New Kent beats Tabb for third time, advances to regional quarterfinals

By Robb Johnson | February 23, 2020 12:57 pm

New Kent's Madison Foley (00) locks down on defense against Tabb's Shannon Myatt (5).

Robb Johnson photo

There’s an old adage that says it’s tough to be the same team three times in a season. For the New Kent Lady Trojans, they suspended that saying for at least one season.

Despite a sluggish start, the hosting Lady Trojans upended Bay Rivers District rival in the Tabb Lady Tigers 53-39 in the first round of the Group 3A Region A playoffs Saturday afternoon.

With the game delayed a day due to inclement weather, the Lady Trojans found the early start rough on them. Tabb jumped out 5-2 before New Kent head coach Neko Burson called a timeout. The result was an 8-2 run by the hosts, with Lady Trojans Haley Hyndshaw and Madison Foley accounting for all the points.

Tabb’s Faith Hancock was able to cut New Kent’s lead down to three (10-8) after her trifecta, Katelyn Norman’s jumper and Natasha Lange steal and score provided the hosts a 14-8 lead after the first quarter.

Tabb cut the lead once again down to two early in the second quarter, but another Foley three-pointer to kick off the quarter and one to end the quarter highlighted a powerful second quarter that bestowed a 28-17 halftime lead. From there, New Kent continued its dominance in the second half to earn the win and a quarterfinal game at home against Booker T. Washington on Feb. 26.

After the contest, Burson talked about his team remaining humble during an exciting time of the year.

“It’s always hard you know,” he said. “Playoff basketball is just different basketball anyways.

“I had my reservations with us being out of school yesterday and not practicing, but I preached to the girls that we had to come out with a lot of energy,” Burson continued. “We got outhustled in the first half, but we were able to pick that up in the second half and change the game.”

Foley’s 17 points were the game high for the Lady Trojans. Norman’s 15 and McKenna Muelller’s 11 were the other double-digit scorers. Hannah Drewer and Hyndshaw tossed in three apiece, while the duo of Jaiden McCoy and Lange chipped in with two apiece.