Nelson County claims first state basketball title

Richmond Times Dispatch
Published: March 15, 2008

Nelson County fended off a feisty Surry team, winning 50-47 to claim the school’s first boys basketball title. 

The Group A, Division 1 final was a physical game, and after the Governors took the lead with four minutes to play, they were able to protect it as neither team scored for the next three minutes. 

Finishing it off was guard T.J. Martin, who hit both ends of a one-and-one to extend Nelson County’s lead. 

“I wasn’t nervous at all,” Martin said. “I knew I had to hit them, and make that last one to win the championship.”

Surry had one final opportunity, but Governors guard Thomas Brown knocked the ball away, creating a turnover that sealed victory. 

“I had just been poking at him the whole game, but the whole time I never went for the steal,” Brown said. “I was saving it for a good moment, and he was so used to the poking that I was ready.”

The victory caps a 28-1 season for the undersized-but-scrappy Governors, who were making the first state-tournament appearance in school history. 

“The young kids who aren’t in the program can look up to these guys and say, ‘If they can do it, so can we,’” coach Brandon Garrett said. 

NELSON COUNTY (28-1)
Martin 14, Jones 6, Brown 16, Jones 10, Washington 2, Barnett 0, Martin 2, Coles 0, Morelee 0. Totals: 17 11-16 50.

SURRY (15-13)
White 3, Newman 14, Batten 15, Minerve 0, Porter 9, Bailey 0, Evans 6. Totals: 17 8-12 47.

Nelson County························ 15 9 10 16 — 50

Surry························· 7 17 9 14 — 47

3-point goals: NC – Martin 3, Brown, Jones. S – Batten 3, Evans 2.