The Randolph-Henry High School varsity boys basketball team finds itself in a familiar position after finishing last week with back-to-back wins.

The Statesmen (8-8) have a .500 record for the sixth time this season, not including everyone’s 0-0 start.

After opening last week with a 56-43 road loss to Nottoway High School on Monday, Randolph-Henry had a successful two-game homestand. The Statesmen defeated Gretna High School 69-57 on Wednesday, and they topped Prince Edward County High School 44-35 on Friday.

Randolph-Henry Head Coach James Graves led off his comments regarding both of his team’s last two games by saying the Statesmen played quite well.

“We’ve been playing real good defense the last two games,” he said.

Randolph-Henry led the Eagles 15-8 after the first quarter Friday.

“They ate two minutes off the clock before they even tried to do anything,” Graves said. “It was a very slow-paced game.”

After the Statesmen led 25-22 at halftime, the Eagles claimed the lead during the third quarter. It did not last for long, though, as Randolph-Henry turned up its defensive intensity and recovered to carry a 35-32 lead into the fourth quarter.

The Statesmen closed out the game in the last eight minutes, going 6-for-10 from the free throw line to help pull away.

Junior guard/forward Tremaine Pugh led Randolph-Henry with 18 points, junior guard Nasheim Pettus had 12 points, senior guard Sherrek Boyd contributed eight and senior forward Jesse Redd added six.

In the win against Gretna, the Statesmen generated their second-highest point output of the season.

“We had balanced scoring around in that game,” Graves said.

Pugh scored 22 points, Boyd had 14, junior forward/center Billy Brantley Jr. had 13, Pettus registered 10, Redd had seven and junior guard Jordan Jones added three.

After visiting Buckingham County High School on Tuesday, Randolph-Henry hosts Nottoway High School on Friday at 7 p.m.