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By James J. Lidington

Isle of Wight Academy

Chargers senior Trent Holland’s 20 points led all scorers as the Isle of Wight Academy varsity boys basketball team defeated visiting Fuqua School 58-49 on Friday, Jan. 14

Seven other Chargers scored, though none finished with more than eight points, as their team climbed back to the .500 mark both in and outside of the Virginia Colonial Conference at 3-3 and 4-4, respectively.

The Falcons (0-7, 0-3) were paced by Nate Reed’s 14 points.

The Chargers trailed early but took the lead for the first time on sophomore Evan Bracey’s field goal midway through the second quarter that made it 12-10. Meanwhile, the Falcon offense went dormant during a roughly nine-minute-long stretch when it went without a field goal. When that stretch ended, IWA led 46-26 at the start of the fourth quarter.

On Tuesday, Jan. 11, Holland’s foul shot with 25.6 seconds remaining provided the go-ahead point as Isle of Wight Academy defeated visiting Southampton Academy 44-41.

Fouled as he made a game-tying shot, Holland hitting the resulting free throw put IWA ahead 42-41. Two late free throws by junior Jackson Cofer with 4.4 seconds remaining sealed the win for the Chargers.

Holland finished with a game-high 23 points. The Raiders (3-6, 1-4) were led by Jayden Applewhite’s 17 points.

IWA had not played a Virginia Colonial Conference game since its defeat of Kenston Forest School Dec. 10 because of complications stemming from the COVID-19 virus and its variants.

The Raiders led IWA most of the first half, but an 11-2 run by the Chargers to end the second quarter put them ahead, 25-22, at the break. The teams exchanged leads in the third quarter before Holland’s heroics at the charity stripe.

On Wednesday, Jan. 5, Logan Jones had 27 points as Walsingham Academy defeated Isle of Wight, 58-23, in Williamsburg.

Walsingham’s Paul Williams added 15 points and Trey Christman had 10 as the Trojans dominated IWA, jumping out to a 13-2 edge after a quarter.

IWA, without second-leading scorer Payton Shipman, a sophomore averaging 11.8 points per game, was paced by Bracey’s nine points. Only five other Chargers scored.

The Chargers had a major challenge in trying to keep pace with Walsingham. They scored 13 points to the Knights’ 24 in the second quarter, thanks to two three-pointers by junior Jude Powell.

After halftime, IWA crept closer against Walsingham’s reserves, 14-8, and won the fourth quarter, 9-7, but the damage had already been done.

The IWA varsity girls hoops squad ran its record to 6-2 and a perfect 6-0 in the VCC after a lengthy layoff, defeating Fuqua and Southampton.

The Lady Chargers had not played since they lost to Steward School on Dec. 11.

Tuesday, Jan. 18, the IWA boys teams were set to travel to Brunswick Academy, and the indoor track team was set to travel to the Boo Williams Sportsplex in Virginia Beach.

The IWA girls basketball teams travel to Brunswick on Wednesday, Jan. 19. On Thursday, Jan. 20, they host old Metro Athletic Conference foe Denbigh Baptist Christian School at 5 and 6 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 21, IWA travels to Amelia Academy for a four-game set.