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By James J. Lidington
Isle of Wight Academy

ISLE OF WIGHT

Isle of Wight Academy claimed victory in its first two Metro Athletic Conference games of the year versus foes old and new this past week.

The Chargers (5-2, 2-0) topped Broadwater Academy 70-52 last Tuesday and conferee newcomer Gateway Christian, 84-60, last Monday, before continuing their winning ways, 62-51, over Greenbrier Christian on Friday night in Jester Gym.

The most recent win marked Isle of Wight’s first against opponents from the Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools. The Chargers’ first two games against TCIS opponents resulted in losses to Walsingham and Nansemond-Suffolk.

IWA’s Russ Wells led the way against Greenbrier with 20 points. Teammate Jabar Thomas added 16 points.

The Chargers took the first period against the Gators, 20-12, but Greenbrier was determined to make a game of it. They stayed the course in the second quarter, staying within 11 points of the homestanding Chargers, 28-17, at halftime.

The third period was a different story, however. They cut the Charger lead to three points twice 32-29, and 34-31, before IWA launched into a 10-2 run at the end of the period that put them up 45-33 with 40 seconds left.

The Chargers resumed pleasantries with Broadwater Academy, routing the Vikings on Tuesday in Exmore.

The two teams have a history of close contests in recent years and Tuesday’s game would be no different. The score to 9-8 in favor of Broadwater with 5:34 to go in the opening quarter. A pep talk by Coach Sascha Stafford kickstarted the Charger offense, which scored the next 14 in a row to take a 22-9 lead with 1:10 to go in the period.

Broadwater got as close as six points, 32-26, when Clay Wardius scored with about two minutes left before halftime.

Wardius also was involved in a key play early in the game when he collided with Fricke as the Vikings’ center charged toward the goal. IWA’s guard finished the game, but watched Friday’s contest from the stands. He may be out for several upcoming games.

Thomas had 22 points and Wells and teammate William Fricke, 18 each, as IWA sprinted past Gateway Monday night.

The Crusaders, haling from Virginia Beach, are the latest team to join the Metro Athletic Conference and are off to a 5-3 start, but are winless in two Metro contests.

The Chargers cruised to an early 26-12 lead and scored the 17 of the game’s first 22 points, including nine by Thomas, in the first quarter. Gateway closed the lead to 10 points, 38-28, at halftime, but rattled off a 15-7 spate to take a 60-45 lead after three periods.

The Chargers return to action when they begin play in the Holiday Classic Tournament at Peninsula Catholic High School on Thursday, Dec. 26. Opponents and game times are yet to be announced.

The IWA girls team ran its record to 3-5, 1-0 with a win over Gateway and two defeats in the Nansemond-Suffolk Academy Invitational tournament.

The team lost to the tournament hosts 63-23, then to Steward School of Richmond 42-7. Both of those teams are expected to be among the state’s best this season.

The Lady Chargers host Richmond Christian at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 6, in Jester Gym.

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[Editor’s note: This report had been omitted last week. We apologize for the oversight.]

Isle of Wight Academy went 0-for-2 the first week of December against the Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools, falling to TCIS powers Nansemond-Suffolk and Walsingham academies after defeating Kenston Forest for the second time on the young season.

The Chargers were bested by their longtime rival Saints 86-61 on Dec. 5 in Jester Gymnasium.

The Chargers (2-2) were led by junior Russ Wells’ 22 points, which included six 3-pointers. Teammates Grant Worthy had 16 and Jabari Thomas had 12 points for IWA.

N-SA wasted little effort tin taking an early 25-8 lead against the Chargers in the first quarter. The match was something of a draw after that point, with the Saints taking the next two quarters by a total of 9 points. IWA took the fourth quarter, 23-22.

N-SA was led by Grant Lopez’s 20 points and Kemari Spencer’s 19 points.

Visiting Walsingham Academy topped IWA 74-48 on Dec. 3.

Worthy, a senior guard, finished with a team-high 12 points.

Walsingham’s Cooper Jones had 24 points; Paul Williams had 14 and Jackson Hughes added 13 to the Trojans’ attack.

The Chargers trailed only by 4 points, 16-12, after the opening period. But a 20-4 run by Walsingham built their lead to 16 points at 30-14 with 2 minutes left in the first half.

IWA continued its dominance on Dec. 2 over Kenston Forest, defeating the Kavaliers twice in as many games.

William Fricke led the way with 24 points. Well had 19 points and Worthy, 13, as IWA defeated Kenston 73-58 on Dec. 2.

IWA defeated Kenston 71-57 before Thanksgiving.

The IWA girls basketball squad defeated Kenston, but lost to Walsingham to run its seasonal record to 2-1.

IWA beat the Kavaliers 52-35, but lost to Walsingham 44-37.

The Charger teams returned to action on Dec. 9, when they hosted Gateway Christian, a new addition this year to the Metro Athletic Conference. IWA traveled on Dec. 10 to Broadwater. Girls and boys varsity games begin at 5:30 and 7 p.m. respectively.

IWA’s girls team was scheduled to play in a tournament at Nansemond-Suffolk on Dec. 13 and 14.

IWA’s boys team hosted Greenbriar Christian on Dec. and is not scheduled to play again until the Holiday Classic at Peninsula Catholic High School on Dec. 26-28.