The Mathews High School varsity boys’ basketball team had a busy Christmas break, taking the title in last week’s Joe Ellis Memorial Tournament at Surry High School.

The Blue Devils walked away with the tournament championship after posting wins over the host Cougars and the Northampton Yellow Jackets.

Mathews defeated Surry 69-61 in the tournament opener on Monday, Dec. 26. Mathews scored right off the jump ball, forced the Cougars to abandon their full-court press, and was up 36-30 at the half. Surry started off the second half with a rally, closing the lead to two points but Mathews came right back to secure the win.

A major factor that contributed to the Blue Devils’ win was a team total of only six turnovers for the game. Leading scorer for Mathews was Stuart Anderson Jr., who had 30 points, followed by Ethan Armistead with 16, Jarius Monroe with 12, Elijah Willis with nine, Christian Williams with three, and Jalen Matthews with two. Willis led the team in ass...