Smithfield plays as advertised, romps past New Kent 89-55

New Kent's Evan Branch splits Smithfield defenders Keon Tucker (30) and Peter Moore on the way to the basket for a lay-up attempt.

Alan Chamberlain photos

A few weeks ago, New Kent’s Trojans took it on the chin, absorbing a 50-point loss at powerful Smithfield. Wednesday night’s rematch, this time on New Kent’s floor, opened with the host Trojans leading for most of the first quarter, but after that the Packers played like a one-loss team poised to make a deep post-season run.

Smithfield shot 56 percent from the floor in the first half to build a 43-22 halftime advantage. From there, the visitors cruised to an 89-55 win.

“This team is a legitimate state contender,” New Kent coach Ronnie Cox said afterward concerning the Packers. “We’re in a whole new realm when we play a team like that. It’s beyond anything we’ve seen before. They’re just a tremendously talented team.”

New Kent fared well at the beginning. Jordan Hernandez opened the scoring from behind the three-point arc, following that shot moments later with a fast break lay-in for a 5-2 lead. Then, Amari Brown’s basket in the paint put the hosts up 7-4.

The Packers, however, evened the score at 7-7 at the 3:28 mark, just before Ryan Jones’ three, part of his game-high 21 points, handed Smithfield its first lead. The visitors never trailed again.

“We had passing lanes open, but only for a second and they would close it up and disrupt what we wanted to do,” Cox said.

Two Brown free throws to start the second quarter closed the gap to 19-12, but the Packers answered with a 20-4 run to put the game beyond the Trojans’ reach.

Brown’s 19 points and 12 from Hernandez led New Kent, now 10-8. Kyle Claytor was held to eight points while Darren Harris scored six, Ryan Curle tossed in four, and C.J. Reeders and Hunter Torres added three apiece.

New Kent’s Hunter Torres rips a rebound away from Smithfield’s Nymel Green while teammate Dean Powell observes.