Verbena kept it close but lost to Class 1A, Area 7 foe Notasulga, 63-58, on Monday.

The Red Devils (9-9, 0-4 area) scored only 10 points in the third period and trailed 48-39 going into the fourth.

“We just caved to pressure,” Verbena coach Jonathan Shedd said. “They had been pressing us the whole game, and we had handled it.

“It’s just a case of these kids never having played in a game where you have to play four quarters against a team that’s very athletic.”

Brandon White poured in 26 points for Verbena, but that output was matched by Fredrick McKenzie’s 27 points for Notasulga.