Despite strong efforts, mental mistakes plagued the Gloucester High School boys’ and girls’ varsity basketball teams Monday night against Menchville, as both Dukes teams fell to their Peninsula District opponent.
The GHS girls fell to the Monarchs, 75-48, while the Gloucester boys lost, 61-52. In other action this past week, the GHS girls defeated the visiting Phoebus Phantoms, 51-40.
GHS girls
On Monday night, the GHS girls got off to a slow start as they appeared to struggle with the height and physicality of a team that had larger interior defenders. Gloucester trailed, 34-19, at the half.
The Dukes came out of the half much more aggressive and physical, putting together a couple solid runs early in the third quarter. Unfortunately, the team struggled to finish inside against Menchville’s height and was unable to sustain its momentum.
To compound matters, Dukes’ starter Lauren Hall suffered an apparent ankle injury after going up to contest a shot and had to be assisted off the court late in the third quarter.
Gloucester trailed, 49-34, after three quarters. A pair of long-range jumpers by the Monarchs early in the fourth quarter ran the lead to 23 points and put the game out of reach.
Hall and Kenna Keyes led the GHS scoring with 10 points apiece. Cam O’Neil (eight points), Amani Fields (six), Kylie Fisk and Maria Lisi (four points each) and Kaylynn Glockner (two points) rounded out Gloucester’s scoring.
On Friday night, it was a different story for the GHS girls as they beat the Phantoms, 51-40. Gloucester outscored Phoebus, 14-5, in the pivotal third quarter to take control of that game. Fields and Hall ended the night in double digits with 15 and 12 points, respectively. Glockner added eight points in the win.
The GHS girls took on Hampton on Tuesday night, falling to the Crabbers, 94-34. Glockner (15 points) and Fields (eight points) were top scorers for Gloucester.
GHS boys
In Monday night’s matchup against Menchville, the Gloucester boys’ team played better than the final score would indicate. The Dukes controlled the paint early, converting high percentage looks inside. With only seconds to go in the opening quarter, the Dukes banged home a three to go up five points, 21-16.
In the second quarter the Dukes’ big man, Jacob Durren, locked down the painted area. He collected at least two blocks and four rebounds in the quarter as he patrolled inside. Gloucester owned the second quarter defensively, holding the Monarchs to just four points and ending the first half with a 33-20 lead.
Momentum began to turn Menchville’s way in the third quarter. Gloucester hemorrhaged the ball to start the quarter, allowing a 10-0 run off multiple turnovers.
As the game tightened, players got chippy, with physicality and trash talk resulting in the Dukes getting slapped with a technical foul. Two free throws and possession were awarded to Menchville. The Monarchs played stout transition defense and ended the quarter up, 46-34.
The Dukes would make one more push in the fourth to try to close the gap. With three minutes to go and trailing by double digits, Gloucester forced two turnovers, stealing the ball and converting on the other end.
A shooting foul was called on a Menchville defender as a corner three rattled in, giving Gloucester a chance for a four-point play. The Dukes converted and closed the deficit to seven.
The Monarchs, however, came back with tough defense and strong transition play that sealed the game. Menchville closed out the game with free throws for the 61-52 win.
The GHS varsity boys and girls travel to Phoebus tonight to close out the regular season. The junior varsity squads host the Phantoms tonight, starting with the girls at 4:30.