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PHS, South boys meet again

Patriots took first meeting in the?ROAC, 70-52

Photo by Josh Hughes Parkersburg’s Noah Dailey (13) trails Parkersburg South’s Cam Marks during the first meeting of the two Wood County rivals back in late December at Rod Oldham Athletic Center. Round two is tonight inside Memorial Fieldhouse.

PARKERSBURG — For the fourth time this season, first-year Parkersburg South head basketball coach Brett Rector’s Patriots will attempt to rebound from a loss with a victory.

The No. 8 Patriots’ first setback of the season came two days before Christmas in a 59-54 loss at Fort Frye.

Two days after Christmas, the Patriots bounced back with a 70-52 triumph of rival Parkersburg inside Rod Oldham Athletic Center.

A tough loss earlier this month to South Charleston (67-64) was followed by a win at Warren (53-49) and after PSHS had a bad second half in a 59-33 road loss at Morgantown, the Patriots returned to the hardwood with a 75-25 win against visiting Fort Frye, which was a school record for the fewest amount of points ever allowed.

Now, the Patriots are trying to get back on track after falling 77-65 to defending state champ University on Tuesday.

First-year PHS head man Bryan Crislip’s troops enter the fray at 6-7 after upsetting No. 10 South Charleston, 64-60, on Tuesday and taking care of Hurricane, 82-63, on Thursday.

The Big Reds will be attempting to win three straight for the first time this season.

“We got to make shots,” admitted Crislip, who watched South senior Malaki Sylvia go for a game-high 21 points during their meeting on Dec. 27. “The first time we played South we didn’t make anything and they guarded and they did a good job. It’s going to be a fun night and it’s also for a good cause.

“They are doing Coaches versus Cancer so that’s another big thing on top of the South rivalry. They are asking for donations. It’s child cancer and everything goes back to that. We want to make sure everyone comes out for a good cause and try to raise as much money as possible. A good cause on top of a great game that’s going to happen.”

Coach Rector has kept pretty close tabs on what’s going on across the Little Kanawha River and he’s anxious to see how things shake out tonight at Memorial Fieldhouse.

“That’s the thing. I told the guys all the time we play a tough schedule,” Rector said. “You’re not going to win them all. You hope to, but when you lose one you got to bounce back and we’ve responded all year.

“You can’t think in your mind we beat them by 18 the first time and we’re going over there and it’s going to be easy because it’s not. They’ve beat South Charleston and they are playing better. I don’t think you can have the mindset that it’s going to be easy.”

Coach Crislip fully understands it’s going to take a complete team effort for the red and white to have a shot at the upset.

“My big thing on the season is just keep getting better,” Crislip added. “We want to see if the kids are ready to compete.

“There are going to be challenges. It is a big game, but our job and our goal right now is to get better everyday.”

Parkersburg South enters with a 6-4 mark and one of Rector’s biggest concerns is Big Red speedy guard Sam Potts.

“I’ve been over there a couple times, saw them play Capital and South Charleston,” Rector stated. “We’re pretty familiar with what they are doing, but again, one of the big things is Sam Potts scares you in the open floor.

“It was a big emphasis for us the first time, got to get back, because they are really good in transition, especially him. He’s a nightmare in transition with his speed, strength and finishing abilities.”

Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com

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