The Lord Botetourt boys will be looking for their first basketball win this week with two home games and a trip to James River.

The Cavaliers came into the week at 0-3. They were scheduled to host Cave Spring on Tuesday, followed by a home game against Salem on Friday night. Then LB has a home-and-home with James River, with a game in Springwood Saturday night and a home game with the Knights on Monday, Dec. 18.

The Cavaliers lost two games by 10 points each last week but both games were closer than the score indicated, as LB had to foul in the closing minutes. In a home game against Pulaski they trailed by just four points after three quarters before losing 56-46. LB had trouble stopping Cougar guard C.C. Grubb, who had 26 points.

“He’s one of the best players in the area,” said Botetourt coach Chad Conner. “He had 20 points in the first half, and he had four threes. He’s a very good shooter.”

Max Burke led the Cavaliers with 18 points and nine rebounds while Blake Myers had 14.

On Wednesday the Cavs were at Cave Spring, where they dropped a 60-50 decision. This time the Cavs made a run in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Knights 22-18, but couldn’t catch up.

Botetourt led this game after one quarter, 11-9, and was up 15-12 midway through the second period. At that point the Knights went on a 10-0 run and went ahead 23-15 at the halfway. They increased the lead to 42-28 by the end of the third quarter and the Cavs couldn’t make up the difference. Burke had 22 points and 11 boards in this one and Myers contributed 11 points.

“We fought back in the fourth quarter and played well,” said Conner. “We had some guys in foul trouble in the first half, and that hurt us, but the kids played hard.”