HURLOCK — Kent County High School’s varsity girls are playing .500 basketball, leveling their record at 4-4 after Thursday’s double-digit victory at North Dorchester.
The 3-point scoring of Simir Holland and Elena Minkosky gave the home team an early advantage, but by the end of the opening quarter, KCHS, led by its starting five of Talicia Wright, Devynn Wiggins, Jane Cleary, Saniyah Jones and Asia Wilson, had pulled ahead for good, 17-16.
By intermission, the spread was 33-24.
The Trojans opened the second half on a 16-9 run — getting seven points from Jayla Sisco and five more from Aaliyah Waits — to add to their lead.
Off the bench, Sisco led all scorers with 28 points, including 11 of the Trojans’ 13 fourth-quarter points.
Waits, also off the bench, contributed 11 points.
Wright and Jones each scored seven points; Wilson, Wiggins, Cleary and Taraji Hart collectively made up the balance.
The Trojans are 2-2 in the new year, which includes a 50-37 victory Jan. 9 at Washington.
KCHS avenged a loss to Washington (5-4) in a holiday tournament Dec. 30 at Snow Hill High School.
“We played better” in the rematch, Kent County coach Tyray Johnson said matter-of-factly.
Other factors included a change in defense and the Trojans, who were without Sisco and Ariyana Green in the holiday tournament, made the trip to Princess Anne with a full complement of players.
Sisco scorched the nets for a season high of 38 points, including nine in the first quarter as the Trojans took a 12-6 lead they never relinquished.
Wright added seven points and Waits contributed five.
Kent County will host Cambridge-South Dorchester tomorrow [Tuesday, Jan. 20]. Tip-off is at 4 p.m.
This is the second game of the home-and-away regular-season series. The Trojans won an overtime thriller at Cambridge, 35-30, on Dec. 9 in what was their season opener.
Johnson, who is in his fifth year as head coach at alma mater KCHS, said he is pleased with how the team is coming together.
He attributes the positive chemistry in large part to the leadership of captains Talicia Wright and Jane Cleary.
“Our new players are buying into the system, getting better every day and executing the plays we’ve installed,” Johnson told The Evening Enterprise in a text message.
“The progress is showing,” he added.
