Unable to hold lead, New Kent denied in first win quest

New Kent's Deysha Goodlet (center) engages in a battle for control of a rebound with a pair of York Falcons.

Alan Chamberlain photo

A second quarter surge resulting in a double-digit lead raised hopes that an end to a lengthy basketball losing streak loomed well within reach for New Kent’s Lady Trojans.

Facing York’s invading Falcons and clinging to a narrow one-point lead, the hosts unleashed a 15-3 run to seemingly take command in Tuesday night’s contest. But when the run’s catalyst — guard Deysha Goodlet who poured in 11 of those 15 points — fouled out with two minutes left the third quarter, victory also took a seat beside her on the bench.

With Goodlet disqualified, the Lady Trojans could not generate a scoring threat over the game’s final 10 minutes. York outscored their hosts 24-11 to escape with a 59-51 win.

Afterward, Lady Trojan coach Vann Baker said she was aware of Goodlet’s foul trouble and faced a dilemma at halftime. Goodlet picked up three first half fouls.

“I had two ways to go,” she said. “I could take her out and go to our spread much sooner or keep her in and ask her to step back and play conservatively.”

Baker chose the latter. But Goodlet was saddled with personal number four soon after play resumed before fouling out at the 2:03 mark.

“We wanted to keep the pressure on [York] and keep our lead,” Baker said. “But sometimes you win, and sometimes you lose.”

Except for a couple of ties, New Kent led the entire first half. York had pulled within one (19-18) when Goodlet sank a pair from the foul stripe to ignite the second quarter run.

Next, she dished out an assist to Kelsey Yates for a basket in the paint. Then came another free throw before completing a conventional three-point play for a 27-19 advantage with 2:49 left in the half.

Goodlet scored her team’s next three field goals, all off steals, as the lead ballooned to 34-21 with 1:25 left. York managed to close the gap to 34-25 at the break.

York’s Madison VanDyke, who tossed in a game-high 36 points, triggered the Falcon comeback. By the time Goodlet fouled out, the visitors were within five at 40-35. New Kent held off the Falcons until Mahlina Shurtt’s three with 5:22 to play handed the visitors the lead for good (49-48).

Goodlet led New Kent, now 0-13, with 16 points, all in the first half. Yates totaled eight followed by seven each from Peyton Slater, Kayla Davis, and Brynne Jones, Tessa Gray’s four, and Nakesha Glover’s two.

“It’s frustrating,” Baker said over her team falling short in its quest for a first win. “We didn’t have gas at the end. But this was much more of an improvement from the first time we played [York]. We were more composed and stayed in the game much longer.

“The 51 points we scored is the most we’ve scored in years,” she said. “We’ll take those sort of small victories when they come.”