Randolph-Henry High School’s varsity boys basketball team was 4-10 overall entering Tuesday’s road game against Central Lunenburg High School, but the Statesmen have been showing an ability to hang with the best teams in the James River District.

On Friday, Randolph-Henry fell 50-49 to visiting Amelia County High School. Two days prior, the Statesmen lost 60-33 to host Prince Edward County High School.

The week prior, they lost only 49- 47 to visiting Bluestone High School, which entered its game Tuesday with a 12-0 record in the district. The day before the matchup against the Barons, the Statesmen beat Amelia 55-52. Then the day before that, they lost only narrowly 52-49 on the road in overtime to another district heavyweight, Cumberland County High School.

“Through the performances, our last five games have been a very emotional ride,” Randolph-Henry Head Coach Joshua Haskins said. “I think one big thing that has started to show is our inexperience in closing the deal on games. In a lot of those games, we have had leads at the end of the game or let teams back in when we should have closed the deal on the game.

“Our biggest weakness in the past week that hurts any team is turnovers,” he continued. “I tell the guys all the time if we keep turning the ball over and not making it the most prized possession, that will come to haunt us. In the past weeks that has been the one area we have been trying to clean up. If we can stop giving away possessions, our record could look a lot different, but that is all a part of the process of learning and getting better.”

The coach directed some focus to the individual level to highlight a sophomore standout.

“The guy who has been the biggest highlight for me is Brenden Francisco, who has come on in terms of his confidence, seems to be at an all-time high and feels like he belongs on the court,” Haskins said.