NORFOLK — Two fantastic finishes in the Class 5 Region B boys semifinals as both games were decided in the final 10 seconds.
One had a surprise winner, the other nearly had one.
In the first game, Nansemond River battled back from a 10-point second-half deficit to stun King’s Fork with a 56-53 win at Norview High.
In the second game, top-seeded Norview blew a 15-point lead, but held on to beat upset-minded Woodside 55-52.
Both winners advance to next week’s Class 5 state tournament, but first they will meet on Friday for the region title at Norview at 8 p.m.
King’s Fork came out strong and carried that momentum into the third quarter with a seven-point lead. The Bulldogs pushed that lead to 10 with 6:08 left.
But the Warriors chipped away at the lead with a 10-2 run, including four points from Taron Atwater.
Atwater came up big again in the fourth quarter with a jumper that gave the Warriors their first lead of the second half.
“It’s just believing in each other,” Nansemond River coach Joe Hassell said about the comeback. “I told them, the main thing we got to do is believe in each other. We play like a team, we fight like a team.”
The Warriors continued fighting, holding off each King’s Fork rally.
The game came down to foul shots by Quinton Cruse.
Hassell had some advice for him.
“He’s a special player and I knew he wanted it bad,” Hassell said. “For him, I was just telling him to calm down.”
Cruse made 3 of 4 free throws in the final 20.5 seconds, including two with 7.9 seconds left to give the Warriors a three-point lead.
King’s Fork had an opportunity to tie the game but missed a 3-pointer that sent the Warriors’ bench into a frenzy as players ran on the court to celebrate.
“Everybody doubted us and we came out on top,” said Atwater, who finished with a game-high 16 points. “We definitely didn’t like that feeling from last year (when they lost in the region semifinals). There was a lot of tears in that locker room, and we’re not going to shed them tears again. Let’s get a ring.”
Cruse finished with 10 points, and Jonathan Smith finished with nine points, 10 rebounds and five blocks.
King’s Fork (19-5) was led by Tyson Harper’s 15 points.
FINAL – Nansemond River 56, King’s Fork 53. Warriors going to state pic.twitter.com/PzOj11Q9u2
— Larry Rubama (@LHRubama) February 26, 2026
The second game started off like it was going to be a blowout as Norview took command with a 14-6 lead. The Pilots led 23-8 at the start of the second quarter and took a 29-19 lead into halftime.
Woodside, the three-time defending region champion, had a lot of fight left as the Wolverines cut the deficit to three.
Norview used a quick run to extend its lead to 45-38 at the end of the third quarter, but Woodside wouldn’t go away. The Wolverines used an 8-0 run midway through the fourth quarter to take the lead with 1:16 left.
The Pilots didn’t fold.
“We just got to listen to Coach and stay together and get the job done,” said senior Keon Mitchell, who scored eight of his 16 points in the second half. “We just had to stay poised.”
Norview’s Haiden Louther scored on a layup with 10.7 seconds left to give the Pilots a 53-52 lead. After a missed shot by Woodside, the Wolverines fouled Keon Mitchell, who made 1 of 2 free throws with 3.1 seconds left to give the Pilots a three-point lead.
The Wolverines had a chance to tie the game, but missed a desperation 3-pointer as the Pilots and their fans celebrated.
“This definitely means a lot,” Mitchell said. “It’s my senior (year). Got to go out with a bang.”
Norview going to state. Holds off Woodside pic.twitter.com/iA3Ew4RNJS
— Larry Rubama (@LHRubama) February 26, 2026
The Pilots also got help from guard Will Adams, who finished with 16 points. Louther finished with nine points and nine rebounds.
Woodside (17-8) was led by Donnell Jarrett’s 12 points. MT Montague and Trent Smalling both finished with 10 points.
Larry Rubama, 757-575-6449, larry.rubama@pilotonline.com
Norview’s Hayden Luther, center, celebrates with his teammates Keon Mitchell, left, and Will Adam after making the go ahead basket late in the second half against Woodside in the boys basketball Class 5 Region B semifinals at Norview High School in Norfolk, Va., on Feb. 25, 2026. (Peter Casey / The Virginian-Pilot)
