The Mathews High School jayvee girls’ basketball team got off to a strong start this season, picking up three wins against Northern Neck District teams.

Head coach Tommy Eriksen returns for another season, assisted by Lawrence Ambrose. Eriksen said he is pleased with the team’s performance so far, considering tryouts were extended three weeks while the Lady Blue Devils’ volleyball team continued its march to the state championship.

"Coupled with the Thanksgiving break, we only had one week of practice after tryouts, but the girls are practicing hard and eager to learn," Eriksen said. The JV girls are very young this year with seven eighth graders, four freshmen and two sophomores. Sophomores Hunter Thomas and Madison Owens, along with freshman Brittany Mitchem return as co-captains. Other freshmen include Veronica Cosby, Maria Spadaccini and Mariah Robinson. Eighth graders include Kenzie Tunstall, Keely Crittenden, Emily Sorey, Josey Bauby, Lexis Miles, Casey Kelly and Madison South.

Mathews opened up their season last Thursday traveling to Warsaw to face the Rappahannock Lady Raiders. Eriksen was impressed with the defensive intensity the entire team showed. Mathews fell behind, 5-0, to begin the game, but quickly recovered only giving up four more points the entire game for a 28-9 victory. Spadaccini led Mathews with 11 points, followed by Crittenden with six points and South with four points. Cosby, Thomas and Sorey added two points each while Tunstall chipped in one point.

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