The Lord Botetourt boys kept their basketball season alive with a 49-32 win over Staunton River in Daleville Monday. The game was the first round of the Conference 31 tournament.

Botetourt will now advance to the semifinal round tonight, hosted by Staunton River High School. The third-seeded Cavaliers will take on second seed Alleghany at 7:45 p.m., following a game between top-seeded Northside and fourth seeded Rockbridge County. Rockbridge beat Magna Vista on Monday, 62-40.

Tonight’s games are critical, as the winners will get a berth in the Region 3A West tournament next week while the losers see their season come to an end. Botetourt has played Alleghany three times this season, at three different locations, and gone 1-2. The Cavs won in Daleville but lost at the Salem Civic Center in the K-Guard Classic over Christmas, and they also lost the district game in Low Moor.

“They’re tough to beat at home, we’d much rather play them on a neutral floor,” said LB coach Chad Conner. “The key will be to stop their guards, (Kent) Rooklin and (Chase) Woodard. We need to keep them from going off, and to contain the other guys.”

Tonight’s winners will play for the Conference 31 championship on Friday night, and that game will be at Northside High School at 7:45 p.m. It will follow the girls championship, scheduled for 6 p.m. The teams playing Friday will all go to the regional, with the winners getting the higher seeds.

LB comes into Wednesday’s action at 8-15. On Tuesday at home the Cavaliers hit a dozen three-point shots in the win over Staunton River. Noah Taylor had four and led LB with 12 points. Kris Call had 10 points for LB and 11 rebounds. Grayson Bond led the Cavs with six assists.

“We shot the ball well,” said Conner. “At this time of year you take it one day at a time. Every practice has to be the best one of the year.”