Lafayette eases past New Kent

By Alan Chamberlain | January 16, 2008 11:34 am

Beyond the game’s opening three minutes, Lafayette’s league-leading Rams had few problems in overcoming New Kent’s host Lady Trojans. Behind Addie Williams’ game-high 30 points, the Rams cruised to a 71-39 win in last Thursday’s Bay Rivers District basketball clash.

Lafayette improved to 9-1 in Bay Rivers while New Kent fell to 1-9, 1-11 overall.

“They re talented people,” New Kent coach Gierek Walker said concerning the Rams. “But then you expect that when you have girls who have played together for a while.”

Lafayette jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead before New Kent got back in the game on baskets from Jalesa Johnson, Jordan Arrington, and Maria Bates. Kayla Timberlake buried a shot from the perimeter following a Ram turnover to deadlock the affair at 8-8 with 5:10 left in the opening period.

But the Lady Trojans had no answer for Williams who pumped in 14 first quarter points including the basket that broke the 8-8 tie and put the Rams in front to stay. New Kent failed to score over the final five minutes of the period. Lafayette, meanwhile, embarked on a 13-0 run to own a 21-8 advantage heading into quarter two.

Chante Garner’s baseline shot ended the Ram run early in quarter two, but the hosts could not pull closer than 11 points. By halftime, the Rams had extended their lead to 21 at 35-14. The visitors led by as many as 30 in the second half.

“We play hard and we try. That’s all I can ask for,” Walker said. “We’ve got to learn how to play through adversity, but I’m glad we kept shooting, and we played tough.”

Timberlake tossed in 15 points, including a trio of treys, to lead New Kent. Garner finished with eight while Bates and Johnson scored six apiece and Arrington contributed three.

New Kent fared better in the JV contest, even after Lafayette closed to within one as the third quarter ended. New Kent used a 14-2 fourth quarter run to put the contest out of reach on the way to a 51-37 victory.

Tyler Savage poured in a game-high 27 points to pace the winners. Raven Randall, Kandice Bullock, and Kandra Taylor each scored six while Amber Jones, Tyra Williams, and Kristen Tucker chipped in two apiece.