Trojans collapse in final minutes, Eagles escape

Jamestown’s Logan Evans tries to squeeze past New Kent’s Travis Claytor (30) and Rashad Bentley on a drive to the basket.

Alan Chamberlain photo

With just under six minutes to go in the game, New Kent’s Trojans trailed Jamestown’s visiting Eagles 51-50. After a dismal 0-5 start, that elusive first win of the season seemed well in reach for the host Trojans.

But New Kent failed to convert a field goal (0-for-10 from the floor) the rest of the way while mustering just three free throws. Jamestown, meanwhile, pumped in 21 points to thwart New Kent’s initial win bid in the Dec. 12 affair and escape with a 72-53 Bay Rivers District basketball triumph.

“Going 0-for-10, that will do it,” said a disappointed Trojan coach, Ronnie Cox, afterward. “That stat speaks for itself, and it’s a real problem for us. I’ve got to figure out what to do to turn it around so the next time we execute down the stretch.”

New Kent battled Jamestown on even terms throughout. Nine ties and a dozen lead changes took place over the course of the contest. And behind Parrish Braxton’s 20 points, New Kent owned a 29-27 advantage at intermission.

But a conventional three-point play from the Eagles’ Logan Evans broke the final deadlock at 48-48, putting the visitors ahead to stay 51-48 in the fourth quarter. New Kent’s Rashad Bentley scored in the paint to close the gap to 51-50 as the clock ticked below six minutes to play, but the shot would be the hosts’ final field goal.

“We got a four-point lead late in the third quarter, but I guess we just ran out of gas,” said Cox. “We had a chance to be in there at the end, but we just couldn’t score.”

Braxton finished with a game-high 25 points. Teammate Travis Claytor reached double figures with 11 followed by Blake Kelly’s seven, three each from Tommy Hale and Micah Scorsone and two apiece from Bentley and Jamar Murray.

“I’m not giving up on the kids,” Cox said. “My job is to teach. We’ve got to look forward and not backward.”