Tabb uses early runs, pressure defense in toppling Trojans

New Kent's Jalen Banks (10) elevates over Tabb's Matthew Myatt during a shot attempt.

Robb Johnson photo

New Kent’s Trojans needed to play near perfect basketball to defeat a Tabb Tigers’ team that beat them 78-59 in the first encounter. But the Trojans failure to execute at the free throw line along with a plethora of turnovers played into the home team’s downfall.

New Kent made only six out of 16 free throws and committed a number of errors in falling 67-52 to the invading Tigers in Monday night’s Bay Rivers affair.

Tabb started out with a 7-2 run to open the contest, but Trojan senior guard Ryan Curle’s efforts helped maintain pace with the visitors. Curle scored or assisted on the team’s first eight points to cut the Tigers’ advantage to a single possession (11-8). The Tigers regrouped, pulling to a 19-11 lead to finish the first quarter.

A 9-0 run by the visitors’ quickly propelled Tabb to a lead, eventually stretching it out to 22 (36-14) with three minutes remaining until the halftime intermission. However, New Kent’s Mitch Morse scored eight in the frame, with his points leading to a 12-2 run to enter halftime down 38-26.

Tabb’s man-to-man pressure began to wear down New Kent, forcing hard shots and making New Kent earn every basket. Tabb stretched out the lead before cruising to a win for the visitors that was not indicative of the final score.

New Kent head coach Ronnie Cox talked about not coming up with the crucial play on defense at the opportune time against the Tigers.

“They are a really good team and we had chances to cut into the lead,” the head coach said. “We could not get the critical stop and when you can’t get stops, then this is your result.

“They played better and we absolutely dug a hole for ourselves early,” Cox added. “We usually shoot better from the line, we weren’t even 50 percent. However, I’m proud of the guys tonight. They never quiet and we did some good things, but we just have to execute better.”

New Kent (4-12) was paced by a game high 17 points from Morse. Curle and Ben Housden also finished in double figures with 12 and 11 respectively, Jalen Banks tossed in five, Jared McCaughan contributed three, and Brandon Darrishaw and Robb Kinder chipped in two apiece.”

Nick Thomas scored a team-high 15 points to pace Tabb in victory.