Big doubleheader at Highland tonight for Craig County basketball teams
NEW CASTLE – The Craig County High School basketball teams will be playing a doubleheader at Highland County tonight and home games in the Pioneer District tournament are on the line.
Both the Craig County boys and girls have a chance to earn first round home games if they win at Highland tonight. Both teams can move into fourth place in the Pioneer with victories over Highland, and that would give the girls a shot at a home game on Monday when the Pioneer District tournament begins, and the boys would have a home game Tuesday with a win over over Highland. The girls would still have to wait to see how some other games unfold, but the boys would definitely be home with a win tonight according to coach CJ Crowder.
Caitlin Bellassai looks inside for the Rockets.
Both teams beat Highland last week at home, so there’s a good chance of that happening. The girls opened last week’s doubleheader in Craig with a 57-22 win over the Rams. Craig jumped off to a 30-12 halftime lead and coasted to the win. The Rockets had four players in double figures as Melia Hutton had 14, Anna Smith had 11, and both Jordan Persinger and Caitlin Bellassai hit for 10 points.
In the nightcap the boys took a 46-41 win over Highland. The game was a little closer than coach Crowder was hoping for as Highland, who is winless in the district, led 10-9 after one quarter. The Rockets led by just one point, 19-18, at the half before coming out with a strong third quarter to take a 37-28 lead after three. The Rams outscored Craig in the fourth but the Rockets were able to hang on to the win.
“We didn’t play real well,” said Crowder. “I’m hoping we play much better at Highland this week.”
Derek Persinger had 16 points to lead the Rockets and Andy McCarty had 14 points and 10 rebounds.
On Thursday the boys were at Bath and dropped a 71-36 decision to a team they beat in New Castle. It was a little close than the final score indicated as Bath outscored the Rockets, 32-7, in the fourth quarter to break it wide open.
“We turned the ball over too often,” said Crowder.
Persinger had 13 points and Zach Towers had 10 for the Rockets.
The girls lost to Bath County Friday. No details were reported. The girls were at Narrows Monday but results were too late for publication. Likewise, Tuesday the Rockets were scheduled to play a varsity doubleheader at home with Parkway Christian.
Tonight’s doubleheader will end the regular season. The boys came into the week at 3-15 overall and the girls were 5-9. A girls game with Roanoke Valley Christian scheduled for Friday has been cancelled.
