New Kent Charles City Chronicle

News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | March 29, 2024

Trojans struggle after first quarter, fall 77-69 to Lafayette

By Alan Chamberlain | January 6, 2017 9:59 pm

New Kent's Amari Brown attempts to swat away a rebound snared by Lafayette's C.J. Logan.

Alan Chamberlain photo

Lafayette’s Rams broke open a close contest behind 65 percent shooting from the floor in the third quarter on the way to upending New Kent’s host Trojans 77-69 in Friday night basketball.

The Trojans allowed a first quarter lead to slip away, settling for a 29-29 tie at halftime. Lafayette then quickly broke the deadlock off a pair of steals to start the third quarter, and the Trojans could never recover.

“We never really could get over the top,” said Trojan coach Ronnie Cox. “We’d scratch and claw our way back, but we weren’t really able to close the deal.”

After a ragged start for both teams, New Kent appeared on track toward pulling away. But a 13-6 lead with under a minute to go in the opening period began to slip away, thanks in part to frequent fouls and clutch free throw shooting by the Rams. The visitors sank 12 of 14 shots from the stripe in the first half.

When play resumed in the second half, Lafayette utilized quickness to mount a 10-point lead (45-35) just past the third quarter’s midpoint. Late in the period, the Rams extended the advantage to 14.

On three occasions in the final quarter, the Trojans closed within five — first on a pair of Ryan Lugg free throws (57-52), next on C.J. Reeders’ basket off penetration into the lane (59-54), and then on Kyle Claytor’s bonus free throws (61-56). But as evidenced by the scores, the Rams had an answer each time to hold off their hosts.

Eventually, New Kent surged within three, but only 33 seconds remained in the game when Lugg buried a corner three to make the scoreboard read 69-66. The Rams converted at the foul line to put the game away.

“Late in a close game, you’ve got to hit your free throws and take care of the ball,” Cox said. “We hit our free throws, but we turned the ball over.”

Claytor scored a team-high 24 points to lead New Kent, now 6-5. Jordan Hernandez tossed in 18 followed by Reeders’ nine, Lugg’s eight, Amari Brown’s six, and two apiece from Dean Powell and Darren Harris.