High School’s varsity boys basketball team made a definitive case Monday that it is the best in the James River District this season, routing Goochland High School 73-55 in the district tournament championship game held at Prince Edward County High School.

Explaining the significance of the victory, Statesmen Head Coach James Graves said, “It meant that three years of hard work paid off.”

He noted that the Statesmen had not won the district tournament since the late 1990s, and this is “only the second time I know of that a tournament championship has been achieved” in program history.

During the regular season, Randolph-Henry achieved a 57-51 road win over Goochland on Jan. 22, but then the Bulldogs came to Charlotte Court House on Feb. 2 and handed the Statesmen a 46-36 loss, later wrapping up the district regular season title. Randolph-Henry star senior guard/forward Tremaine Pugh was limited in the second Goochland game, still recovering after having contracted the flu.

Explaining what made the difference from the 10-point loss to the 18-point win, Graves said, “We were at full strength. I truly believe we would have won that game as well if everyone was healthy.”

The coach said he felt elated with his team’s performance in this third showdown with the Bulldogs.

“We were able to make them play at a pace they were uncomfortable (with), and this ended up to be to our advantage,” he said.

Randolph-Henry senior guard Jordan Jones led his team with 26 points, senior guard Nasheim Pettus contributed 21 points and stifling defense and Pugh recorded 11 points and 14 rebounds.

After the game, it was announced that Pugh had been named varsity boys basketball 2017-18 James River District Player of the Year.

The Statesmen (16-6) host Amelia County High School on Friday at 7 p.m. in the first round of the Region 2A tournament.