STATE EXTRA: A tough ending for Riverheads

RICHMOND — It was a tough night for Riverheads. Players sunk their heads and walked back to the Siegel Center locker room, knowing that a return trip wasn’t going to happen.

Junior Demetrius Younger said before the Group A, Division1 quarterfinals against Colonial Beach that it was going to be tough. What made the 48-70 loss harder on Saturday — he knew he could have done better.

Younger led the team with 14 points and was 5-13 when he got the ball.

That did not make the tattooed, tough guy on the court smile.

“We didn’t play tough,” Younger said. “Really, it’s disappointing that we didn’t play like we wanted it bad enough.”

Younger played 28 minutes against the Drifters at the Siegel Center. It did not matter what he did on the court, he felt that the team let themselves down. Younger knew that Riverheads was going to be in the playoff mix.

“I always thought that playing for the state title is where we were going to be,” Younger said at practice on Thursday. “We play tough basketball and get in your face defense.”

During the regular season Younger and the team were at a crossroads.

“We were struggling and after we played against Wilson on senior night, we came together,” Younger said.

Two days later, Younger sat next to Cody Montgomery, coach John Corbett and Cutter Chisnell at the postgame media conference. The players held their heads down.

Corbett stressed that it was not over for Riverheads.

“It’s not over, we’ll be back,” Corbett said. “These guys persevered, and they have nothing to hang their heads about.”

His players didn’t offer many words.

“I do think that we were underestimated,” Younger said during a prior interview. “People said we didn’t play as a team and that we were always a one-man show. We always knew we were tough and we can play together.”

Younger won’t be able to turn the clock back to Saturday.

“I always want to play tough like a linebacker,” Younger said this week at practice.

As the season ended for the Gladiators, Younger still said that his team should have played tougher, but during the first quarter when his team was down 7-12, Younger hit a 3 to close the gap 10-12. The Gladiator pumped his fists and turned around with a wide smile.

That was the last time Younger was seen smiling. For Younger, he ended his junior year collecting 14 points, with two 3s. During the regular season, Younger averaged 6.86 points a game over a span of 28.

“It’s just tough that we lost,” Younger said.