The NCHSAA first-round playoff preview — ECC edition
Kinston’s Issac Parson helped the Vikings reach the No. 9 seed in the NCHSAA 2A state playoffs and the Vikings will face Oxford Webb at home. Photo by William ‘Bud’ Hardy / Neuse News
Here’s a breakdown of the Eastern Carolina 2A conference boys’ and girls’ basketball teams playing in the NCHSAA 2A state playoffs, which start Tuesday.
BOYS
No. 31 Wilson Beddingfield (8-15) at No. 2 Greene Central (19-7), 7 p.m.
Rams avg. 66.9 points per game, allow 58.2 ppg; Bruins avg. 65.6 ppg, allow 71.7 ppg
After an embarrassing 35-point ECC tournament title loss to Kinston on Friday, Greene Central is ready to get back on the court and show out in front of a rowdy home crowd. The three-time defending ECC regular-season champion Rams face slumping Wilson Beddingfield out of the Eastern Plains 2A, but the Bruins have kept games close. Although Beddingfield has lost seven of its last eight, five of those losses were by seven or fewer and the team has three players (Lamont Speight, Andrew Gattis and Mike Best) who average double figures.
Greene Central’s Imajae Dodd drives on North Lenoir’s Terrance Copper on Feb. 1. Both teams reached the postseason as the Rams will be a No. 2 seed and the Hawks picked up the No. 22 seed. Photo by William ‘Bud’ Hardy / Neuse News
No. 24 Oxford Webb (12-9) at No. 9 Kinston (22-6), 7:30 p.m.
Vikings average 71.3 ppg, allow 56.4 ppg; Warriors average 59.1 ppg, allow 61.5 ppg
Kinston won its 15th straight conference tournament title with a 60-25 victory over Greene Central and are starting the road to a potential 12th state championship. The Vikings’ first-round opponent will travel to The Zoo from Oxford and represents the Northern Carolina 1A/2A division. Webb dropped five of its last eight contests, but have plenty of experience with close games, going 10-3 in contests decided by single digits. Offensively, the Warriors are led by Jamarion Dunkins (10.6 ppg) and Jay-quan Pierce (9.3 ppg.)
No. 18 West Craven (17-7) at No. 15 South Granville (19-8), 7 p.m.
Eagles average 64.0 ppg, allow 56.1 ppg; Vikings average 67.5 ppg, allow 61.0 ppg
West Craven had a three-game win streak snapped against Kinston in the ECC tournament semifinals, but came into the game 9-2 with a pair of losses by five points or fewer. The Eagles’ opponent is on an 11-game winning streak and although the Vikings finished third in the Northern Carolina 1A/2A standings, they won the conference tournament title. South Granville has a trio of scoring threats in Micah Jones (24.3 ppg), Bobby Pettiford (19.2 ppg) and Wy’kise Allen (16.5 ppg).
West Craven’s Latrell Campbell is in pursuit of North Lenoir’s Trevor Sears in a Jan. 25 contest. The Eagles start the postseason on the road as a No. 18 seed. Photo by William ‘Bud’ Hardy / Neuse News
No. 22 North Lenoir (11-14) at No. 11 Burlington Cummings (16-10), 7 p.m.
Hawks average 68.6 ppg, allow 71.9 ppg; Cavaliers average 71.8 ppg, allow 67.8 ppg
This game has all the makings of a shootout in Burlington with teams who love to push the pace. North Lenoir has been in a rut lately with four losses in its past five games, but two were four-point defeats to Ayden-Grifton. On the other end, the Cavaliers come into the playoffs with four straight losses after an eight-game winning streak. Cummings lost a tiebreaker to Reidsville for first in the Mid-State Conference and have a pair of prolific scorers in Auldon Edwards (20.7 ppg) and Terrence Crawford (16.0 ppg).
Ayden-Grifton’s James Richardson takes a shot in a game against North Pitt on Dec. 18. The Chargers are the fifth boys team to qualify for the NCHSAA playoffs from the ECC and received a No. 26 seed. Photo by William ‘Bud’ Hardy / Neuse News
No. 26 Ayden-Grifton (11-15) at No. 7 South Columbus (19-8), 7 p.m.
Chargers average 66.8 ppg, allow 70.3 ppg; Stallions average 53.7 ppg, allow 46.2 ppg
A-G has been highly inconsistent since Feb. 1, alternating wins with losses in the past eight games. Trends say the Chargers win against the second-place Three Rivers 1A/2A team and the Stallions haven’t been the most dominant group in recent play. South Columbus’ last nine games were decided by nine points or less (the team was 6-3 during the span), but the team has only allowed two opponents to score more than 60 points all year. Shiquan Conyers leads the stampede for South Columbus, averaging 17.7 points, 10.5 rebounds and 7.9 assists per game.
Kinston’s Michyla Dove prepares to take a 3-pointer in a game against North Lenoir Jan. 22. The Vikings won the ECC and received a No. 3 seed in the state playoffs. Photo by William ‘Bud’ Hardy / Neuse News
GIRLS
No. 30 North Johnston (14-10) at No. 3 Kinston (21-5), 6 p.m.
Vikings average 54.2 ppg, allow 38.5 ppg; Panthers average 41.9 ppg, allow 42.3 ppg
Kinston is undefeated in 2019, winners of 16 straight after a five-game skid to end 2018. North Johnston won’t come in with the same momentum after dropping five of its last six. The Panthers, representing the Eastern Plains, hang their hats on defense and is looking for their first playoff win since 2017.
North Lenoir’s Ashanti Lynch shoots under heavy duress against Farmville Central on Dec. 5. The Hawks received a No. 13 seed in the state playoffs. Photo by William ‘Bud’ Hardy / Neuse News
No. 20 Richlands (17-7) at No. 13 North Lenoir (14-8), 6 p.m.
Hawks average 58.0 ppg, allow 46.2 ppg; Wildcats average 52.3 ppg, allow 39.8 ppg
North Lenoir has won its most games in more than a decade, but have dropped three of its last four contests. Richlands has last four of its last five and allowed 50 points or more twice (none in its first 20 games.) The Coastal 8 1A/2A Wildcats are led by Morgan Ervin (14.9 ppg, 8.7 rpg) and Kiki Kornegay (12.3 ppg, 9.4 rpg).
No. 24 Washington (13-10) at No. 9 Randleman (14-9), 6 p.m.
Pam Pack average 45.3 ppg, allow 44.8 ppg; Tigers average 41.9 ppg, allow 38.0 ppg
The Pam Pack are playing their best basketball, winning seven of their last 10 and a trip to the ECC tournament finals. Randleman had a five-game streak ended in the PAC 7 conference tournament, but the Tigers won the regular-season title and is led scoring-wise by Taylor Gantt (14.6 ppg).
South Lenoir’s Gralicia Jenkins drives on North Lenoir’s Emmenia Lynch during a Feb. 13 contest. The Blue Devils picked up the No. 29 seed in the playoffs. Photo by William ‘Bud’ Hardy / Neuse News
No. 29 South Lenoir (13-11) at No. 4 N.C. School of Science and Math (29-0), 6 p.m.
Blue Devils average 44.0 ppg, allow 39.8 ppg; Unicorns average 55.3 ppg, allow 26.2 ppg
South Lenoir is hoping to get revenge after falling to the N.C. School of Science of Math 64-57 in the first round of last year’s playoffs. The task may be more daunting as the Unicorns have allowed 20 points or less in 10 contests this year and is led offensively by Lalia Barnes (19.1 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 2.7 bpg) and Anna Coley (15.0 ppg).
