PCA update: Big week for the Raiders

Published 5:04 pm Tuesday, January 23, 2024

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PCA Athletics

On Tuesday PCA made the long trek to Lasker to take on the Northeast Academy Eagles. In the girls game, after the Lady Eagles hit a buzzer-beating three pointer to take a 15 – 12 lead, Pungo outscored Northeast 26 – 12 over the next 16 minutes, then held on for a 46-37 victory. Allison Sawyer led the way with 25 points and 14 rebound, while. Alden Taylor added 10. Ginny Pugh grabbed seven rebounds and dished out eight assists.
The boys opened with a 44-5 run and cruised to a 65 – 16 victory. Drew Van Staalduinen scored a game-high 20 points and Maddox Lee added 17.

Thursday the Raiders swept Mattamuskeet in non-conference action. The girls rolled to a 49 – 12 victory. Sawyer led the way again with19 points and 18 rebounds. Taylor also posted a double-double, with 11 points on 5/8 shooting and 10 rebounds.
The boys game was not much different as the Raiders posted a 78 – 48 victory. Quay Artis led all scorers with 25 points. Van Staalduinen added 14 points and nine boards while Lee score 12, grabbed seven rebounds and dished out nine assists.

PCA hosted the first ever matchup against New Bern Christian Academy Friday. The Lady Raiders used a stout first half defensive performance to limit the Mustangs to just six points. New Bern heated up, but Pungo answered each run to win 46 – 25. Sawyer netted 12 while grabbing 23 rebounds. Taylor also scored 12 while Julia Rouse notched her first career double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

In the boys game, the Raiders came out sloppy, but held a six point advantage after the first quarter. PCA responded by outscoring New Bern 48 – 18 over the next three quarter to win 59 – 23 victory. Van Staalduinen paced the Raiders with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Lee also had a double- double with 12 points and 10 boards while Artis scored 12 and dished out seven assists. Austin Garrish matched his with 17 rebounds.

Monday saw the Raiders return to conference play as they hosted Albemarle School. The Lady Raiders led by as many as 15 in the second quarter before the Lady Colts used a 12 – 2 run to cut the lead to five at halftime. PCA stretched the lead to take home their fourth consecutive victory, 60 – 48. Sawyer poured in a career-high 33 points while grabbing 18 rebounds. Taylor netted 11 and posted a career-high six assists.

The boys led 53 – 16 at halftime, then coasted to an 83-31 victory. Van Staalduinen led PCA with 18 points and seven boards. Lee dropped 17, grabbed eight rebounds and dished six of the Raiders 30 assists. Garrish finished with 11 points while Artis scored nine points, six assists and six steals.

The girls are now 13 – 7 for second place in the Tarheel Independent Conference and ranked eighth in the latest NCISAA 1A MaxPreps poll. The boys are lead the TIC at 18-2 currently 18 – 2 and ranked seventh in the 1A MaxPreps poll.
Both teams face significant tests this week as Lawrence Academy and Ridgecroft School come to town. The Lady Rams are currently undefeated and ranked #1 in the NCISAA 1A while the Lady Warriors are ranked #6 and have beaten the Lady Raiders once already this season. As for the boys, it took at 14 point second half comeback for Pungo to beat Lawrence just 11 days ago while the Raiders have only beaten the Rams once in their last nine matchups.