Hopes for the Blue Devils reclaiming the VHSL Class 1 state championship title ended in the final second of last Wednesday’s semifinal game as the visiting Altavista Colonels hit a layup at the buzzer to beat the Mathews High School boys’ basketball team, 58-56.

Mathews had led by 10 points or more midway through the third quarter, but Altavista never gave up. By the start of the fourth quarter, the Colonels had narrowed the margin to a single point, 42-41. Altavista took its first lead with 5:32 left on the clock, 47-46. From there, the two teams traded points back and forth until the final basket at the buzzer gave the visitors the win.

“The kids played hard; I should’ve adjusted the game plan we had,” MHS head coach Curtis Williamson said after the loss. “Two kids that got hurt during the game, and I should’ve done a better job of putting them in better situations … The team just ran out of gas, but those kids kept competing like the true champions that they are.”

Seniors ...