The Pioneer District basketball tournaments for both boys and girls are scheduled for next week, beginning Monday, February 17.
All games will be at home sites, with the higher seeds hosting. The tournaments begin on Monday with the top two teams getting a bye in the boys’ tournament while the third seed hosts the sixth seed and the fourth seed hosts the fifth. On Wednesday, February 19, the boys’ top seed with host the 4-5 winner and the second seed will host the 3-6 survivor.
The girls have just five teams, and the fourth seed will host the fifth on Monday while the top three gets byes. On Wednesday the 4-5 winner will play at the top seed and the second seed will host the third.
The championship games are scheduled for Friday, February 21, at the top remaining seeds. There will also be a consolation game with the highest seed involved hosting.
All single games will be scheduled for 6 pm. If there is a need for a doubleheader next Friday the games would be at 6 pm and 7:30 pm. Admission is eight dollars per night or $10 for a doubleheader. The top three teams in each tournament will advance to the Region 1C tournament the following week, with the regular season champ having the top seed for the region.
The Craig County girls come into the week with a 1-15 overall record. Their only game last week was a 70-10 loss at Narrows to the Green Wave, who remained undefeated in Pioneer District play. Narrows built a 46-2 lead by the half as sophomore Kailyn Jones, who played at Craig as a freshman, had 23 points, 16 rebounds and seven steals before sitting out the entire second half.
The girls were scheduled to play at Bath County Monday of this week and at home Friday against Parry McCluer for Senior Night.
The Craig boys were scheduled to have their Senior Night on Monday of this week against Bath County. Results were too late for publication but the Rockets were hoping to turn the tables on the Chargers after dropping a close one in Hot Springs.
“A game we can win if we put four quarters together like we are capable of,” said coach Ryan Frazier prior to the game. “We need to show mental toughness to bounce back and get the win.”
The boys come into the week at 0-20 after dropping two district games last week. They lost at home to Narrows, 64-39, after behind held to six points in the first half.
“We broke out with 19 points in the third but it wasn’t enough to get back in the game after being down at the break, 36-6,” said Frazier. “Turnovers were a huge factor in the game for us, and we can’t compete in these games when we give it away like we did.”
Luke Potter led Craig with 11 points and Jaycob Wolfe added eight.
On Thursday of last week the Rockets played at Smith Mountain Lake Christian Academy and dropped a non-district game, 61-39. Another slow start hurt the cause as Craig trailed the Ospreys 33-11 at the half.
“We again came out strong in the third and kept it up throughout the second half,” said Frazier. “We won the second half, 29-28.”
Wolfe was high scorer for the Rockets with 15 points and Potter had nine.
The Rockets had a scheduled game at home against the Covington Boys Home on Tuesday but that was in doubt with winter weather in the forecast. Craig is scheduled to go to Parry McCluer on Thursday.
