The varsity basketball team had their 9-game win streak snapped at the hands of nationally-ranked Cape Henry Collegiate, 75-61 Friday in the state VISAA semifinals at Virginia State University.

Nick Sherod '16 had game highs of 30 points and nine rebounds, and Alexander Petrie '17 poured in 24 points and delivered a game-best seven assists.

The Saints finished the season 22-7, setting a school record for most wins in a season and reaching the state final four in basketball for the first time in school history.

"This team raised the bar for St. Christopher's basketball, and they epitomized what it means to be a team," said head coach Hamill Jones '00, in his sixth year. "Every player, manager, and coach was willing to do whatever they could to help the team. What made this year so much fun is the genuine feeling that we truly were all in this together."

Sherod and Petrie put together extraordinary junior and sophomore seasons, respectively, to lead the way.

Sherod has now scored 2,019 points in his career, and averaged 25 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists and two steals per contest. Petrie increased his scoring average by 10 points from his freshman year, up to 17 per, and handed out four assists with three rebounds and a steal per game.

They were both named all-Prep League, Sherod's third honor, Petrie's first.

"Nick Sherod and Alexander Petrie are special players," Jones said. "They further established themselves as two of the best guards in the state of Virginia. Both had incredible seasons, and they improved as leaders and as players who can control and take over a game.  I'm excited for their continued development."

Seven seniors will depart, including Fleet Wallace '15, who is as good as it gets as a leader and captain.

"Our seniors - Parker Widhelm, Wilson Bedell, Jackson Dunivan, Joe Goode, Thomas Lynde, Brandon Johnson, and Fleet Wallace - were outstanding and set the tone for our successful season. Whether they were competing on the court or providing energy and support from the bench, this senior class was totally committed to team success."

Junior Noah O'Neill, sophomores Ameer Bennett and Eric Thompson, and freshman Justin Jasper played valuable minutes, and all will return with expanded roles in the 2015-16 season. Jones and his staff is excited to get to work with all of the returning players in the offseason. Hunter Reinhart '16 and Jack Trunick '16 will look to provide outside shooting that leaves with Lynde and Wallace. And the return of Ned Tazewell '16 from injury will give the team a big leadership boost. He was an unofficial assistant coach this year.

It has been six years in the making, but StC has firmly planted itself as one of the top basketball programs in Richmond and the state of Virginia.

"The 9-game win streak to end the season, which included wins over Benedictine, John Marshall, Collegiate, WFS, and Bishop O'Connell, was one of the greatest stretches, if not the greatest stretch, of basketball in St. Christopher's history," Jones said. "It was a privilege to work with these young men and coaches every day, and their spirit, commitment, selflessness, and love for one another made all the success on the court possible."  

St. Christopher's 14 15 11 21 - 61
Cape Henry Coll. 19 19 14 23 - 75
St. Chris. (22-7): Petrie 24, Wallace 4, Jasper 0, Bennett 1, Sherod 30, Lynde 0, O'Neill 0, Dunivan 2. Totals: 21 13-16 61. 3-point goals: Sherod 4, Petrie 2.
Cape Henry Collegiate (30-2): Langston 8, Evans 18, Clarke 16, Weathers 8, Grinde 9, James 10, Marrow 6. Totals: 25 19-28 75. 3-point goals: Weathers 2, James 2, Langston, Evans.