Bruton’s up-tempo style, New Kent’s poor shooting determines outcome

New Kent’s Kyle Claytor beats Bruton’s Shaquan Edwards (25) in a diving contest for a loose ball.

Alan Chamberlain photo

Coming into Wednesday night’s contest with Bruton’s visiting Panthers, New Kent head basketball coach Ronnie Cox feared the worst. His Trojans faced a team ranked in the state’s top 10 and with a reputation for unleashing relentless pressure to create baskets off turnovers.

Bruton performed as expected and New Kent weathered the Panther press on most occasions. Problem was, however, the Trojans failed to take advantage at the offensive end.

The hosts made just two of 16 shots from the floor in the opening quarter while controlling a mere four offensive rebounds. Bruton, meanwhile, ran the floor with ease to take a commanding 25-5 lead into the second quarter on the way to an 88-61 win.

“It was difficult,” Cox said, looking back on the troublesome first period. “We couldn’t put the shots down. I was worried about their pressure, so we practiced for it and we did a good job breaking it. I was pleased, but you’ve got to finish.”

The coach said offensive rebounding, or lack thereof, has plagued his team all season.

“We’ve got to get more opportunities at the basket,” he said. “I think we shot better the rest of the way, but in that first quarter, we couldn’t throw it in the Atlantic Ocean.”

Jason Whitlow’s conventional three-point play gave New Kent its first and only lead of the night at 3-2 less than a minute into the game. From there, Bruton reeled off 14 unanswered points before Ryan Lugg’s basket got the hosts back on the scoreboard, ending a four-minute-plus drought.

New Kent chipped away at Bruton’s 20-point advantage in the second quarter. Threes from Lugg and Kyle Claytor helped narrow the gap to 16 at 35-19, but the hosts could not draw closer.

Whitlow’s 16 points and 15 from Trey Cox led the Trojans, now 3-7. Claytor finished with 10 followed by Ethan Ashford’s seven, Lugg’s five, Kenny Woodley’s three, and two each from Jared Lugg, Justin Cox, and Austin Pierce.

Zach Calloway’s 14 points led a trio of Panthers in double figures as the visitors improved to 7-1.

“On a positive note, we’re not turning the ball over as much, and we’re running our offense better,” said coach Cox. “I see some improvement every game.”