The Nansemond-Suffolk Academy boys’ basketball team will head on the road to take on Hargrave Military Academy in the state opener.

The Saints grabbed the 10th seed for the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association Division II state tournament. As the 10th seed, NSA will be on the road all the way through.

Despite losing in the opening round of the conference tournament to Steward School, the Saints’ confidence remains high. In a tournament held at Virginia Episcopal School back in December, NSA beat Hargrave 68-65. Coach Chris Fuhrmann believes that familiarity will help.

“Anytime you can play a team you beat, that helps a bit,” Fuhrmann said. “On the other side of it, we know they are going to be motivated. So, we have to come out and be ready to play.”

Last year, NSA lost to Hargrave on the road in the state tournament. Fuhrmann believes that even though he wasn’t coaching the team last year, them being familiar with the environment will be good. The Saints believe it will all start on the defensive end, and everything else will take care of itself.

“Our strength is being able to get stops and being able to get out in transition,” he said. “We definitely need to bring the energy. Normally when we do what we do, we get the offense going a bit. We are at our best when we are moving the ball, and other guys are touching it.”

The Saints are expected to be at full health after dealing with a few injuries and a couple of players being under the weather. With a year of experience under their belts in last year’s tournament, the Saints are confident they can make a run this year.

NSA will be at Hargrave at 6 p.m. Tuesday. If the Saints win, they will be back on the road Wednesday night at Virginia Episcopal.