New Kent starts fast, eases past Poquoson 79-50

New Kent's Darren Harris reaches over the back of a Poquoson foe, attempting to steal a rebound.

Alan Chamberlain photo

Showing no ill effects from a long holiday layoff, New Kent’s Trojans wasted little time in asserting dominance during their return to the basketball court. The hosts opened Wednesday’s contest with a 9-0 run and never looked back in rolling over Poquoson’s Islanders 79-50.

“Thankfully,” New Kent coach Ronnie Cox said over his team’s avoidance of a post-holiday letdown.

“The first day back from the break, we couldn’t move the ball out of a wet paper bag, but tonight we were unselfish, moved the ball well, played good defense—everything a coach wants to see.”

The Islanders, meanwhile, had no answer in the paint for starting forwards Jordan Hernandez and Darren Harris. The duo combined for 13 of the Trojans’ 23 first quarter points and the lion’s share of 15 rebounds in the opening period alone.

“We knew [Poquoson] would play zone, so we went big tonight,” Cox said. “With the big lineup we gave up a little quickness, but Jordan, Darren, Dean [Powell], and Michael [Amadeo] all played well inside.”

Defensively, the Trojans, now 6-4, held the Islanders to nine first quarter points. Less than two minutes into the second period, the hosts opened a 20-point advantage (30-10) and led by as many as 26 before halftime. Point guard Kyle Claytor showed the way with 13 points including a trio of three-pointers.

Three Trojans ended in double figures led by Amari Brown’s 22 points. Claytor totaled 19 while Hernandez tossed in 17. Harris finished with seven followed by Ryan Lugg’s four, Powell’s three, two each from Ryan Curle, Evan Branch, and Hunter Torres, and Amadeo’s one.