Kinston boys, girls win road games at Goldsboro

GOLDSBORO — Kinston may have let Goldsboro rally again, but the final result remained the same.

The Vikings defeated the Cougars for the second time this season, winning 76-62 Wednesday. Kinston (13-5) defeated Goldsboro at home 82-75 on Dec. 20, going up by 30 in the second quarter before the Cougars (13-5) tried to make a furious comeback. The Vikings didn’t have as great of an advantage Wednesday night, but maintained poise for the victory.

“The whole time, we were just telling each other to get back to doing what got us the leads in the first place,” Kinston junior point guard Isaac Parson said.

Goldsboro jumped out to an 11-2 lead to start the game, but after the teams traded baskets, Kinston responded with 11 unanswered points, including seven from Parson. Will London also made an impact off the bench, scoring 10 points in the first half and staking the Vikings to a 29-21 lead late in the second.

“I just wanted to bring energy for my teammates,” London said. “I knew we needed to hustle and make plays, so that’s what I did.”

Kinston went up 32-21 with 1:32 left in the second before the game was delayed for 30 minutes due to police officers using pepper spray to corral a fight in the bleachers. When play resumed, Kinston eventually took a 35-23 lead into the break, but Goldsboro immediately responded in the third. Christian Bullock scored six points in a 12-0 Cougar run to tie the game at 35 two minutes into the frame and forced a Vikings timeout.

Kinston’s offense exploded from there, as six players scored in a 25-3 run to change the game’s dynamic. Goldsboro didn’t get within 14 from there as Kinston won its second road contest this week with trips to South Lenoir on Friday and Wilmington New Hanover Saturday on tap.

“We talked about finding answers when we needed to and that’s exactly what we did after Goldsboro’s run,” Kinston coach Perry Tyndall said. “I’m proud of the way the guys battled — we struggled in some phases and have a bit to work on, but they did a tremendous job coming back. This is always a tough place to play, so getting a win here is always big.”

KINSTON 76, GOLDSBORO 62

K             14           21           25           16 — 76

G             13           10           17           22 — 62

KINSTON — Isaac Parson 17, Will London 16, Dontrez Styles 13, Judah McBynum 12, Burton 4, Roberts 4, Dixon 4, Koonce 2, Minott 2, Pitts 2

GOLDSBORO — Xavon Atkinson 18, Christian Bullock 17, Robinson 8, Harper 7, I. Wilder 6, Jacobs 4, N. Wilder 2

Three-pointers: K — Styles, McBynum. G — Atkinson, Harper, I. Wilder, Jacobs.      

In the girls’ game, Kinston took advantage of an undermanned Goldsboro squad with a 64-24 win, the Vikings’ seventh straight victory.

The Cougars (12-5) won the first meeting 61-49 on Dec. 20, but were without a trio of starters in Aleesha Boyette, Dyamond George and Tziah Kelly for the rematch. Kinston (12-5) showed no remorse, never trailing in the contest and forcing a running clock in the fourth quarter.

“(Tuesday) against North Lenoir, we couldn’t hit anything in the first half,” Kinston coach Christopher Bradshaw said. “The girls were ready to play in both games and it’s unfortunate Goldsboro didn’t have their three starters. We would’ve loved to play them at full strength, but we looked to handle our business tonight. We’ve got four games this week and now we have to be ready for another conference game Friday in South Lenoir.”

Michyla Dove hit a pair of 3-pointers during an 8-0 run to start the game. The Vikings missed all 14 of their perimeter attempts in the first half Tuesday, but went 6-of-9 against the Cougars in the second half.

“I just knew we had to keep playing hard,” Dove said. “We had a rough game to start off (against North Lenoir) so we came back in this one motivated to do better.”

Andrews played a significant role in the 3-point assault with a trio off the bench, including one in the second quarter to put Kinston up 31-6 and punctuate a 15-2 run.

“I had been in a slump, but I couldn’t worry about that as a shooter,” Andrews said. “I talked to Coach (Bradshaw) and I talked to my mom, so after that I was able to calm down and get back to it.”

The Vikings forced a running clock early in the fourth quarter on an Anzaryia Cobb basket and extended their lead to as many as 43.

KINSTON 64, GOLDSBORO 24

K             21           11           22           10 — 64

G             4              3              9              8 — 24

KINSTON — Michyla Dove 12, Anzaryia Cobb 10, Powell 9, Andrews 9, T. Jones 8, S. Jones 5, Hargett 5, Baker 3, Sutton 2, Lane 1

GOLDSBORO — Archibald 7, Lucas 4, Artis 4, Roberts 3, Royal 2, Greene 2, Bell 1, Williams 1

Three-pointers: K — Andrews 3, Dove 2, Powell 2. G — Archibald.