New Kent rolls past Charles City, sweeps season basketball series

New Kent's Kyle Claytor (10) avoids Charles City's Brian Hicks on a drive to the basket for two of his 25 points.

Alan Chamberlain photo

New Kent’s Trojans wasted little time in asserting dominance over Charles City’s visiting Panthers. Back-to-back threes from guards Kyle Claytor and Jared Lugg helped the hosts vault to a 10-2 lead less than two minutes in. From there, New Kent cruised to an 82-47 Saturday night basketball win and a sweep of the season’s home-away series.

“We’ll take it,” said Trojan coach Ronnie Cox, concerning the lop-sided outcome that raised his team’s record to 8-12.

“It gave me a chance to get everyone in,” he said. “Charles City’s kids played hard and I’ve got to give them credit, but everything fell for us. We’ll take it and try to make a run next week.”

New Kent closes the regular season next week at home, taking on Poquoson and Lafayette. The Trojans could be seeded as high as second in the following week’s conference tournament.

Charles City, meanwhile, has not been as fortunate. The Panthers remain in search of their first win after falling to 0-19. They have two chances next week (West Point and King & Queen) to end a losing streak that dates back to last season and stands at 31.

Interim Panther coach Avery Jones said his team needs to defend better and develop the heart and effort necessary to play shutdown defense.

“We’ve got to work twice as hard and do the little things right on the court,” he said, pointing to a formula for reversing the loss skein.

Charles City never challenged the Trojans Saturday night. The hosts used a 19-0 run over the late first and early second quarters to extend a nine-point advantage to 36-8. A Brian Hicks’ lay-in snapped the Trojan run at the 3:30 mark of the second period, but the hosts surged to a 45-15 halftime lead.

The Trojans placed five in double figures led by Claytor’s 25 points. Justin Cox totaled 13 while Amari Brown tossed in 11 and Lugg and Cameron Downer ended with 10 each. Kenny Woodley and Ryan Curle finished with four apiece followed by two each from C.J. Reeders and Darren Harris and Michael Amadeo’s one.

Noah Ragland’s 14 points topped Charles City while Mason Jefferson added 11 and Hicks finished with 10. Connor Robbins and Kyle Jones each scored six.