Trojans denied Region I title

New Kent’s Trojans had Brunswick’s top-seeded and host Bulldogs on the ropes. The visitors owned a 27-19 second quarter lead behind 59 percent shooting from the floor, but could not administer the knockout blow.

That’s because the Trojans’ shooting touch and ability to take care of the ball deserted them for a nine-minute stretch over the second and third quarters. During the span, they missed all eight shots from the floor and turned the ball over eight times.

Brunswick, meanwhile, gradually erased New Kent’s lead and forged ahead 34-27. The Bulldogs then withstood a Trojan fourth quarter rally to claim the Region I basketball crown with a 49-46 win.

Last Friday’s contest relegated New Kent to a road trip this Saturday to James Madison University in Harrisonburg where they will take on Region II champion Western Albemarle in the Group AA state tournament quarterfinal round. The winner advances next week to the semifinals inside VCU’s Siegel Center.

“[The Bulldogs] were bigger, stronger, and faster, but still we had a chance to win at the end,” New Kent coach Ed Allen said after his team dipped to 24-2 overall.

“We had only three offensive rebounds the whole game, and I think that and not getting to the foul line in the second half were the keys,” he said.

With 6:17 left to play, New Kent reached the seven-foul limit, placing the Bulldogs in the one-and-one. Down the stretch, the hosts were in the double bonus. They capitalized somewhat, converting six of 12 second half free throws.

By contrast, only New Kent’s Paul Kearney got to the line in the second half, sinking the second of a two-shot opportunity with less than minute to go in the game. Brunswick committed just five team fouls in the second half.

“Last night [against James Monroe], we got to the line and made our free throws and [the Yellow Jackets] didn’t get there,” Allen said. “Tonight it was just the opposite. They shot free throws and we didn’t, and part of that was us because we didn’t run our offense and go to the basket.”

Brunswick, meanwhile, would need free throws to hold off New Kent in the end. After tossing in 18 unanswered points during the Trojans’ scoring troubles, the hosts could not throw a knockout punch of their own.

Adam Otey’s basket in the lane ended New Kent’s nine-minute drought with 3:36 left in the third quarter. The field goal produced the Trojans’ lone points of the quarter. But Brunswick sank only 3 of 11 shots from the floor in the third while turning the ball over seven times and had just a five-point lead heading into the final period.

Steven Allen, New Kent’s leading scorer, found the range from three-point land in the fourth, drilling three straight to twice cut the Brunswick lead to two. His lay-in with 3:22 to go made it a one-point game, just before Everett Christian launched a three to overtake the Bulldogs at 45-45 with 2:23 left.

Allen stole the ball on Brunswick’s next possession, but the Bulldogs in turn forced a Trojan turnover that led to Casey Walker’s three, putting Brunswick in front 48-45 and ahead to stay with 1:17 left.

Leading 49-46 after the teams traded free throws, Brunswick turned the ball over twice in the final 30 seconds. Otey, however, missed a trey after the first turnover and, following the second, Christian’s three-point try from out front with nine seconds left caromed off the backboard and did not catch enough of the front rim to drop through the hoop.

Brunswick’s Javonte Green rebounded Christian’s miss and was fouled immediately. Green stepped to the line with a double bonus and :08.3 showing on the clock, but missed both, opening the door a third time for New Kent. Allen’s half-court heave, however, glanced off the rim at the buzzer.

Allen scored 13 of his team-high 17 points in the fourth quarter. Kearney tossed in nine followed by Otey’s seven, five each from Christian and Kaleb Lamb, and Justin Williams’ three. Walker led Brunswick with 20.

“I think we were a little in awe of their height and shot-blocking ability,” Ed Allen said. “But I’m amazed we could come up here and play with them. I think we showed people we were capable of playing with probably the best team in the state.”