Lord Botetourt swept the boys basketball intra-county series as the two schools played twice within a span of three days. LB beat James River in Springwood on Saturday night and in Daleville Monday night in front of big holiday season crowds at both venues.

Saturday’s game was rescheduled from December 8, when it was postponed by snow. Both teams had played Friday night and lost, with LB falling to Salem and the Knights losing to Staunton River, so they came into the game hungry for a win. It would be the Cavaliers who tasted victory, 53-39.

“That was a good win for us,” said LB coach Chad Conner, as his team was winless in four starts prior to Saturday. “James River is a good team. They’re going to win a lot of games this year.”

LB led 31-17 by halftime and both teams scored 22 in the second half to account for the final score. Max Burke led the Cavaliers with 17 points and seven rebounds and Blake Myers had 13 points, six assists and three steals.

Darious Cheatwood led James River with 19 points, Jacob Wagner had eight and Walker Andrews and Brandon Colon had six each.

“We shot too many outside shots,” said River coach Mike Goad. “We weren’t patient enough on offense.”

The same two teams met on Monday night in Daleville and this one was closer, but with the same result. Botetourt led by just two points after three quarters in taking a 52-44 win.

Foul trouble hurt the Knights in this one, as leading scorer Cheatwood played less than half the game. He picked up three fouls early, then was whistled for his fourth after spending little time on the floor in the third quarter. He returned early in the fourth but was soon back on the bench with five fouls.

Botetourt got another big game from Myers, who hit five of seven three-point attempts and finished with a game-high 19 points. Max Burke had 10 points and seven rebounds and Evan Eller dished out six assists.

Despite sitting out much of the game, Cheatwood led River with 13 points. Wagner had nine and Colon had seven.

With the two losses River fell to 3-3 on the season. The Knights are 0-3 against three Class 3 teams and 3-0 against Class 2 competition.

“Playing good teams will help us in the long run,” said Goad. “You want to play good competition.”

River was 3-0 after winning at Parry McCluer last week, 46-32. Dalton Simmons had a dozen points, Cheatwood had 10 and Wagner had nine points and 10 rebounds to lead the Knights.

Then, on Friday night, the Knights played host to a solid Staunton River team and lost 74-62. That was somewhat of a fiasco as 49 fouls were called in the game and the Knights had three boys foul out, Wagner, Cheatwood and River Clonch. Cheatwood led the team with 19 points while Wagner had 13 and Clonch and Andrews scored nine each.

LB played Salem on Friday night and dropped a 62-53 decision in Daleville. Myers led LB with 17 points, including three threes. James Ryan Salvi had seven points off the bench and Conner also had praise for freshman Tanner Selkirk, who had 10 rebounds.

“He has a high motor,” said Conner of Selkirk. “He’s very aggressive and he attacks the basket.”

The Cavaliers are now 2-4 with a game at William Fleming tonight. Then they’re off until the K-Guard Holiday Classic at the Salem Civic Center beginning December 28.

“We really need the practice time,” said Conner. “We haven’t had much time in the gym.”

James River is home tonight as Parry McCluer returns the trip. The Knights will host Staunton River on Friday, then take off for Christmas before returning to the floor December 29 for a game at Nelson County.