.

The Cougars led 25-9 at halftime and stretched that to 47-24 after the third quarter. Coach Hart then played his reserves for most of the fourth quarter for their four straight victories.

“ We played them (Bassett) using a 2-3 zone and it seemed to bother them and they didn’t make shots. I thought we played well on defense and offense, remarked Cougar head coach Andrew Hart. He then added,” I thought Grubb, Poe, Hickman and Garcia all played well. Sean (Spencer) and Bryan (Roberson) did good things for us as well. Our defense forced them into lot of turnovers.”

Pulaski Co. junior varsity lost a heartbreaker, 44-42 to the Bengals of Bassett. Alex Akers led them in a losing effort with 13 points.

The Cougars will stay on the road as they travel to Roanoke Tuesday night to take on the Cave Spring Knights. JV tips at 5:30 and varsity at around 7 pm.

PC 11 14 22 14-61

B 6 3 15 13-37

Scoring- PC- Grubb 17, Poe 13, Spencer-11, Roberson 9, Hickman 6, Garcia 3, Blevins 2

– B – Varner 9, Wimpish 6, Ziegler 6, Simon 5, Jones 4, Akers 2, Parker 2 Hairston 3

3- Pt. Goals- PC- 9-( Grubb 3, Spencer 3, Roberson 2, Poe)

B – 2- ( Varner, Hairston)

Fouls- PC- 20,-B- 20

Fouled Out- None

Technicals- B- Ziegler