By Tray Mason
Correspondent

The Nansemond River Warriors boys basketball team (17-4, 15-3) closed the regular season out in style Tuesday evening with a 71-56 win over visiting Indian River (9-13, 9-9).

On Senior Night for the Warriors, they faced an unexpected formidable opponent in the Braves. The game was closely contested for most of three quarters until NR managed to blow things open in the fourth.

The Warriors’ seven senior players put on a show for the crowd in their last home game. The seniors scored 59 of the team’s 71 points, more than Indian River’s team total for the game. Shannon Evans led all scorers with 20 points, followed by Dontrell Brite’s 12 points.

Evans, who had three thunderous dunks of his own, was the assist man on the highlight of the game. Evans made a lob pass to senior Jay Melendez, who caught the ball with one hand midair and slammed it through.

“It was a good win — last home game of the season,” senior Chris McMillan said. “We’re on a mission right now and just trying to ride this winning streak.”

With the win, the Warriors finished second in the Southeastern District and clinched a first-round bye in the district tournament.

The bye could set up a second-round matchup with rival King’s Fork if the Bulldogs beat the same Indian River team. The two teams split their matchups during the regular season.

The SED Tournament will be hosted at King’s Fork High School, beginning Monday.