Lafayette takes control on boards, at free throw line in win over New Kent

New Kent’s Dillon Mickles (left) drives in for an easy lay-up despite defensive pressure from a Lafayette defender.

Robb Johnson photo

A Dec. 14 contest between the homestanding New Kent Trojans and the visiting Lafayette Rams pitted the teams in a battle that shapes the Bay Rivers District. But for the homestanding Trojans, the inability to grab rebounds and make timely shots combined with few attempts at the free throw line were deciding factors in their 58-54 loss to the Rams.

Lafayette starting on a 6-0 run before New Kent’s Josiah Reedy snapped the scoring drought. After another Rams basket, Reedy converted a lay-up plus free throw, while teammate Dillon Mickles trifecta tied the game at eight apiece.

Lafayette would settle down, orchestrating an 8-3 run to end the opening quarter. As the team transitioned into the second quarter, Lafayette’s Karmelo Jefferson drained two long-distance balls, with teammate Asa Fehrenback connecting on one of his own to keep the visitors lead to eight (29-21) at the halftime break.

Lafayette opened the third quarter with another trifecta, this time from Jarquez Garrett that saw the visitors cap off their biggest lead of the night at 11 (32-21). But New Kent got a spark from senior Isaiah Carr, who led the way as New Kent would double up Lafayette for the remainder of the quarter and trail only by three (40-37) heading into the fourth.

New Kent kept the game close, only trailing by five (50-45) when Khoen Christian drained a clutch three-pointer with just under four minutes in the game. And while Lafayette squandered the ball on the next play, New Kent turned the ball over, allowing the Rams to score on an easy inbound play. What made things even more complicated was Lafayette’s ability to get to the line, getting to the free throw line 11 times in the final frame. By comparison, New Kent only went to the charity stripe five times in the entire game. Lafayette would sink enough of their 25 free throw attempts and stave off the Trojans’ last comeback to win the game.

After the contest, New Kent Head Coach Garrett Ross talked about the tradeoff in scenarios throughout the game.

“I know as a coach, I am playing small sometimes and the tradeoff is rebounds versus ballhandling and control,” the coach commented. “I actually had a little more size tonight, and that makes it a little more tough.

“The kids fought, as this was the second game in two nights, but I told the team that if we want to take the next step up, we have to get to the 50-50 balls, rebound better, and show more grit,” Ross concluded.

New Kent falls to 4-3 on the season.