Some people worried that when all-time scorer Travis McKie left Richmond’s John Marshall High School, the Justices’ basketball fortunes might dip.

It didn’t happen.

McKie went on to greatness at Wake Forest University and the Justices kept rolling.

Now, concerns may arise about John Marshall High School’s fortunes following the departure of their All-State shooting star Jeremy Carter-Sheppard.

Coach Ty White says that as much as he hates losing seniors Carter-Sheppard and stalwart Xavier Trent, the John Marshall High drumbeat will continue.

“We’ve got a program here,” Coach White said after his Justices were erased by Portsmouth’s I.C. Norcom High School 75-62 in the State 3A semifinals last Friday at the Siegel Center at Virginia Commonwealth University.

“We work with our players. We train them. We’ll be back,” he said.

In a postgame press conference, Coach White conceded Norcom High’s dominance — the Greyhounds led 60-38 in the fourth quarter — while he praised the last game for his senior stars.

“It’s kids like this that make you want to coach,” he said passionately of his seniors. “They make you proud to coach.”

They’ll be missed, but the ball will keep bouncing.

From this year’s 22-7 squad, three starters will return — 6-foot-6 Greg Jones, 6-foot-7 Isaiah Anderson and 6-foot Levar Allen.

Jones, who had12 rebounds in the semifinals, and Anderson, who is still recovering from the flu in the game against Norcom High, will be seniors next season. Allen, as a freshman, had 10 points, logging 28 minutes in last Friday’s game.

Both Allen and another ninth-grader, DeMarr McRae (seven points, 17 minutes), have that “it” factor coaches covet. Even on a difficult night, they didn’t back down.

The future “Levar & DeMarr Show” figures to draw raves.

Other players also will return next season for the Justices, including 6-foot-10 junior JeQuan Smith, a work in progress. Another player on the watch list is Isaiah Todd, a 6-foot-8 incoming freshman.

John Marshall High has become an established powerhouse.

During Carter-Sheppard’s career, John Marshall High was 90-21 — State Group AAA runners-up in 2013, State 3A champs in 2014 and State 3A semifinalists this season. The stylish southpaw struck nylon on 260 3-point bombs en route to 1,488 career points.

He will haul his smooth jumper and handle to Orlando to play for the University of Central Florida in the powerful Big East Conference.

Both Carter-Sheppard (23 points, 5 steals) and Trent (15 points, 5 rebounds) were valiant in defeat against the quick Greyhounds.

On any level, Norcom High School dominates. Norcom finished 29-1 after defeating Hopewell High School in overtime in the state final Saturday night.

One of three Portsmouth high schools (along with 4A Churchland High and Woodrow Wilson High), Norcom High won Group AAA titles in 2010 and 2011, and was 4A State champ in 2014 and 2015.

Norcom High Coach Leon Goolsby’s program has won five state crowns in the last seven years, including three in a row.

In postgame interviews, he was asked how his Greyhounds would fare against 4A, 5A and 6A kings.

“I’d like our chances,” he said.

He continued, “I’d prefer all six divisions put together and determine one state champ.”

In jest, he added, “Bring ’em on. LeBron, Golden State. We’re ready.”

There is a saying that the best way to predict the future is to study the past.

If so, expect Norcom High School to be back at the Siegel Center for the 2017 state championship tournament.

And John Marshall High School, too.