COURTLAND – The Southampton Academy girls basketball were knocked out of the first round of the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association Division III state tournament Tuesday night with a 44-32 loss to Denbigh Baptist Christian.

Down 18-10 at the half, the Lady Raiders closed the gap to within five points to 25-20 in the third quarter, but couldn’t make up the difference.

“We didn’t play real well and it kind of got away from us,” Coach Chris Pope said after the game. “We did not shoot the ball well at all.”

SA was forced to foul in the fourth quarter to conserve time, but Denbigh Baptist went 10-of-13 from the foul line down the stretch to close the game out.

“They did what they needed to do and we didn’t,” Pope said.

Sarah Best led the Lady Raiders with 15 points while teammate and All-Virginia Commonwealth Conference performer Rachel Holland scored 10 in the losing effort.

Lady Raiders’ Beth Waller and Barclay Gatten received conference honorable mention nods for their play this season. Gatten and Holland were honored as all-tournament players after last week’s VCC Tournament.

SA finished the year at 16-7.