The Pulaski Co. boys basketball team was down two of their best players and battled to defeat the Blue Demons of Christiansburg, 61-57 in the Cougar Den. Starting point guard, Senior Josh Bourne, and Senior shooting guard Peyton McDaniel both were out due to injuries. Head coach Tyler Cannoy used different players at different positions and strategies to win the game.
The Cougars started out taking an early 10-5 lead and led 15-12 after the opening quarter. The game was tied at 28 with 2:40 before intermission and they would go on a 9-4 run to take a 37-32 advantage into halftime. The third quarter saw Senior J J Gulley hit four field goals and took a 50-44 margin into the final stanza.
Up 54-51 with 4:27 left in the contest, Coach Cannoy decided to pull Christiansburg out of their zone and spread the floor. It worked perfectly as they would find a mismatch on the floor and take advantage of those mismatches. Sophomore Lane Nester hit a huge shot, Kyle O’Neal would hit a couple of buckets, as Gulley hit a field goal and a free throw done the stretch to earn a hard-fought victory.
” I’m very proud of the guys tonight. It was a true team effort and win, ” said a pleased Cougar Coach Tyler Cannoy. ” We didn’t play well the last game against a zone and I decided to pull Christiansburg out of it down the stretch. My two best players were out tonight and every one of the guys stepped up. I can’t be any more proud of them.”
The Cougars improved to 3-0 on the young season, with two big games upcoming. They will travel to Radford, Friday and then to Patrick Henry, Tuesday, December 21.
The Cougar JV squad improved to 4-0 with an exciting come from behind 40-37 win over the Blue Demons. The young Cougars were led by Chandler Hollins with 14 points, and Jeremiah Turner chipped in with nine. The Demons got nine points from Mason King, and Max Bush finished with seven.
PC – 15 22 13 11- 61
C-burg 14 18 12 13- 57
PUL Co. – Gulley 22, Horton 4, Sutherland 4, Underwood 2, O’Neal 11, Nester 18
C-burg – Purcell 8, Moles 8, Taylor 18, Johnson-Buchannon 11, Evans 5, Calloway 3, Tuck 2. Gandee 2
FG’s – PC – 24, C-burg -25
FT’s – PC – 7-10, C-burg – 2-5
3-PT. Goals – PC – 6- ( Nester 4, O’Neal , Gulley), C-burg – 5-( Purcell 2, Callaway, Moles, Evans )
Total Fouls- PC – 8, C-burg -12
Fouled Out- None
Technicals- None
Jv – Won- PC 40-37