Clippers have ‘Moore’ than enough to defeat New Kent

New Kent's Zach Manley is challenged by Grafton's Lester Johnson as he attempts to score.

Robb Johnson photo

There’s an old saying that “more is enough.” For the New Kent Trojans, facing the visiting Grafton Clippers on Jan. 26, Josh Moore was too much.
Moore posted a game-high 30 points as Grafton romped New Kent 83-54 to sweep the season series.

New Kent managed to hang with Grafton early on. After Trojan guard Ryan Curle’s three-pointer provided the hosts a lead to open the contest, it was Moore’s six straight points that put the visitors up for good.

New Kent tried to slow the offense down, resulting in Brandon Coutu’s uncontested score followed an acrobatic basket by Curle to cut the deficit to two (9-7). Grafton responded with a 10-5 run to provide some distance, but back-to-back lay-ups by Trojan teammates Zach Manley and Ke’Sean Taliaferro to bring the hosts within five to end the first quarter (21-16).

But from there Moore would lead the Clippers on a huge run in the second quarter. Moore dropped six of the first team’s eight points to open the stanza in what amounted to a 19-2 assault on the offensive end on the rim. By the time the dust settled for halftime, Grafton had built a 44-24 advantage.

New Kent’s effort in the final two frames were valiant, but Grafton’s better athletes and execution provided a comfortable win for the visitors.

After the contest, Trojan head coach Ronnie Cox provided a summary of the game after the dust settled.

“We couldn’t get into a gun-slinging match with these guys tonight,” he said. “Things worked in the first quarter and then, Grafton turned it up.

“You saw Josh Moore out their tonight and no matter what we did, he was able to counter,” Cox continued, calling the athlete a Division One prospect. “It’s a lot of teams out their who don’t have the answer to stop that guy.”

New Kent (4-13) was paced by Ben Housden’s 18 points. Curle added 12 while Manley tossed in eight, four each from Taliaferro and Mitch Morse, Jalen Banks and Jared McCaughan pitched in with three apiece, and Coutu chipped in with two.