Jesse Brizendine drives to the basket at a recent game.
The Craig County boys’ basketball team will play three games this week as they prepare for the Pioneer District tournament. The Pioneer tournament will be held next week, and opponents have yet to be determined.
Craig will be at Parry McCluer tonight, Wednesday, for a Pioneer District game, then play a home-and-home with Narrows, the newest member of the district. The Rockets will host the Green Wave on Thursday and play at Narrows on Saturday. Thursday’s game is a 6 pm jayvee start, followed by the varsity game, and on Saturday the jayvees will play at 1 pm with the varsity to follow.
The Rockets come into the week at 3-14 overall with a 3-4 record in the district. Last week they split home games against Pioneer opponents, defeating Eastern Montgomery but falling to Bath County.
Last Thursday in New Castle the Rockets beat East Mont, 46-43. Craig trailed 24-15 at the half but outscored the Mustangs 31-19 after intermission to pull out the win. The Rockets won the fourth quarter 19-8 to blow by their guests.
Dalton McPherson led the team with 12 points while Wyatt McPherson had 10 points and 14 rebounds. Devin Hutchison had 11 points, including a big three pointer late in the game. With the win Craig swept the season series with East Mont.
Dalton McPherson takes a shot from the top of the key.
On Saturday at home the Rockets dropped a 52-49 game to visiting Bath County. This was just the opposite of the East Mont game, as Craig jumped to the early lead before the Chargers came from behind.
“We had a six point lead at the half but we couldn’t maintain it,” said coach Ryan Frazier. “We had some chances at the end but we couldn’t pull it out.”
Wyatt McPherson led Craig with 15 points and Noah Nichols had nine points and 10 rebounds.
The jayvee team lost to Bath in the closing seconds, 38-35. Brison Taylor was the best leader and Brayden Frango was most improved. Dylan Crawford had 10 points to lead the jayvees and Taylor had nine.