WORTON — Kent County’s girls won as many high school basketball games last week as they had in the previous seven weeks combined.
They pulled off what coach Tyray Johnson described as “a huge win” at North Caroline on Tuesday, Jan. 28 to split the home-and-away series, and two days later completed the series sweep of St. Michaels.
The Trojans are 4-9, one win shy of their win total of the 2023-24 campaign
KCHS junior Love Jackson scored 14 points to single-handedly defeat St. Michaels on Thursday, Jan. 30.
Jayla Sisco contributed 12 points and Talicia Wright added nine in the 48-13 contest.
Kent County’s usual starters played sparingly, some of them didn’t even start, and by halftime Johnson had cleared his bench — all done in an attempt to make the game more competitive.
The Trojans never trailed after Wright buried a 3-pointer on their first shot, though the score was tied at 3-3 about a minute and a half in.
Saniyah Jones’ field goal with 6 minutes, 5 seconds remaining in the opening quarter restored the locals’ lead for good, 5-3.
The spread was 18-6 after one frame and 26-8 at halftime
Jackson scored on the first shot of the third quarter to start a run of 20 unanswered points that carried over into the final frame.
The Class 1A Trojans opened their week with a 40-29 victory at North Caroline — their first win against the Class 2A Bulldogs in at least four years.
They avenged a 41-31 loss at home on Dec. 17
Sisco scorched the nets for 25 points, including 11 in the second quarter that helped to turn a 9-2 deficit into a 17-13 lead at halftime.
She dropped in nine more points in the third quarter, when the Trojans’ advantage increased to 31-21.
Wright, Kate Cannon and Jane Cleary each scored four points, and Sanorra “Star” Parker added three.
While Sisco carried the team offensively, everyone contributed to the win.
Cleary, for example, led all players with 13 rebounds.
Defense is what ultimately won the game, coach Johnson said matter-of-factly.
And minimizing errors.
Kent County switched to a half-court zone defense in the second quarter. That changed the tempo of the game, slowing it down.
Johnson singled out Parker, who came off the bench, noting that “the defense she brought was a deciding factor.”
He handed out high marks to all.
The players on the court were receptive to the coaching they were given.
“When I told them the plays, they listened,” Johnson said, adding, “It’s nice when that happens.”
The players on the bench also played a significant role in this win.
“They were engaged, cheering on their teammates,” Johnson said.
NOTES: The Trojans close out their regular season with six games, including five on their home court. They host Colonel Richardson’s girls on Tuesday, Feb. 4 at 4 p.m. Colonel Richardson won the first game of the home-and away series, 62-53, on Jan. 24.