Turnovers, poor shooting deny Lady Trojan sweep

Lady Trojan Anna Mathis heads to the basket around York defender Shaynae Sellers.

Alan Chamberlain photo

Shooting just 24 percent from the floor, turning the ball over 35 times, and sinking a mere one of 11 free throws told the story of New Kent’s 52-44 loss to York’s invading Lady Falcons Tuesday night.

The Lady Trojans had ample opportunity to sweep the season series over a team they downed on the road to start the basketball season back in December, but inability to score in the paint and at the stripe doomed their effort.

“We just don’t make the easy shots and don’t go up strong with the ball,” complained Lady Trojan coach Ayla Young.

“Then getting back on defense hurt us late,” she said. “They got a lot of easy lay-ups they shouldn’t have had.”

New Kent’s pressure bothered the Falcons early on, forcing nine turnovers in the first seven minutes. Then a pair of threes from Paige Simpson and one from Mikayla Scorsone helped open a 13-6 New Kent lead.

“Our intensity was there, but we were unable to maintain it and stooped to the other team’s level,” Young said. “Then we got in foul trouble and couldn’t go back to the man.”

York wiped out a 16-10 second quarter deficit with a 9-0 run. During the Falcon surge, the hosts turned the ball over six times.

Back-to-back Simpson threes and an Adrienne Goodlet turnaround jumper comprised an 8-0 run that put New Kent back in front 28-23 nearing the third quarter’s midpoint. York, however, rallied again to own a 35-32 advantage as the period wound down.

When Goodlet launched a half-court shot that dropped through the net at the buzzer to tie and Simpson opened the fourth quarter with her fifth three of the night, the hosts appeared to have newfound momentum. But it didn’t last.

York took the lead for good (41-40) on Taylor Wynne’s steal and lay-in with 4:43 to go. Two more easy lay-ups bumped the lead up to 45-40 and New Kent never recovered.

For the game, York turned the ball over almost as many times (32) as New Kent and shot a bit better from the floor at 32 percent, but the difference came at the foul line where the visitors converted 13 of 23 shots.

Simpson led New Kent (4-9) with 17 points while Goodlet tossed in 15. Scorsone and Anna Mathis both finished with five while Kirsten Gipson chipped in two.