New Kent Lady Trojans use defensive pressure to contain Tabb’s Lady Tigers

By Robb Johnson | February 9, 2022 2:22 pm

New Kent's Aubrey Hyndshaw takes it easy with a lay-up at the basket.

Robb Johnson photo

New Kent’s Lady Trojans continue to click at the right time. A Tuesday night matchup hosting rival Tabb’s Lady Tigers kept the needle moving in the right direction.

Behind a pair of 20-point performances from McKenna Mueller and Katelyn Norman, New Kent rolled toa 64-29 over their Bay Rivers District Rival.

New Kent jumped out early with a 6-0 run to kick off the contest. Hyndshaw’s jumper added to that advantage as the Lady Trojans’ defense held Tabb without a basket from the field before Lena Shandor’s conversion. However, by that time, New Kent had upped its advantage to 10 (13-3) before taking a 16-5 lead into the first quarter.

The visitors were able to cut the lead back down to 10, but the next two Lady Trojan possessions saw Aubrey Hyndshaw and Hannah Drewer connect on baskets. Along with Mueller’s trifecta, the hosts took a 30-14 lead heading into the halftime break.

Tabb came out a little more aggressive in the second half, outscoring the hosts by two points in the first five minutes. But the big 18-point lead only grew larger as Norman dominated the paint. The dagger in the quarter as Mueller converted a trifecta while being foul. She sank the free throw to finish off the four-point play as New Kent took a 51-29 lead into the fourth quarter. From there, a 13-0 run by the hosts and keeping Tabb off the scoreboard in the final frame sealed the contest.

After the game, New Kent Lady Trojans Head Coach Neko Burson talked about clicking on the defensive end at the right time.

“We have had a lot of great defensive games, but I think tonight showed the trust we have in each other,” he commented. “We got into the right spots, and everyone was rotating. It was a team defensive effort.”

Mueller and Norman’s 20 points led New Kent, whose record improves to 11-6 on the year. Hyndshaw finished with nine points, Drewer contributed seven points, Jaiden McCoy tossed in five, Darian Mason added two, and Jakeira Thomas chipped in with one.