PETERSBURG – Despite a 67-20 loss to Amelia Academy Saturday in the finals of the Virginia Commonwealth Conference Tournament, The No. 5 Southampton Academy girls’ varsity basketball team will host the opening round of the state basketball tournament.

The Lady Raiders will take on Denbigh Baptist Christian at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28 in Courtland.

Rachel Holland led the team with 12 points in the loss Saturday.

The junior varsity Lady Raiders captured the conference crown for the third straight year with a dramatic, 27-26 victory over Amelia.

The Lady Raiders 25-23 with 20 seconds remaining with Amelia hit a three-pointer to go up 26-25. SA turned the ball over and was forced to foul.

The Lady Raiders’ Morgan Pope fouled out and was replaced by Mina Johnson.

SA was forced to drive the length of the floor in 7.5 seconds. Sarah Best passed to Mason Pope, who dished it to Johnson on the wing. Johnson’s shot from the wing banked in with less than a second remaining to give the Lady Raiders the victory.

Best led the team with eight points in the win and Peyton Pittman added six points.