Page delivers late for Kecoughtan
HAMPTON — It was a play that stayed etched in Kecoughtan guard Kenny Page’s mind.
The Warriors played Menchville last month and Kecoughtan coach Willie Gause had an inbounds play designed for Page.
But the play didn’t go well as Page dropped the pass.
“I got on him that next day at practice,” Gause said. “And he said, “Coach, I’ll never drop it again.’ ”
Page held true to his word. On Friday night, with less than four seconds left in the game and Kecoughtan and Menchville tied, Page got his chance.
With the visiting Monarchs double-teaming star guard DeJuan Campbell, Page cut to the basket and received the inbounds pass from Jadon Pace.
This time, he didn’t drop the pass, and he made a short jumper to help No. 3 Kecoughtan beat No. 5 Menchville 51-49 in a Peninsula District showdown. The Warriors have won 13 consecutive games. It’s their longest streak since they won 20 in a row during the 1991-92 season.
“I saw they were going to double DJ because he’s our best player and he’s our leader,” Page said. “Someone set me a screen and I rolled to the basket, and Jay saw me, and I hit the layup.”
Gause was excited for his senior.
“I have faith in him,” he said. “So I had to give him his one shining moment. And he got it.”
It was an amazing ending to a thrilling game that went back and forth all night.
The Warriors led 49-46 with 47.2 seconds left, but Menchville guard Etienne Strothers hit a 3-pointer with 25.8 seconds left to tie the game at 49 and set up Page’s late-game heroics.
“What was going through my mind was just make the shot,” he said. “We practice it every day.”