The Trojans’ Dom Ashlock splits a double-team during Friday night’s game against Lancaster. Ashlock tallied a game-high 17 points in a 53-46 setback.
Essex boys’ basketball coach Tione Meade didn’t have to got deep on Friday night’s stat sheet to see why his team came up short in its upset bid of Lancaster.
The Trojans committed 29 turnovers that Lancaster converted into 18 points as the Red Devils registered a 53- 46 Northern Neck District triumph in Tappahannock.
Essex fell to 0-2 in NND play and 3-2 overall. Lancaster improved to 2-0 and 6-4 overall.
“We had 17 turnovers in the first half and that put us in a hole,” said Meade whose team lead only twice (2-0 and 4-2). “But, I’m proud of our guys. We showed what we can be. The physicality we have is going to get us through. When we get it past halfcourt and establish something, we can cause problems.”
Two-time defending state champion Lancaster took the lead for good on the strength of a 9-0 first half spurt that snapped a 10-all deadlock.
Xavier Sutton bagged a 3-pointer at the first quarter horn and he visitors got a second-chance hoop from Antonio Tomlin and a pair of baskets from Jamarcus Russell as Essex opened the second quarter with three turnovers on their first four possessions.
Lancaster’s Terrill Diggs gets off a shot beyond the defense of Essex’s Demetrius Stewart.
The Red Devils then sank just one of their last eight second quarter shots as Essex closed to 21-17 at intermission.
Essex closed the difference to 21-19 on a Kyan Howard basket off a Lancaster turnover early in the third quarter.
But, Lancaster went on a 12-4 scoring run to build a 33-23 lead and Essex never got closer than six points thereafter.
“I like how the refs let us play, and it was good for us,” said Lancaster coach Dwayne Pinn whose lost the bulk of his 2024 lineup to graduation and the transfer of two-time Class 1 Player of the Year Troy Henderson to Class 2 power John Marshall. “We’re young, but we starting to gel a little bit.”
Lancaster put three players in double figures: Russell (14), Tomlin (12) and Terrill Diggs (11).
Essex’s Dom Ashlock led all scorers with 17 points, while Howard scored 14.
“They’re a championship team and know how to win,” Meade said of Lancaster. “They know what it’s like to win and our kids are still learning that in basketball.”
Two nights earlier, the Trojans traveled to Colonial Beach and dropped a 56-46 decision in their NND opener.
Essex sank just 8-of-16 fourth quarter free throws as Colonial Beach posted the win by outscoring the Trojans 24-14 during the final 8 minutes.
Ashlock finished with 20 points, and 6 assists, while Howard had 16 points and 7 rebounds.
Essex opened last week with a 49-41 non-district win over King and Queen Central.
Ashlock posted 15 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists, while Howard had 14 points and 11 rebounds.
On the girls’ side, Essex posted a pair of wins in three outings last week.
On January 16, the Lady Trojans (1-1, 4-5) logged a 39-22 road victory over Lancaster.
Morgan Self led Essex with 12 points, while Areyon Robinson scored 10.
In their Northern Neck District opener on January 14, Essex dropped a 44-32 decision to Colonial Beach.
Amani Brown led the Lady Trojans in the scoring column with 9 points.
Essex opened last week with a 41-27 win over King and Queen Central as Self scored a team-high 13 points.
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