The Mathews High School varsity boys’ basketball season came to an end last Wednesday night after a four-hour bus ride to Altavista, where the #8 seeded Blue Devils fell to the top-seeded defending state champion Altavista Colonels in the first round of the Region 1A East tournament, 52-44.

The loss came despite a great performance by MHS junior Stuart Anderson, who ended the night with 30 of the Devils’ 44 points. Anderson also took Tidewater District Player of the Year honors. On Tuesday, Anderson was voted a first-team Region 1A East selection.

After the long bus ride through some major storms, the Devils arrived ready to play. The home crowd was electric, but the Devils did not let this get to them, and took an early advantage in the game. Altavista clawed back into it, and the Devils went into the half up by two points, 18-16. The three-time state champion Colonels came out firing to start the second half, taking a 44-26 lead on hot three-point shooting. This took so...