by James J. Lidington

NEWPORT NEWS
Ethan Diffee had 12 points and Nike Wagner 11 as Central Virginia Homeschool defeated Isle of Wight Academy, 48-38, Saturday, Dec. 22, in the Fifth-Place Consolation Game in the Peninsula Catholic Holiday Classic.

IWA was paced by sophomore Russ Wells’ 20 points, which included six three-pointers. He was the only Charger in double figures.

Without leading scorer Grant Worthy, injured in Thursday’s matchup with Peninsula Catholic, the Chargers struggled to keep pace with the Richmond-based Patriots. They led, 8-7, midway through the opening period, but fell behind for good when Central Virginia scored 8 consecutive points extending  into the second period to take a 15-8 lead.

IWA scored 8 of the next 10 points to get within a point, 17-16, with 4:09 left before halftime, but the Patriots scored the next 6 straight to take a 23-16 lead :50 before halftime.

Wells’ fourth three-pointer got IWA to within 3, 32-29, with 6:00 left in the game, but Central Virginia outscored the Chargers 12-2 over the next 4 minutes to take a 44-32 lead late into the quarter.

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Junior William Fricke scored 15 points as IWA defeated Southampton Academy 53-40 Friday, Dec. 21, in the tournament’s second round. Senior Hunter Hayden had 10 points.

The Chargers trailed Southampton 19-16 after one quarter, but rattled off the first 8 points of the second period on two field goals by Hayden and 5 points by Tre Powell to grab a 25-19 lead.

The teams seemingly exchanged baskets and Isle of Wight held only a 43-58 edge with 4:00 left in the game. But IWA scored the last 8 points of the game to hold the Raiders at bay.

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A.J. Baker had 32 points as eventual tournament champion Peninsula Catholic cruised past Isle of Wight Academy, 85-70, on Dec. 20 in the opening round of the Peninsula Catholic Holiday Classic.

The Knights also got 19 points from Pharoah Lassiter. IWA was led by Grant Worthy’s 18 points.

Isle of Wight led14-10 in the first quarter, but Peninsula scored 9 consecutive points to end the period with a 19-14 advantage.

The Chargers twice more cut the Knights’ lead to 4 points, the latter coming when Josh Savage’s field goal made the score 27-23 with 5:10 remaining before halftime. But Peninsula scored 13 of the next 17 points to take a 40-27 lead with 1:27 left before intermission.

The Chargers return to action on Thursday, Jan. 3, at Nansemond-Suffolk Academy. IWA hosts Greenbrier Christian the following night. Varsity contests begin at 7 p.m.

JAMES J. LIDINGTON is a teacher at Isle of Wight Academy. He can be reached at 357-3866.