Vinton…Playing a team three times in a season can be difficult, especially when you have already beaten them twice. It’s when you beat them that counts though as the Pulaski Co. Cougars traveled to William Byrd and lost 53-44 in a Conference 24 semifinal game that would lead to a regional berth. A loss meant the end of the season.

Pulaski Co. played well enough on the defensive end, but the offensive struggled mightily. The only Cougar to hit double figures was CC Grubb with 18 points. That not only led the Cougars but was also a game high. It simply wasn’t enough as they went four minutes in the second quarter without a point and found themselves down 29-19 at intermission.

Down 40-33 going into the final period the Cougars fought back to within two, 42-40 with six minutes left in the game. They came down the court and missed two shots that could have tied the contest. They went five minutes without a score. By this time the Terriers (15-8) had built a 48-40 advantage with just 1:05 left in the game.

Devon Kasey and Jaylen Wheeler both led William Byrd with nine points. Terrell Smith came off the bench to toss in eight. Alex Fitch had seven.

After Grubb’s 18, the next Cougar was Bryan Roberson with nine points. Logan Robertson finished with six and Bryant Grubb had five.

“We didn’t play good enough offensive to win the game,” said a dejected Cougar head coach Andrew Hart. “The two wins we had against them we made plays and they didn’t; tonight they made plays and we didn’t. I thought we played well enough on defense but you can’t go on the couple of scoring droughts we had tonight and expect to win.” He then added, ”I don’t know if it was the excitement or moment of the game but we just didn’t put the ball in the basket. We definitely picked the wrong game not to play well enough on offense. We also didn’t play smart.”

The win sends William Byrd into the Conference 24 Championship and a regional berth. The Cougars season comes to a close as they finish with a 14-10 mark. Coach Hart did a magnificent job with a team that was very inconsistent most of the season and a team that had road woes. They finished 4-8 on the road and went 10-2 at home. They played four overtime games winning two and losing two. They lost some games that they probably should have won. They won some games they should have lost. It was an up and down ride but this team did compete and didn’t give up. They also lost four players fairly early in the season but the guys that remained didn’t quit.

 

 

PC 7 12 14 11-44

WB 12 17 11 13-53

 

PC- (14-10) – C Grubb 18, B. Grubb 5, Roberson 9, Robertson 6, Blankenship 2, Blevins 2, Reinhardt 2

 

WB- (15-8)- Kasey 9, Wheeler 9, Watson 6, Johnson 3, Fitch 7, Smith 8, Williams 6, Olsen 5

 

3-PT. Goals – PC- 6- (C Grubb 3, Robertson 2, Roberson), WB- 5-(Smith 2, Olsen, Fitch, Wheeler)

 

FT’s – PC – 4 of 8, WB – 8 of 12

 

Fouls – PC- 15, WB- 10

 

Fouled Out – PC- B. Grubb, WB- Olsen

 

Technicals- PC- B. Grubb

 

 

Dublin…Playing each other just this past Friday in the Cougar Den, the Cougars won again over the Salem Spartans 70-54. The win for the Cougars means they will advance to the Conference 24 semifinals and will travel to Vinton Wednesday night.

Pulaski Co. (14-9) had a very even performance, scoring wise as they placed four players in double figures and a fifth player with eight points.

Bryant Grubb came off the bench to lead them the scoring with 17 points. Bryan Roberson knocked down three three’s and finished with 16. C C Grubb and Logan Robertson both had 13 points each as they combined for four three pointers. Braeden Blevins knocked in two three’s and had eight points.

Salem (4-19) was led by Baylor Mabes with a game high 19 points, as he knocked down four- three pointers. Shane Simpson contributed 15 in a losing cause.

The Cougars led for most of the game after the first four minutes. They led 16-12 after one quarter and 34-26 at intermission. Leading 55-47 going into the final period they outscored Salem 15-7 to put the game into the “W” column.

“I thought we moved the ball much better tonight against their defense,” said Andrew Hart, Cougars head coach. “ We had different guys that stepped up. Four guys in double figures and another just under is good. It was kind of hard to prepare for this game after just facing them Friday. I thought they change some things. We definitely played better and moved the ball here tonight.” When asked about facing William Byrd for the third time Coach Hart remarked,” They say its hard to beat some one three times. I look like it as a coin flip. If you call heads and its heads, there’s a 50-50 chance the next flip will be tails. We just have to Vinton and play hard and see what happens.”

The Cougars put the game away late in the third, early fourth as they went on a 17-6 run.

Pulaski Co. will travel to William Byrd Wednesday night in the Conference 24 semifinal game. The Cougars have beaten the Terriers both times in the regular season. Defeated them 48-45 in the Cougar Den back on January 25th and also 65-57 at Vinton. Both games went down to the last couple minutes and the winner of this game will advance to Regional play next week and the loser’s season if over. The game at William Byrd Wednesday will tip at 7 pm.

PC 16 18 21 15-70

Salem 12 14 21 7 -54

PC- (14-9)- B.Grubb 17, Roberson 16, C. Grubb 13, Robertson 13, Blevins 8,

Redd 2, Blankenship 1

Salem – (4-19)- Mabes 19, Donaldson 8, Simpson 15, Austin 5, Tucker 4, Conner 3

3-PT. Goals- PC- 9- (Robertson, 3, Roberson 3, Blevins 2, C.Grubb), Salem – 6- (Mabes 4, Austin, Conner)

FT’S – PC- 9 of 12, Salem – 10 of 22

Fouls – PC- 14, Salem – 13

Fouled Out – None

Technicals – None

Monday Feb. 13

6 – Salem( 4-18) at 3 – Pulaski Co. (13-9) – 7 pm

5- Bassett ( 7-15) at 4 – Carroll Co. (9-13) – 6 pm

Wed. Feb. 15- SEMIFINALS

Salem / Pulaski Co. winner at 2- Wm.Byrd ( 14-8)

Bassett/Carroll Co. winner at 1- Wm. Fleming ( 17-5)

Thurs. Feb. 16- FINALS

Championship at highest seed