The Mathews High School varsity boys’ basketball team beat Essex in a defensive battle last Thursday, 48-43, while the JV boys won a 23-21 thriller (its first win of the season) on Friday over the visiting Carver Wolverines. Unfortunately, those games were the only bright spots in recent action for the Blue Devils.MiddlesexThe MHS JV and varsity boys fell on the road last Wednesday to the Middlesex Chargers. In the second game of a triple header (starting with JV girls), the JV boys fell to the Chargers, 33-11. The Blue Devils began the game with two 3-pointers made by Stanley Ouma, but then scoring slowed for Mathews. The Chargers pulled out to an 18-8 lead at the half and never looked back. Mathews struggled to score the ball, with only three points scored in the entire second half. Ouma led the team with six points, with Darin Echverria scoring four.The varsity boys didn’t fare much better, losing 79-49. The game began with both teams scoring and moving the ball with accuracy and p...