The Mathews High School varsity girls’ basketball team started off the 2019-2020 season the right foot, posting a 38-35 win on the road over Northumberland.

Mathews put the first five points of the game on the board, three of which coming off the hand of Connie Johnson, but the Indians didn’t make the game easy as they took a 15-14 lead into halftime.

The Lady Devils came out of the locker room determined to win the season opener, playing the third quarter with sound defense to pull ahead, 24-19. The two teams battled back and forth in the final quarter, with Mathews squeaking past Northumberland by a three-point margin.

Stacie Thomas and Abbie Hudgins led the team with 11 points each. Johnson followed with seven. Joice Small had five and Hannah Robins chipped in four points.

Before the varsity tipoff, the junior varsity Devils had already picked up their first season win, defeating the Indians, 24-17.

The Blue Devils of Mathews will host their Red Devil counterparts f...