New Kent survives free throws, foul trouble in triumph over Lafayette

New Kent's Josiah Reedy (10) blows by Lafayette's Karmelo Joseph on his way for a lay-up.

Robb Johnson photo

Getting through the final weeks of the basketball season for New Kent’s Trojans will not only dictate their success, but also if they earn a spot for a postseason run. A Feb. 3 contest against the visiting Lafayette Rams proved to be a grit and grind type of game for the hosts.

But despite two players fouling out and having fewer opportunities at the free throw line, New Kent was able to snag a 53-51 win in the Bay Rivers District affair.

In the early going, the hosts could not put any points on the board for the first five minutes until Will Ross’ trifecta sparked a 10-3 run to close out the quarter. In the second frame, Ross and teammate Jack Swynford connected on back-to-back three-pointers, providing New Kent a 16-10 advantage.

As Lafayette trailed 18-12 with 4:36 before halftime, the Rams orchestrated their biggest move of the night, stringing together a 13-4 run to close out the half and taking a three-point lead into the intermission.

New Kent clawed their way back into the contest in the third, thanks to Phillip Woodley’s offensive outburst. Woodley scored seven of the next 11 points for the host as part of a 15-3 run, returning the lead to the Trojans (37-31) as the fourth quarter began.

In the fourth, Lafayette’s attacking of the basket resulted in New Kent committing several fouls. The Rams would reach the charity stripe 19 times, with their aggressiveness also resulting in New Kent starters Swynford and Calvin York fouling out. However, the visitors only managed to drain seven of them in the final frame.

Meanwhile, New Kent held a three-point lead (48-45) when Ross converted on a reverse lay-in with 53 ticks remaining. But once again, the Rams bounced back and cut the lead down to one (51-50) with 10 seconds left.

Ross would miss the front end of a one-and-one, but teammate Kyle Diggs forced a tie-up, resulting in a jump ball and possession going to the Trojans. New Kent forward Joe Buchman was fouled and sank both free throws with six second remaining.

The hosts elected to foul Lafayette’s Ian Nieto, sending the visitors to the foul line instead of allowing them to have a three-point attempt. After Nieto sank the first one, he intentionally missed the second in an attempt for the Rams to score late. But New Kent grabbed the missed and chucked the ball down the court to have time expire and claim the win.

After the contest, New Kent Head Coach Garrett Ross talked about his team’s ability to finish the game.

“This was a team win and we had a lot of adversity and foul trouble,” the victorious coach said. “We had different people step up at different times and they did something big there.

“It’s a tough district and this is day two of a back-to-back and three games in four days,” Ross added. “So, this is fun.”

Woodley’s 17 paced New Kent, who improves their record to 7-8. York also finished in double figures with 10 points. Ross added eight, Josiah Reedy contributed seven, and the duo of Diggs and Buchman chipped in with two points apiece.