By RODNEY YOUNG
NRVSports.net
Fort Chiswell and Parry McCluer met for the Class 1 Region C title at Pulaski County High School Saturday afternoon. The Pioneers came out on top of a thriller, 76-74, to win the championship.
The game was back and forth, with the Fighting Blues up 15-14 at the end of the opening quarter over the Pioneers.
Fort Chiswell would outscore the Fighting Blues 20-17 in the second quarter to take a 34-32 lead into intermission.
The two teams would both score 21 points in the third, with the Pioneers leading 55-53. At one point in the third quarter, Fort Chiswell went up 46-36 only to see that lead dwindle by the end of the quarter.
The two teams would battle in the fourth quarter with the lead changing hands five times. The two teams exchanged the lead eight times total.
Fort Chiswell, clinging to a 69-68 lead, would take a three-point lead as point guard Kenton Sutphin would hit two free throws to go up 71-68 with 1:36 to go. They would get a stop on defense, and Jesse Ayers stroked a bucket from the corner to go up 73-68. It was his second big bucket in the last two minutes to keep the Pioneers ahead.
Parry McCluer would get a huge three-pointer from Sam Griffin to cut the deficit to two, 73-71, with 55 seconds remaining. It was his only score of the game.
Holding onto the ball and getting fouled, Sutphin would shoot two foul shots, making both to make it 75-71. However, Parry McCluer’s Langton Cook would hit a bucket-and-one to make the score 75-74, with nineteen seconds on the clock.
Sutphin would be fouled again with 6.4 to go. He would hit the first but missed the second for a 76-74 score.
Parry McCluer (22-4) would get to half court, call a timeout with 4.2 to go. The ball was ready to be put back in play, as Fort Chiswell would use its last timeout.
The Fighting Blues would inbound the ball and drive to the basket, as Cook’s shot would be from point-blank range, but the ball would roll off the rim as the horn sounded to end the game.
” We were fortunate there at the end,” said Pioneer head coach Derrick Jackson. “This was a heck of a game. We’ve been a team all season where somebody steps up when someone else struggles. Jesse Ayers hit two big jumpers there late in the game for us. I’m proud of the team and our guys.” He then added, “We may see them again.”
Fort Chiswell (22-5) was led in scoring by Owen Jackson’s 26 points, Kenton Sutphin’s 18, Landon Eversole’s 11 and Jesse Ayers 10 points.
Parry McCluer got a game-high 34 points from junior Langston Cook, and Nathan Glass chipped in with 20.
The Pioneers will host on Tuesday, March 3, facing either Twin Springs or Patrick Henry -Glade Spring. Time and place to be announced.
FC – 14 20 21 21- 76
PM – 15 17 21 21- 74
Scoring – FC – Jackson 26, Sutphin 18, L.Eversole 11, Ayers 10, E. Eversole 6, Crockett 3, Armbrister 2, PM – Cook 34, Glass 20, Rosser 10, Jordan 7, Griffin 3
3-PT. Goals– FC – 10 ( L. Eversole 3, Sutphin 3, Ayers 2, Crockett, Jackson), PM – 5 ( Rosser 2, Cook, Jordan, Griffin)
Total FG’s – FC – 23, PM – 30
FT’s – FC – 20-27, PM – 9-12
Total Fouls– FC – 18, PM – 22
Fouled Out– PM – Snider
Technicals– PM -Cook
