The Lord Botetourt boys saw their basketball season come to an end last week with a 66-49 loss to Hidden Valley in the first round of the Region 3D tournament. The host Titans were the top seed in the region and went on to win the Region 3D tourney, defeating Christiansburg in the region final.
Botetourt hung tough and trailed by just three points at the half. Coach Josh Aliveto credited LB’s work on the boards in being a big factor in keeping the game close.
“The first half went back and forth,” he said. “Our defensive positioning and rebounding effort were what we needed to stay in the ball game and give us a chance in the second half.”
Hidden Valley got hot in the third quarter and upped the lead. Meanwhile, Botetourt struggled on offense after intermission.
“We hit a bit of a cold spell shooting,” said Aliveto. “We were able to win the fourth quarter, but not enough to overcome their big third.”
Rylan Lavinder led the LB scorers with 16 points. Landon Hayes also chipped in with 12 points to go with five rebounds as Botetourt finished the season with a 7-16 record.
“As we reflect on this past season, we are incredibly proud of how our team responded to a tough schedule that challenged us from the very beginning,” said Aliveto. “We competed against strong opponents week after week, and while the results didn’t always go our way early on, this was a resilient group that never stopped working or believing in each other.
“In the second half of the season, we really started hitting our stride, playing with more confidence and consistency. That growth allowed us to do enough to earn a regional playoff spot, which speaks volumes about the character of our players.”
The Cavs will graduate four seniors, Hayes, Brady Kish, Jase Lisle and Caleb Muterspaugh.
Photos by Jim & Regina Devinney
“We will certainly miss a great group of seniors who helped set the tone with their leadership and commitment to the Lord Botetourt program,” said Aliveto. “This group of seniors will definitely be successful adults and accomplished individuals. At the same time, we’re excited about the foundation that’s been built and look forward to seeing what this next group can put together for the 2026–2027 season.”
