New Kent Charles City Chronicle

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

In battle of runs, Mathews uses final one to upend Charles City

By Andre Jones | December 7, 2018 10:36 pm

Charles City's Keondre Barnes (2) splits Mathews defenders Jackson Putt (30) and Branden Hunley (34) during a drive to the basket.

Andre' Jones photo

In a game of ping pong, fast-paced action back-and-forth eventually leads to one person having momentum before their opponent takes back that control. In Friday night’s basketball contest between Charles City and Mathews, it was the visitors who capitalized from the final swing to take the win.

Closing out the game on a 17-3 run, Mathews used the final run to defeat Charles City 83-69 in the Tidewater District opener for both teams.

In the early stages of the contest, the Panthers opened the game with a run. Kameron Johnson’s free throws along with Christian Stewart’s lay-up gave the hosts an 8-2 advantage. After a score by Mathews’ Caleb Thomas, Panther forward Leo Charity’s corner three-pointer stretched the lead to seven (11-4).

But the visiting Blue Devils had an answer by the name of Christian Williams. William’s close basket was followed by his three from the wing. After Charity’s easy shot, Williams launched sank another trifecta, this time from the corner to bring the Blue Devils within one. That lead was wiped away moments later as Mathews teammate Will Hutcheson connected with a three on his own. That momentum allowed the visitors to take a 19-15 lead heading into quarter two.

The points continued to pile up in the Blue Devils favor, adding six more points and forcing Charles City to take a time out. With the lead maintained steady at double figures (30-20), the offensive pendulum tilted back in the Panthers favor. Keenan Stewart’s lay-in was followed by Johnson to Charity’s connection for the score. Steven Williams lay-in cut the margin to four (30-26), forcing Mathews to call a time-out. After that break, Williams’ brother Rashad drained a corner three to squeeze the deficit to one.

The Blue Devils recovered thanks to drawing fouls on the Panthers and heading to the free throw line. After building the lead back to five, Rashad Williams drained a trifecta in front of Mathews’ bench. A lay-in by Charity and two free throws by Keenan Stewart provided Charles City with a 37-35 lead at the halftime break.

Christian Williams scored the first five points to return the lead to Mathews at the beginning of the third quarter. But back-to-back long-distance connections by Charles City’s Christian Stewart helped launch Charles City to its biggest advantage of the night (48-42).

But like a see-saw, Mathews tilted momentum thanks to Caleb Thomas’ big second half. A three-pointer and a steal and lay-up returned the advantage to Mathews (52-49).

Transitioning into the fourth fame and with a two-point lead, Thomas continued to pump in points for the visitors. His follow on a teammate’s miss along with two free throws stretched the lead to seven (62-55). But Thomas’ enthusiasm on his next putback resulted in a technical foul and another swing in momentum in the favor of the Panthers.

After Charity sank one of the technical shots, Keenan Stewart converted a three-pointer from the top of the key. Next, Keenan found cousin Christian on a lay-up and Charity’s follow-up conversion cut Mathews lead to a mere point (64-63). After two free throws were made by Hutcheson, Johnson’s three-pointer from the wing tied the game at 66 apiece with 4:12 remaining on the clock.

But the tilting hand finally favored Mathews for the remainder of the game. Up by one, Christian Williams shot in the paint was complimented by back-to-back buckets by Thomas. Five consecutive free throws by the guests returned the advantage to double figures in what essentially clinched the game for Mathews.

After the contest, Charles City head coach Terrell Brooks said that his team didn’t take full advantage when momentum swung in the favor of the home team.

“We were not patient and that led to turnovers during that time,” he said. “We had a lack of court awareness.

“We tried to take charges too deep under the basket and we ended up getting fouls instead,” Brooks continued. “We have to get to the glass and stop giving up second chance points and tonight it was about the effort.”

Christian Stewart’s 16 points topped the scoring column for Charles City (0-4). Joining him in double figures were Johnson (15), Charity (13), and Rashad Williams (10). Keenan Stewart finished with seven, Grubbs contributed with four, and Steven Williams tossed in two.

Thomas was the game’s high scorer with 32 points (24 coming in the second half) and teammate Christian Williams finished with 22 for Mathews.