Saints can't track down shooting touch in 44-34 loss

Staff

Published Wednesday, January 26, 2005

Suffolk News-Herald

Nansemond-Suffolk Academy (NSA) opened up their TCIS schedule by losing at home to Hampton Roads Academy (HRA) on Friday night.

A disastrous third quarter was the turning point of the night as the visitors outscored the Saints 19-2 in the period on the way to a 43-34 Navigator win.

The first half was characterized by scrappy Saint defense, as NSA held HRA without a point for the opening 4:34. Unfortunately the Saints were unable to fully seize the early momentum, managing only one field goal, so the game was tied at two despite HRA going 0-for-6 from the floor out of the gates.

A Matt Hamlet three from the right corner opened up a 10-4 lead for the Saints in the first minute of the second period.

HRA slowly worked their way back to tie the score at 12-12 with roughly a minute in the half.

Adam Gillette scored on a turnaround jumper from the left block to regain the lead at 14-12 going into the half, but considering HRA being held to 25.0 percent (6-for-24) shooting, the Saints' lead could have been more commanding.

"The first half we had some better opportunities," said NSA head coach Don Birmingham, "but we settled for a few too many threes."

The Saints were 2-for-15 from three-point range in the half, and would end up at 13.0 percent (3-for-23) for the game.

HRA, who defeated the Saints by 20 earlier in the season, finally found its offensive touch after the break. The Navigators scored the opening 16 points of the second half, and after a lone Hamlet bucket with about a minute to go in the period, a Navigator three-pointer at the buzzer made the score 31-16 going to the fourth.

The Saints made an energized comeback attempt in the fourth, forcing HRA into 11 turnovers, and closing the gap to five at 37-32 with 2:20 remaining. Kyle Jett scored six of his eight points in the final period, and had a chance on a steal and fast break with about two minutes to go that would have cut the lead to three, but his lay up attempt rolled out.

"On defense, we had a great game, outside of the first five minutes of the third quarter," said Birmingham.

Along with Jett, Ryland Gwaltney also had eight points to co-lead the Saints.

Hamlet and Bryan Breedlove had seven points apiece.

NSA (7-7, 0-1) goes to longtime rival Norfolk Academy on Tuesday night. All eight regular season games remaining for the Saints are TCIS games.

---

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE THIS STORY?

---