The Mathews High School varsity girls’ basketball team squared off against Tidewater District and cross-country rivals from Middlesex last Thursday. Both teams were discussed in the preseason as favorites for the district title, and that was reflected in the see-saw game that Mathews eventually won, 55-45.

Throughout the game, the Chargers and Devils both showed spurts of great defense while they struggled in their perimeter shots. Middlesex took a 26-24 lead into the half, yet Mathews was content to be down by only two after struggling with shooting in the first 16 minutes. Lindsey Brown kept Mathews in the game in the first half with 11 points, including two three-pointers.

Mathews opened the second half with a new strategy to attack the basket instead of launching shots from the outside. The strategy paid off as Middlesex’s leading scorer fouled out in the third quarter and Mathews converted 26 of 41 free throws to beat the Chargers by 10 points.

Although struggl...