IWA roundup: Harrell stands out for Chargers

Published 6:52 pm Friday, February 3, 2023

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By James J. Lidington

Isle of Wight Academy

 

VARSITY BOYS BASKETBALL

Isle of Wight Academy sophomore Antonio Harrell exploded for 31 points in a losing effort to Broadwater Academy, 76-57, at IWA on Thursday night, Jan. 19.

The loss to the Chargers’ old Metro Athletic Conference foe dropped their overall record to 5-7 this season. 

The difference came from scoring by supporting players: Broadwater had three in double figures; IWA had only Harrell with more than nine points.

The Chargers were in the game in the early stages. They tied Broadwater on sophomore Grayson Brock’s foul shot with 5:40 left in the first half. But the Vikings outscored the home team 10-2 over the next two minutes, setting the stage for a 37-28 Broadwater edge at the half — an advantage the Vikings would never relinquish.

Harrell is averaging 18 points per game through 12 contests this season, putting him among the top 360 scorers in Virginia among schools reporting statistical data to the MaxPreps website.

On Jan. 13, Bryce Watlington scored a game-high 33 points as Walsingham Academy defeated the homestanding Chargers 86-50.

Harrell had 18 points for IWA; junior Evan Bracey added a season-high 14.

The Chargers trailed by only four points, 22-18, after a quarter, but the Trojans scored 17 of the next 20 points to put some distance between them and the home team.

Harrell’s career-high 35 points led all scorers Jan. 9 as Isle of Wight defeated visiting Suffolk Christian Academy 89-73. 

The Knights were paced by Luke Ott’s 32 points.

VARSITY GIRLS BASKETBALL

The Broadwater undercard Jan. 19 featured another game between the schools’ varsity girls basketball teams, which IWA won 38-24 to run its record to 8-3. 

IWA is ranked 11th in the second edition of the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association Division II Poll, one spot behind Atlantic Shores Christian School and four behind Hampton Roads Academy, both of which defeated IWA earlier this season.

On Jan. 13, the Lady Chargers suffered a narrow 35-32 loss to visiting Walsingham Academy, and on Jan. 9, IWA achieved a dominant 32-16 win against host Suffolk Christian Academy.

INDOOR TRACK

The Chargers indoor track team competed in a meet Jan. 19 at the Boo Williams facility in Hampton. Senior Hannah Edwards led the way, finishing first in the girls 300-meter dash with a time of 43.64 seconds.

Classmate Hannah McClain finished seventh in the 500-meter dash, 0.76 seconds off the time to qualify for the state meet. 

In the boys 500 meters, IWA’s John Butler earned seventh place with a time of 1:20.35.

Taking sixth in the boys 1,000-meter run was Jayce Joyner with a 3:08.37 time. Jack Anderson earned 10th with a time of 3:09.80. In 11th was Zachary Jackson (3:13.32); in 12th was Jaiden Wilson (3:13.33); in 13th was Glen Walters (3:20.88); in 17th was Robert Sullivan (3:27.60); in 21st was Brendan Mackie (3:33.97); and in 22nd was Brett Landen (3:39.11).

Pierce Cutler placed seventh in the boys 1,600-meter run with a time of 5:08.43.

Edwards, McClain, Cutler and Butler have already qualified for states in at least one event — Cutler in the 500 and 1,600; Edwards in the 500, 300 and 1,000; McClain in the 1,000; and Butler in the 1,600.