PARKERSBURG — Coming off of a confidence-draining loss to cross-town rival Parkersburg South, the Parkersburg High boys basketball team fell victim to a fast and aggressive showing by the Cabell Midland Knights 81-60 on Tuesday night to bring the Big Reds’ record to 2-7.

The opening tip-off would provide the Knights with an immediate chance to score, with the first points of the game coming off of a contested field goal from Cabell Midland’s Ayden Spence, followed by a six-point streak credited to Midland’s Sam Phillips to bring the score to 8-0 after two minutes.

Parkersburg Senior Jaxon Thomas would score the Big Reds’ first points of the game off of a pinpoint pass from senior Quinten Wilson, bringing the score to 12-2 with four minutes left in the first half, which would be followed shortly after with two personal fouls being committed on Parkersburg’s Mathias Williams, giving the senior the opportunity to score on four free throws to bring the score to 22-15 at the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter began with an immediate turnover by Williams, giving the ball straight to Midland’s Spence, giving him a wide-open shot to add another two points to his game total of eight.

Following a late 3-pointer by Cabell Midland’s Aidan Ray, the Big Reds would fall victim to three straight turnovers and six straight missed shots by Parkersburg, a testament to the fatigue and crucial errors that plagued the Big Reds throughout the game.

“We just didn’t hustle tonight as much as we should have,” said Parkersburg head coach Phil Wilson. “I don’t know if our legs are getting the best of us or not, but it showed on the court tonight and we aren’t proud of it.”

The third quarter would begin with an immediate turnover by the Big Reds but would be overcome with a four-point sequence by Parkersburg’s Chandler Jackson, who would end up being the Big Reds’ leading scorer of the night with a total of 23 points, while also being the consistent force that seemed to keep Parkersburg in the game.

Aided by Jackson’s 11 points in the third quarter, the Big Reds would cut the score to 45-37 midway through the third quarter, a deficit that would be short lived after Cabell Midland’s Marshall Thomas would score four straight points and assisting Ayden Spence on two more, bringing the score to 60-49 entering the fourth quarter.

The fourth quarter would prove to be a back-and-forth effort by both teams, but the Knights would quickly run away with the lead as Ray would score three separate 3-pointers and three different layups, bringing the score to 71-51 late in the fourth.

As anger and fatigue plagued the Big Reds in the fourth, coach Wilson would decide to pull the starters with 1:34 seconds left on the clock, a late game move that ended the hard fought but disappointing effort put forth by the Big Reds in their ninth game of the season.

“Right now, we’re on an every-other-night schedule, so game planning with only one day between every day is really hurting us,” the coach said. “The kids are really beating themselves up, but the best we can do is try and collect ourselves in tomorrow’s practice so we can improve going forward.”

Ray led CMHS with a game-high 26 points. Summers added 21, Spence netted 15 and Phillips chipped in 12.

The Big Reds will aim to end their five-game losing streak when they host 4-4 Hurricane on Thursday night, while also attempting to gain back momentum as the season draws on.

“Don’t lose faith,” said coach Wilson. “We may be down, but we’re not out yet, so continue watching and we’ll do our best to get better when it counts.”