Late three-pointer by Essex pivotal as Trojans complete comeback win over Charles City

Charles City’s Terrell Crawley (24) knocks down a game-tying jump shot over the outstretched hand of Essex’s Arek Ashlock.

Robb Johnson photo

Charles City’s Panthers sank several three-pointers during Friday night’s boys’ basketball game against the visiting Essex Trojans. But it was the lone make from beyond the arc for the Trojans that proved to be the difference in the game’s outcome.

Arek Ashlock’s three-pointer with 9.2 seconds remaining gave the visitors their final lead of the night as Essex escaped with a 60-55 victory over the Panthers to kick off 2025.

After Charles City held a one-point lead after the first quarter (14-13), the Panthers started knocking down a plethora of three-pointers. Damian Barnes wing three-pointer along with one from the corner by Gavin Stewart quickly increased the home team’s lead. From there, it was Shane Jones who drained all three of his three-point attempts, as Charles City settled in with an eight-point lead (34-26) by the halftime intermission.

In the second half, Essex began to use their physicality and bully themselves back into the game. Kyran Howard pounded inside against the smaller Panther defenders, who were playing without center Joseph Simms due to injury. Despite Howards’ eight points in the frame, Charles City held onto the lead (46-43) heading into the fourth.

Essex began pressuring the ball, trapping Panther guard Sherod Barnes and forcing turnovers. Dominik Ashlock stripped Barnes on three consecutive plays, with all three resulting in scores to give Essex their first lead of the game (49-48). Making matters worse for the Panthers was Jones picking up his fifth foul at the four-minute mark, resulting in his disqualification from the contest.

Charles City trailed by four (55-51) when they received a lift from senior Terrell Crawley. Crawley drained back-to-back jumpers over Essex defenders, tying the game at 55 apiece with 51 seconds remaining in the game.

Each team would miss a shot when the Trojans received their break of the night. A missed shot by Howard saw the ball deflected outward back towards the three-point line. The ball ended up in the hands of Dominik Ashlock, who made an extra pass to Arik Ashlock on the wing. Arik Ashlock drained the long-distance shot, returning the lead to Essex (58-55).

Charles City called a timeout, using it to set up a long three-point attempt by Stewart. The shot was missed but bounced off an Essex defender with 4.2 on the clock. Charles City called their second timeout. An inbound to Stewart saw him dribble around two Panther screens and launch another three-point shot. The shot caromed off the rim, with Essex grabbing the rebound with 1.9 seconds remaining. The Trojans sank two bonus free throws to account for the final score.

After the contest, Charles City Head Coach De’Quantae Mason spoke about executing down the stretch of games.

“We have to get better with the detains and think basketball when things are tight,” he said. “We have to continue to space out, box out, and finish.

“We are a big team, and we should be finishing with baskets off the glass,” Mason concluded.

Charles City (3-8) received a game-high 19 points from Jones. Crawley and James Harris IV both finished with nine, Damian Barnes Jr. pumped in eight, Stewart contributed six, and Sherod Barnes added four.