Dublin… Can you say upset? Big, big win? The Pulaski Co. Cougar boys basketball defeated the visiting Cave Spring Knights 57-52 in the Cougar Den.
The Knights came into the Cougar Den with a 12-2 overall record and 7-0 in district play. The two teams played on December 15 with the Cougars losing 42-30 at Cave Spring. That score was a little misleading in that the Cougars were only down five going into final quarter. This time the Cougars were only down three at intermission and found themselves up 38-36 going into final quarter.
Cougar guards Isaac Poe and CC Grubb combined to score 41 points on the night. They scored 15 of the Cougars 19 in the all-important fourth quarter. Poe knocked in 23 points and Grubb 18. Poe hit six straight big foul shots late in the game to sew up the upset.
“We played great defense in the second half on Brody Hicks. Sean Spencer and Miguel Garcia just did a tremendous job on him. He had, what 15 points at intermission, and he ended up with 19 for the game,” said Cougar head coach Andrew Hart. ”Poe (Isaac) was a weapon for us in the final quarter at the free throw line. We go as they, Poe and Grubb goes,” added Coach Hart. He then added, “Its hard not being in school and playing. My hats off to our guys for the energy they showed tonight.”
Pulaski Co. had a big week as they not only knocked off previously undefeated (in the district) Cave Spring but also defeated Salem earlier in the week. The win improved the Cougars to 12-4 overall and 6-2 in district play. They have won four straight, all in the district.
Hicks led the Knights with 19 and 6’7” center Baker Havilland tossed in 12.
Up 49-43 with 2:13 to go in the game, the Knights, Havilland hit a short jumper and was fouled. He hit the foul shot to cut the Cougar margin to just three. After a Sean Spencer foul makes the Knights go to the line, the first of one and one was missed with 1:10 to go.
Poe would then hit six in a row from the charity stripe and Grubb connected on one of two to put the game into the win column, and the Cougars had knocked off the Knights.
The Cougar junior varsity wasn’t as fortunate as they got beat by the Cave Spring junior varsity 62-53. The Knights got 26 points from guard Dawson Hicks. Austin Reinhart led Pulaski Co. with 16, Alex Akers 13 and Julian Black tossed in 10 in a losing effort.
Pulaski will go on the road next week as they travel to Hidden Valley on Tuesday and to Blacksburg next Friday.
CS 10 16 10 16-52
PC 14 9 15 19-57
Scoring- CS- Daniels 5, Reyer 8, Hicks 19, Beckner 2, Havilland 12, Shannon 6
– PC- Poe 23, Grubb 18, Spencer 8, Garcia 4, Bradley 2. Blankenship 2
3 PT. GOALS- CS- 4-(Hicks 3, Reyer), PC- 7- (Grubb 4, Poe 3)
Fouls- CS- 21, PC- 17
Fouled Out- CS- Beckner, Furrow, PC- Bradley
Technicals- None