The Patrick County varsity boys’ basketball team closed out their season against the Glenvar Highlanders on February 12, falling 73-51.
The Highlanders came out from the opening tip playing a full-court press, which caused the Cougars trouble in stretches throughout the game. Early on, the Cougars kept the game within reach, despite Glenvar hitting multiple three-point shots in the first quarter. Turnovers cost Patrick County, allowing Glenvar to increase their lead late in the quarter to eight, 17-9.
The Highlander defensive pressure continued to cause turnovers, leading to a 7-0 run midway through the second quarter. In the last three minutes of the quarter, the Cougars found success against the full-court pressure, pushing the ball down court and holding the Highlander lead to 12 going into halftime at 33-21.
The Cougars showed flashes in the second half, including an 8-0 run in the middle of the third, causing several turnovers and converting them into points while closing the Glenvar lead to nine. Glenvar’s defensive pressure and ability to hit three-pointers kept Patrick County from closing the gap and further. The Cougars fought back to a ten-point deficit with 3:00 to go in the game, but a 6-0 Glenvar run shut the door on the Cougars comeback.
“Our margin of error is so thin,” said Cougar Head Coach Brian Chitwood. “We’re playing stretches and then in moments we have far too many turnovers.”
Despite the Highlander’s game long, full court pressure causing turnovers, Coach Chitwood liked the effort he saw from his team.
“That’s the learning curve. Our guys played their hearts out. We’re working. It’s just situational basketball and sometimes we don’t understand, and that’s my fault. That’s not theirs,” he said, “but it’s something that takes time, and I promise you, we’re working on it. They’re going to get there. That’s a great group of kids. They do their best to do what I’m asking them to do.”
Looking ahead to next season, the Cougars will have nine juniors returning to the roster.
“That’s a huge nucleus of guys that have a whole years’ playing experience, and we’ll be better as a result of that. We’ve got a very rigorous offseason planned that’s about to go into place and our guys are going to continue to work,” said Chitwood, “and we’re going to get better.”
