The Mathews High School girls’ basketball team ended the 2020-2021 season as one of the four top teams in the Virginia High School League’s Class 1 ball.

Unfortunately, that’s as far as they would get as they were overpowered by the visiting Riverheads Lady Gladiators, 58-40, in last Wednesday’s VHSL state semifinal game.

Region A champs Mathews hosted Riverheads at the start of a Blue Devil doubleheader, with the boys taking on Altavista in the nightcap (see related story).

Riverheads had the Lady Devils reeling from the start, as Hannah Grubb hit three three-pointers in the opening seconds to put the Colonels up, 9-0. Despite seeing limited time due to foul trouble, Grubb hit a total of eight three pointers as she led Riverheads in scoring with 26 points.

Mathews never recovered from that opening deficit, trailing by 14 points at the half (31-17) and 17 by the end of three quarters of play (42-25).

Stacie Thomas was the top scorer for Mathews, ending the game with 10 ...