Lady Trojans stop Charles City with defense, roll to 75-19 win
New Kent’s Kayla Tirrado (34) squeezes her way underneath the basket to get a shot attempt off against Charles City’s Kailin Holland (25).Robb Johnson photo
When it comes to rivalry games, it usually doesn’t get any better when the Charles City Lady Panthers and New Kent Lady Trojans collide. In theory, Monday’s Dec. 4 contest was expected to bring intensity and passion. Instead, it saw the host Lady Trojans put on a clinic against the youthful Charles City squad.
New Kent scored the first 24 points and held Charles City without a field goal in the first half in a 75-19 shellacking.
New Kent came out early, taking the lead for good after Brynne Jones sank two free throws. Miscues by the Lady Panthers resulted in Lady Trojan Peyton Slater scoring five points in a row, including a scintillating hoop plus the foul to take a 7-0 lead. Slater’s antics along with teammate Haley Hyndshaw combined for the next four baskets for the hosts. New Kent’s onslaught reached 24 points before Charles City freshman Alexis Williams sank a free throw with 1:02 remaining in the opening frame.
The second quarter faired no better for Charles City, as they only scored four points from the free throw line, with three courtesy of Williams. Meanwhile, New Kent didn’t slow down the scoring, using a plethora of easy layups from crisp passing to outscore the visitors 22-4 and take a 48-5 lead into halftime.
Charles City finally connected from the field with five minutes in the third quarter to go as Skye Bradby drained a three-pointer. However, New Kent continued to find easy scores against a lackluster Lady Panthers’ defense, taking the first of two matchups in the rivalry.
New Kent head coach Neko Burson sent a message to his team to ensure that the Lady Trojans didn’t underestimate the visitors.
“We did now and were not going to take these guys for granted tonight,” said the victorious head coach. “In a rivalry game, you never know what can happen.
“We came out to play this game and prepare for it like it was any other game,” Burson added. “That is what our approach has to be.”
For Charles City, first year head coach Antoine King commented about his young squad that he expects to mature throughout the season.
“We have to keep pushing and not give up,” King commented. “Nobody wants to see us get blown out but we have to keep playing hard.
“When we get into the gym we have to practice hard and work on our conditioning,” he added. “Getting everyone together and fixing our mistakes will only help us improve us for the rest of the season.
New Kent (2-1) received a game high 19 points from Hyndshaw. Slater and Jones also finished in double figures with 13 and 10, respectively. Jada Hooker and Madison Foley each scored nine, Kayla Tirrado tossed in eight, Emma Bell scored six, and Abby Coutu chipped in with one.
Williams led Charles City (0-3) with 12 points. Bradby added six points and Tessa Young contributed one.