Warhill 4th tops Lady Trojans

After bolting to an early lead, New Kent’s Lady Trojans encountered a difficult task in maintaining momentum. Warhill’s visiting Lions wiped out the early deficit, played their hosts on even terms into the final quarter, and then moved in front on the way to a 53-46 Bay Rivers District basketball win.

Too many missed shots in the lane and not converting enough free throws translated into another frustrating loss for New Kent. With the Jan. 12 outcome, the Lady Trojans fell to 0-9 in the district and 1-11 overall.

“Once again it was a great effort and great hustle,” New Kent coach Shequra Dickerson said afterward. “But [Warhill] hit some great shots down the stretch and we did not get rebounds in key situations.

“It was a much better overall performance tonight,” she said. “Now we have to get ready for the second half of the season.”

New Kent dominated in the early going, jumping out to a 12-5 lead after one quarter. But Warhill kept composure and gradually worked back into the contest. With 2:10 left in the first half, the visitors overtook their hosts at 16-16.

After the break, New Kent threatened to pull away on a pair of Maria Bates baskets that broke a halftime deadlock and staked the hosts to a 24-20 lead. But the Lions sank 9 of 11 third quarter free throws to stay within striking distance before evening the score at 34-34 heading into the final period.

Forest DeLuca’s conventional three-point play broke a 37-37 deadlock just over a minute into the fourth quarter to put Warhill ahead to stay. The Lions upped their advantage to seven before the Lady Trojans used a 7-2 run close the gap. Jalesa Johnson sank both free throws in a double bonus situation with 1:42 to go to pull New Kent within a field goal at 47-45.

But after a Glori King free throw, Christine Curtis drove the baseline to put the Lions up by five with a minute left. Four seconds later, Molly Maffei converted one of two free throws, cutting the margin to 50-46. The Lions, however, put the game out of reach on Shakila Holmes’ basket in the lane off dribble penetration with just over 30 seconds to play.

Bates and Maffei each scored nine points to lead New Kent. Johnson finished with eight followed by six each from Tyler Savage and Nikki Jones and four apiece from Rachel Baldwin and Kandra Taylor.