New Kent returns to court, survives Charles City comeback and miracle shot to win in overtime

New Kent's Calvin York (5) blows by Charles City guard Keondre Barnes on his way to a 26-point performance.

Robb Johnson photo

For the last two weeks, New Kent’s Trojans varsity boys’ basketball team has been sitting out of action and practices due to COVID-19 protocols and procedures. It was befitting that their return to the court pitted them against rival Charles City County.

In a game that saw scoring takeovers, massive runs, comebacks, and a buzzer-beater to send the game to overtime, New Kent withstood every Charles City effort to emerge 84-79 in Friday night’s regular season finale for both teams.

Similar to their earlier contest, New Kent used the size of Kevin Harris against the much smaller Panthers. Pounding the ball into the big man propelled the visiting Trojans to an 11-2 run. The Panthers were able to battle back, but it was New Kent who ended up ahead 19-13 after the end of the first quarter.

Charles City’s speed tactic turned the tide against a Trojan team that became fatigued due to the long layoff. Panther guard Kameron Johnson pumped in 13 points for the hosts in the second quarter to not only overcome the six-point deficit but give the hosts a five-point lead (36-31) heading into the halftime break.

But the intermission saw New Kent rejuvenated thanks to the hot shooting prowess of Calvin York. The Trojan guard used an array of trifectas and drives to shamble the Panther defense. York drained three long distance shots on his way to a 20-point scoring outburst to elevate the visitors’ advantage to 16 by the end of the third quarter (58-42).

And yet somehow, Charles City failed to yield to the deficit. Johnson continued to drop several baskets in for the hosts, while Bryan Lewis Jr. maneuvered his way for offensive putbacks to help Charles City claw back into the game.

New Kent continued to hold a steady lead, watching it increase to six after a pair of Tyler Adkins free throws.

With 11.8 seconds remaining and the Panthers trailing 71-65, Charles City pushed the ball down the floor. Johnson found teammate Kobie Trull in the corner who drained a three-pointer with 5.8 seconds left as the hosts called an immediate timeout to halt the clock.

On the ensuing inbound pass, Trull intercepted a long outlet pass from New Kent’s Jack Swynford that was intended for teammate Logan Frederick. As Trull brought the ball across halfcourt, he found Lewis streaking towards the three-point line. Lewis received the pass and hurled up a prayer, one that was answered with a bank off the backboard as the time hit zeroes and sent the game to overtime at 71 apiece.

During the extra stanza, both teams exchanged scores with Charles City taking a one-point lead (76-75) after a pair of Johnson free throws. But that would be the last lead the hosts would have the advantage as Frederick connected with a three-pointer at the top of the key. New Kent built a six-point advantage (82-76) when Charles City’s Johnson struck from three-point land in front of the Panthers’ bench to cut the lead in half.

On the next play, Frederick caught a long inbound pass deep underneath the rim. As he attempted to turn, he stepped on the out-of-bounds line, returning possession to Charles City with 27.4 remaining.

But the Trojans defense stifled the three-point line, forcing errant shots by Johnson, Trull, and Tayvion Harris and led to Adkins returning to the line. Adkins sank two additional free throws to seal the win for New Kent.

After the contest, New Kent Trojans head coach Garrett Ross spoke highly about his team’s efforts in the contest.

“This is our first game in 15 days and for us to shake the rust off and get going to fight through some adversity makes me proud of them,” he said. “We worked on a lot of pressure free throws at the end and for people to hit key free throws, that was huge for us.”

For Charles City Panthers head coach Terrell Brooks, he commented that his team didn’t realize the situation they were put in.

“We didn’t value the moment and we made it bigger than what it was,” Brooks commented. “Part of basketball is timely situations.

“We took bad shots and a lot of times, we did not get back on defense,” he added. “That put us in a chase situation and we just have to fix some things going forward.”

York’s 26 points led New Kent (3-3) in the scoring column. Teammates Harris (16), Thomas Francis (14) and Swynford (12) also finished in double figures. Adkins contributed with six points, and Isaiah Carr pitched in with three.

Charles City (6-6) received a career high 40 points from Johnson, while Lewis also finished in double figures with 15 points. Trull pumped in nine, Keondre Barnes added eight, Harris tossed in five, and Taylor Bey chipped in with two points.