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