The Mathews High School boys’ basketball program closed out the 2023-2024 season on a strong note, with both the JV and varsity Devils triumphing over Charles City Tuesday night. The varsity win was especially thrilling as Mathews came back from a 12-point halftime deficit to beat the visiting Panthers by five at the final buzzer, 62-57.
JV Devils
The JV Blue Devils closed their season with a win as they defeated Charles City, 34-20, in a great game. The first half was all Mathews as they took a 17-8 lead. Mathews was led by Zay Altman with nine points. The third quarter was closer, as Charles City closed the lead to seven when Mathews was struggling to score. Jacob Johnson helped Mathews maintain a lead with his five points. The Blue Devils stretched the lead as they jumped ahead by 10 points. Kartier Soto iced the game with two three-point shots to end his night with six points and finish the season with a win for the young JV squad.
Varsity Devils
In the finale of Tuesday night’s tripleheader (preceded by the JV boys and varsity girls), the varsity Devils put in a strong second-half performance to end the year with a win.
Fans and athletes were forced to wait as the originally scheduled Friday night game was postponed to Tuesday due to sewage issues at Mathews High School. In the Senior Night game, the Blue Devils celebrated senior guard Andrew Greve as he suited up to play his last game of high school basketball.
The game began neck-and-neck, with sophomore Blake Hunley leading Mathews, scoring the first eight Blue Devil points. In spite of Hunley’s scoring, Charles City jumped out to a 17-14 lead to end the first. The Blue Devils struggled to score in the second quarter, a theme that has plagued their season, and the Panthers pulled out to a 32-20 lead.
Halftime was filled with a complete change of pace as a gritty Blue Devil team returned from the locker room. Colin Moore assisted Mathews with 18 points and seven rebounds. Although Moore put up a solid performance, Hunley made a phenomenal showing with 19 points and 12 rebounds, as a guard. Hunley was not the only Blue Devil with a double-double as Jordyn Cosby had 13 points, 19 rebounds, and eight assists.
Mathews completed its comeback in the closing minutes as key shots from Hunley and Moore decreased the lead, but it was Cam Matthews who sealed the game with two transition layups for the victory. Mathews capped off the rollercoaster season with a win, but they will be absent from the regional playoffs.