Cumberland County High School’s varsity boys basketball team took on the team that had held the No. 1 spot in the James River District for most of the regular season Saturday night in the district tournament semifinals and returned home in triumph.

The visiting No. 3 Dukes upended host No. 2 Bluestone High School 40-38 to advance to Monday’s 7 p.m. tourney title game at No. 1 Goochland High School (18-3).

Saturday’s semifinal came down to the final moments, featuring Cumberland’s leading scorer for the game, senior guard Mark “M.J.” Patterson Jr., and strong work on the boards.

“We were up by one with the ball,” Dukes Head Coach Tyrone Mosby said. “M.J. got fouled and made the first free throw and missed the second, but we got the rebound with three seconds and ran the clock out.”

Saturday was an “eclipse” moment for Cumberland, which has closed the gap with Bluestone over the course of the teams’ three contests this season. In their first meeting this season, Jan. 7, the host Barons won decisively, 47-31. On Feb. 1, the Dukes found themselves on the losing end of a 40-38 final score against visiting Bluestone.

The win Saturday improved Cumberland’s overall record this season to 15-7.

The Dukes will look to eclipse Goochland on Monday after going 0-2 against the Bulldogs during the regular season. Cumberland fell 55-42 on the road at Goochland Dec. 18 but closed the gap to 52-44 in a home loss Jan. 22.