The Mathews High School girls’ basketball season came to an end last Thursday as the Lady Devils fell to top-ranked Sussex Central in the Region A semifinal game, 43-39.

Sussex, the Tri-Rivers District regular season and tournament champs, hosted Mathews in a game that would determine who advanced to the state quarterfinals.

After a long trip and an introduction to a hotter-than-normal gym, the Lady Devils immediately went to work on offense with a three-pointer by Lindsey Brown. After one quarter, the visitors surprised the favored Lady Tigers with a 13-6 lead. Keeping their intensity up, Mathews was able to cling to a 21-17 lead at the half, but knew the home team was poised to make a run in the second half.

Following the halftime break, Sussex turned up their man-to-man defense, forcing the Lady Blue Devils into costly turnovers. By the end of the third quarter the home team had drawn to a 28-28 tie. From there, Sussex turned the game over to Tri-Rivers District and Re...