Gate City spent the entire game running players in and out. The Blue Devils have two assistant coaches just to coordinate substitutions, and both gave their voices a workout calling for new players.

But in the end, it was what happened when the action stopped that made the difference.

King William fell flat from the Free-throw line, and the Cavaliers lost 61-47 yesterday in the semifinal round of the state tournament.

"We kind of shot ourselves in the foot," coach Joe Harper said. "Maybe another night we make some shots and free throws, and it's a different outcome."

The loss ended a thrilling season for the Cavaliers, one they started 5-5 before going on a 17-game winning streak that ended yesterday.

It was a game of what-ifs from the very start. King William bolted to an early lead, but a string of four turnovers kept the Cavs from taking over the game.

Trailing by one at halftime, King William came out and took advantage of Gate City's foul trouble.

Two Blue Devils players fouled out, and even with the rotating bench, the team still found itself in trouble for most of the second half.

"We were hoping once they got to the bench they wouldn't be as strong," King William center Isaiah Hill said. "But they were just as strong."

When the Cavaliers got to the line, though, the usually sharpshooting team failed to take advantage. They hit just 11 of their 22 foul shots.

"We should've made our free throws," Harper said. "That's basically the difference in the game."

Hill and guard Jeff Clark said the Siegel Center atmosphere didn't bother them, though Harper speculated that the lighting may have thrown the team off.

Clark also struggled from behind the arc, going 0 for 5.

"I just didn't knock down the shots," he said. "Everything was the same. I just couldn't finish."

It was the Cavaliers' first state appearance since 2000, and Harper praised his team for being able to make it to the Siegel Center stage, as well as staying composed after the team's rough start.

Hill had a successful game against Gate City's Jamie Hackney, who started off slow but finished with 15 points.

Post play was a key for Gate City, and the inside players were given credit by Tihlee Anderson, who led the team with 19 points.

"They determined if we won or lost today, and they took us on their back," Anderson said.

GATE CITY (23-5)

Anderson 19, Parks 0, Bays 6, Salyer 18, Hackney 15, Johnson 2, Smith 1, Potts 0, Williams 0. Totals: 21 14-15 61.
KING WILLIAM (21-6)
Carter 0, Hill 21, Clark 12, Beahr 4, Williams 6, Ballard 2, Jackson 2, Zvolanek 0, Carey 0, Beahr 0, Powell 0, Holmes 0, Johnson 0. Totals: 18 11-22 47.
Gate City ------------------------- 12 12 15 22 -- 61
King William ------------------------- 14 9 12 12 -- 47

3-point goals: GC Salyer 4, Hackney.