The Mathews High School varsity boys’ basketball team improved its record to 8-6 after a three-game stint this past week.

On Friday night, Mathews had little trouble defeating conference foe Carver Academy, 63-46. The Devils started out strong and went up early 23-8, allowing some time for the starters to get some rest.

However, the Wolverines came back fighting and closed the gap to five, 28-23, heading into the half. The Devils came out firing in their full-court press coming out of the locker room and eventually pulled away from the Wolverines to win by 17 points.

The Devils quickly had to bounce back the next night for one of the most highly anticipated games of the year on the Middle Peninsula, as Mathews hosted the Gloucester Dukes in a classic rivalry matchup (see related story).

On Tuesday night, the Devils hosted the previously undefeated Northumberland Indians. The Indians had previously defeated the Devils on their home turf, 77-59, and went into Tuesday’s ...