Grafton’s press frustrates Lady Trojans in Bay Rivers contest

New Kent’s Haley Hyndshaw powers through the contact of Grafton’s Ziarra America on a drive to the basket.

Robb Johnson photo

New Kent’s Lady Trojans searched for a win to boost their record in the standards in a last effort push to make the playoffs. However, an offensive rebound barrage provided second chance opportunities that the visiting Lady Islanders from Poquoson did not squander.

The inability to remain mentally focused factored in New Kent’s 46-31 defeat in Friday night basketball action.

Grafton’s press overwhelmed the host early on, leading to traps in the backcourt and reckless turnovers. And when the Lady Trojans were not turning the ball over, boxing out members of Grafton’s team became a chore. Lady Clipper Nikki Gibson drained two shots from behind the arc to power the visitors to an 18-7 lead after the first frame. Grafton’s defense also held New Kent in check, holding the hosts to a mere six points, all from Madison Foley, as they faced a 13-point halftime deficit (26-13).

Halftime adjustments couldn’t help New Kent, as turnovers piled up and allowed Grafton to dictate the pace of the game. From there, any threat of a comeback was minimized.

After the game, New Kent Lady Trojan head coach Neko Burson was baffled when he talked about the losses his team suffered against Bay Rivers competition.

“It was really just a lack of focus,” he said. “We knew what they were going to do, and we practiced for it and we lost our heads.

“We had opportunities and we missed opportunities,” Burson continued. “A lot of times we rely on the three too much, especially when we get down double digits. We get too excited when we get looks at the basket and we miss layups.”

New Kent (6-10) received 15 points from Foley. Natasha Lange contributed eight, Haley Hyndshaw added six, and Bailee Hellebrandt chipped in with two.