Despite strong efforts, mental mistakes plagued the Gloucester High School boys’ and girls’ varsity basketball teams Monday night against Menchville, as both Dukes teams fell to their Peninsula District opponent.

The GHS girls fell to the Monarchs, 75-48, while the Gloucester boys lost, 61-52. In other action this past week, the GHS girls defeated the visiting Phoebus Phantoms, 51-40.

GHS girls

On Monday night, the GHS girls got off to a slow start as they appeared to struggle with the height and physicality of a team that had larger interior defenders. Gloucester trailed, 34-19, at the half.

The Dukes came out of the half much more aggressive and physical, putting together a couple solid runs early in the third quarter. Unfortunately, the team struggled to finish inside against Menchville’s height and was unable to sustain its momentum.

To compound matters, Dukes’ starter Lauren Hall suffered an apparent ankle injury after going up to contest a shot and ...