No. 1 NK stomps Grafton
Before the first quarter ended, New Kent’s Trojans built a double-digit lead on Grafton’s visiting Clippers. And for three quarters, the hosts never let up.
In a Bay Rivers District basketball clash virtually over by halftime, New Kent kept its record unblemished heading into the holiday break with a 78-58 triumph. The Dec. 16 outcome, coupled with a victory at Jamestown two nights later, raised New Kent’s record to 6-0 in the district and 7-0 overall.
The Trojans (8-0 with Monday’s overtime win at Bruton) are number one in this week’s Associated Press state Group AA poll.
The Trojans shot 58 percent from the floor in the first half, including a 9-for-13 (69 percent) clip in the second quarter, on the way to a 44-23 lead at the break. Forward Adam Otey (16 points) and guard Kaleb Lamb (12 points) combined to toss in five more than the entire Grafton team.
New Kent’s defense, meanwhile, came up with nine steals and forced a dozen Clipper turnovers in all, converting most into points.
“We can’t play much better than that,” Trojan coach Ed Allen said afterward. “We ran our offense and hit our shots. And then we got offensive boards and kept our spacing. We just looked good.
“Lamb played well, Everett [Christian] played well, and Otey was sick, but he played well,” the coach added. “It was our best performance so far. We didn’t get away from what we wanted to do and get in la-la land and let Grafton come back.”
New Kent’s starters further dismantled the Clippers after the break before Allen cleared his bench to start the final quarter. To show for three quarters’ work, the hosts had four players in double figures led by Otey’s 16 points. Lamb finished with 15 while Justin Williams and Steven Allen tossed in 12 apiece.
Williams led the team in assists with nine. Allen, saddled with three first half fouls, scored 10 in the third quarter, three registered on a half-court rainbow at the buzzer to hand New Kent a 69-37 advantage heading into quarter four.
Rounding out the scoring for the hosts, Paul Kearney tossed in eight followed by Christian’s four, three each from Anthony Snipes and Matt Fultz, two apiece from Chuck Evans and E.J. Gray, and Paul Robinson’s one.
Joe Cibrin led Grafton with 22 points.