Ross’ three-pointer solidifies 17-point comeback in New Kent’s 57-54 season opening victory

A pump fake by New Kent’s Kyle Diggs (5) baits Western Albemarle’s Grey Clifford into a block attempt, allowing Diggs to escape.

Robb Johnson photo

With a veteran team at the helm, New Kent’s boys’ basketball team has a schedule that will challenge them to get better throughout the year. A Dec. 3 contest from the visiting Western Albemarle Warriors provided more than a battle, but an early season thrill for the home fans.

A three-pointer by senior Will Ross with 45 seconds remaining highlighted a comeback from 17 points down as New Kent defeated Western Albemarle 57-54 in the season opener for both teams.

Using their signature offensive attack, New Kent took an early lead in the game after Kristopher Leeper’s three-pointer. A basket by teammate Marty Wray extended the hosts’ advantage to three (9-6).

But the offensive struggles reared their ugly head for the Trojans. Shot after shot clank off the rim for the hosts. Meanwhile, the Warriors used their size on the glass to capitalize off of their own missed shots. The result was Western Albemarle outscoring New Kent 25-9, taking a 31-18 lead into the halftime break.

The Warriors led by as many as 17 (35-18) in the third quarter. With the score 39-26, Ross’ drained a three-pointer to start a hot streak for the Trojans. The long ball started dropping for New Kent, with Ross draining two more and teammate Kyle Diggs adding a pair of his own during a run that closed out the third and spilled over into the fourth. The result saw New Kent cut the Warriors lead to a mere point (44-43). That lead was wiped away the next play with Wray’s close-range basket, providing the Trojans their first advantage since the opening frame.

After Western Albemarle’s Jack Camblos inside score returned the lead to the visitors, another Diggs’ trifecta sent New Kent’s fans into a frenzy. The Warriors, however, remained unphased, putting together a 6-1 run to take a three-point lead (52-49).

Diggs struck again, this time from the corner to tie the game at 52 apiece. New Kent’s pressure on the subsequent inbound play forced a Warrior turnover with just over a minute left in the contest.

On the next play, Ross used a screen around a teammate and hit a deep three with his foot near the half-court logo, giving New Kent a 55-52 lead with 45 seconds remaining. Each team scored once again, and a last gasp three-point attempt by the Warriors missed with 1.5 seconds remaining sealed the victory for the Trojans.

After the contest, New Kent Head Coach Garrett Ross spoke about the upperclassmen stepping up in the victory.

“Our seniors stepped up tonight in key moments,” he said. “We have been working on being connected as a team, and it comes in waves.

“Tonight, we had to execute,” the head coach added. “Tonight, we beat a team that has been to the states multiple times. We are a team that believes in the work, and we are in the gym early every morning. There is no shortcut, so all the credit goes to them and I am proud of them.”

New Kent (1-0) received double-digit scoring from Kyle Diggs (20), Will Ross (17), and Marty Wray (11). Leeper added six and Christian Joyner pitched in with three.