Suffolk News-Herald

Just as was the case last week against Hampton Roads Academy, another rough third quarter did in the Nansemond-Suffolk boys’ basketball team Thursday night at Cape Henry as the Saints dropped back to .500, losing 69-48.

The Saints battled the ninth-ranked (VIS Div. 1) Dolphins early, with two Kyle Jett three-pointers and a reverse lay up by Bryan Breedlove getting NSA out to an early 8-4 lead.

The Saints found good shooting opportunities and took good care of the ball against the Cape Henry defense early, committing just two turnovers in the first quarter.

An Adam Gillette three and a Ryan Beale 19-foot jumper opened up the second quarter scoring, putting NSA ahead 19-16 within the first minute of the second period.

Cape Henry switched to man-to-man defense at that point, and the Dolphins soon gained control.

Two Gillette free throws briefly regained a 21-20 lead for the Saints, but that would be their final lead of the game as the Dolphins outscored NSA 14-4 in the last four and a half minutes before halftime, taking a 34-25 lead. With the change in defense, Cape Henry dictated the tempo of play, forcing the Saints into eight turnovers in the period.

Cape Henry continued to increase the aggressive defense coming out of halftime.

The teams traded buckets in the first couple minutes of the third period, and NSA was still in shouting distance at 38-29 before the Dolphins opened up an insurmountable lead by rattling off 16 consecutive points. The Dolphins

allowed the Saints’ offense very few easy looks on the other end.

Jett led the Saints with 23 points.

Gillette added 13 points and eight boards.

NSA (8-8, 1-2) has the rest of the weekend off before taking on 16-1 Walsingham Academy at home on Tuesday night.