New Kent rolls past Charles City, 100-80
When New Kent’s Trojans and Charles City’s Panthers step on the court to renew their home-and-home basketball rivalry, a highly competitive, often close, and sometimes surprising clash is in store. But those scenarios failed to play out in the two teams’ first meeting Monday night.
The contest featured a New Kent team ranked first in the state’s Group AA poll versus a Charles City squad dominated by young players trying to find their identity at the varsity level. And there were no surprises.
Less than five minutes into the contest, the host Trojans owned a 24-4 lead. They never looked back on the way to a 100-80 victory. New Kent upped its unbeaten record to 14-0 while Charles City dipped to 3-11.
New Kent’s control from the outset enabled coach Ed Allen to substitute liberally. The Panthers, meanwhile, regained composure following the Trojans’ initial onslaught, and in the third quarter, managed to reduce the New Kent lead to 15. But that was as close as the contest would get.
“Everybody gets to play in a game like this, and everybody needs experience,” Allen said afterward. “There was a big crowd here tonight, and it was a neat thing for the kids to get to play before a large crowd. It was a really great crowd.
“We played well in spots, but overall we played pretty sloppy, but I’m okay with that,” he said.
Charles City coach Sharone Bailey said his players did not start out with the intensity expected when taking on a top-ranked opponent and bitter rival.
“We came out flat, and that’s the way we’ve started every single game this season. It’s like we don’t show up to play,” he complained.
“But then we came back in the second half,” he said. “Our guys never quit, and they haven’t quit all season.”
As for assessing New Kent, Bailey said, “They’re a pretty decent ball club.”
New Kent placed five in double figures led by Steven Allen’s 19 points and 16 from Justin Williams who pumped in three shots from three-point range during the hosts’ game-opening run. Adam Otey tossed in 13 while Matt Fultz scored 12 off the bench and Paul Robinson, pressed into starting duty in place of the injured Paul Kearney, totaled 11.
Everett Christian, Zach Jacobs, and Josh Brown each scored five followed by Neko Burson’s four, Chuck Evans’ three, and two each from Kaleb Lamb and Anthony Snipes.
Charles City’s Dominique Williams and Trevor Jones tied for game-high honors with 21 points each. Roger Williams finished with 10 while Terrance Banks added nine, Jamie Howard scored seven, and Wendell Jones, Gregory Cotman, and KeiShaun Cotman ended with four apiece.
In the JV game, New Kent pulled away in the second quarter, taking a 40-21 halftime lead on the way to a 71-46 win.
Dre Washington scored a game-high 23 points to lead New Kent. Dylan Walton pumped in 11 followed by Travis Claytor’s seven, Chase Dunn’s six, Zach Taylor’s five, four each from Tanner Luck and Jared Dickerson, Rashad Bentley’s three, and Conner Gilland’s one.
Marvin Allen’s 14 points topped Charles City. Jaelan Cotman scored eight followed by Avery Jones’ six, five each from Jovan Howard and Jevon Johnson, Jaelen Williams’ three, two each from JeQuan Carroll and Mike Allen, and Tevin Brown’s one.