Craig County basktball coach John Looney may have coached his last game with the Rockets.

The Craig County native will sit out the final games of the regular season this week, and most likely the tournament.

Looney, a Craig County native and New Castle High graduate, was having an issue with his blood pressure and was advised not to coach by his doctor. John was planning to retire as coach after this season, so unless something unforeseen happens his days on the sidelines will end prematurely.

“The doctor said it wouldn’t be a good idea for me to get too excited,” said Looney.

Looney has served two stints as Craig County boys’ coach, and he has also coached the girls. He was named district and region Coach of the Year during his time coaching the Craig girls.

In his absence assistant coach Josh Burgess will be coaching the team. Burgess was on the bench last Friday as the Rockets dropped a 73-43 game to Eastern Montgomery in Elliston. Devyn Nichols led Craig with 13 points, followed by Wyatt McPherson with 11, Nick McMahan with eight and Gavin Campbell with seven points.

The boys also lost at Narrows last week, 54-22. Craig fell behind early and was never in the game after intermission. McMahan had two threes and finished with seven points to lead the Rockets.

The losses dropped Craig to 1-13 on the season with two games to go. The Rockets were scheduled to visit Parry McCluer on Tuesday, followed by a game at Radford next Monday night, February 13, to end the regular season.