Salem…Is practice overrated? The Cougars hadn’t practiced for a couple days, but they started the game on fire as they opened a 21-6 lead after the opening quarter. They went on to defeat Salem at Salem 74-60.
Senior CC Grubb not only scored a game and team-high 32 points he tallied his 1,000 career point as he did a driving layup early in the third quarter. He and the Cougars also benefited greatly from senior point guard Logan Robertson as he pumped in 29. Grubb and Robertson outscored the Spartans by themselves 61-60.
Salem placed four players into double figures as Isaiah Donaldson paced them with 16. Chance Staples and Alex Blanchard both had 12. Josh Bryan assisted with 11 for the Spartans.
The Cougars (8 -5) took a commanding 32-15 lead into intermission and were up 50-28 going into the final stanza.
The Spartans would then go on a 21-7 run to cut their deficit to eight (57-49) with 3:48 left in the game. The Cougars would regain their footing as they went on their own run of an 11-2 run to go up 68-51 to put the game away. The Cougars committed 17 turnovers in the second half that helped the Spartans get back into the game.
“I thought the first half was the best overall half we have played this season,” said Cougar head coach Andrew Hart. “I thought late in the third and early fourth quarter we got a little rattled after they made some shots and cut into our double-digit lead.” Coach then added, ”The two guys that were guarded the hardest were the two that scored for us. Grubb (CC) and Logan (Robertson) were outstanding on the offensive end and they outscored the Salem team. I was happy to see CC score his 1,000th point tonight. We lost some concentration after they made some shots there in the early fourth quarter.”
The Cougar junior varsity improved to 10-2 on the season as AJ McCloud scored 11 points, Hayden Gray pumped in 10 as they defeated the Spartans 48-35. The Cougars also got eight points from Dillon Porter and five apiece from Chris Hay and Luke Russell. The Spartans got 11 points from Lewis Ramsey.
Pulaski Co. is back in action tonight (Friday) as they host the Christiansburg Blue Demons in the Cougar Den. Junior varsity tips at 5:30 with the varsity tipping around 7:00 pm.
Pul. Co. 21 11 18 24 -74
Salem 6 9 13 32 – 60
Pul. Co. (8-5) – C C Grubb 32, Robertson 29 , D. Grubb 6, Poe 6, Akers 5
Salem – Donaldson 16, Staples 12, Blanchard 12, Bryan 11, Conner 7, Firebaugh 2
3- Pt. Goals – Pul Co. – 7 – (Robertson 3, Grubb 3, Akers), Salem – 2 – (Conner 2)
Total FGs – Pul. Co. – 25, Salem -23
FTs – Pul. Co. – 15 of 27, Salem 12 of 21
Total Fouls – Pul Co.- 16, Salem 17
Technicals- Pul Co. – Bench