Basketball Recap: Kenzie Cooper's Big Game Can't Quite Lead Hampton Roads Academy over Norfolk Christian

After flying high against Veritas School last Friday, Hampton Roads Academy came back down to earth. The Hampton Roads Academy Navigators lost 81-58 to the Norfolk Christian Ambassadors on Tuesday. The Navigators haven't had much luck with the Ambassadors recently, as the team's come up short the last seven times they've met.

Kenzie Cooper

Points (Career)

02/11/25 vs Norfolk Christian	29
11/25/24 vs Isle of Wight Academy	27
01/30/24 vs Nansemond-Suffolk Academy	27
01/14/25 @ Peninsula Catholic	25
02/04/25 vs Cape Henry Collegiate	24

Hampton Roads Academy's loss came despite a true team effort with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Kenzie Cooper, who went 12 for 30 en route to 29 points and seven boards. Those 29 points gave Cooper a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Nalani Carter, who went 5 of 10 on her way to 12 points along with six rebounds and five assists.

Even though they lost, Hampton Roads Academy smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with ten offensive boards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least eight offensive rebounds in 12 consecutive matches.

Norfolk Christian got their win on the backs of several key players, but it was Keira Kilkenny out in front who went 8 for 11 from beyond the arc to rack up 31 points in addition to six boards and three steals. Kilkenny has been hot recently, having posted two or more steals the last four times she's played. The team also got some help courtesy of Justice Brown-Jones, who went 8 of 11 en route to 20 points and seven rebounds.

Hampton Roads Academy's defeat dropped their record down to 17-3. As for Norfolk Christian, they have been performing incredibly well recently as they've won 13 of their last 14 contests, which provided a nice bump to their 18-2 record this season.

Both squads will have to hit the road in their upcoming games. Hampton Roads Academy will take on The Covenant at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday. As for Norfolk Christian, they will challenge Norfolk Collegiate at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday. Both teams are headed into the matchup with plenty of momentum (Norfolk Collegiate has won six straight at home, while Norfolk Christian won six straight on the road dating back to last season), something that'll have to change.