Cougars sweep ECC contests

By Gabe Whisnant
Published in Sports on February 1, 2004 2:00 AM

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Ankle injuries are not uncommon on the basketball court. They are quite rare on the sideline.

Goldsboro's boys coach Randy Jordan suffered a sprained ankle Friday after an accidental collision with a Cougar player late in the fourth quarter of a tight game against South Central at the Cougar Den.

After falling to the floor in pain, he got up and gutted out the rest of the game, and so did his Cougar players.

Keyed by a hot first- and third-period offense -- and gritty team defense in the fourth period -- Goldsboro held off the young, athletic Falcons 56-52. The Cougars (9-10 overall) improved to 4-8 in the Class 3-A Eastern Carolina Conference.

"I thought the kids did a great job in the fourth quarter and in the second half. We really did a nice job of finding ourselves. We matured and grew up tonight," Jordan said.

A pair of underclassmen sparked the win with career highs as sophomore guard Tavon Waters poured in 22 points, while six-foot-six freshman Daquan Joyner added 16.

The Lady Cougars (18-1, 12-0 ECC) continued their assault against conference opposition, spoiling former Goldsboro and current South Central coach Mary Carlisle's return trip to her former school with a 57-39 win. Carlisle coached the Cougarettes to the 1982 state championship.

"I knew I had to do my homework because the girls won a championship under her (Carlisle)," Lady Cougars coach Gladys McClary. "I felt really good to be in the same place as her. For our girls to jump out and be very intense, they did exactly what we wanted them to do."

The girls' win was also keyed by a hot start as Goldsboro forced 18 South Central turnovers in the first half and converted many into open-court layups to take a convincing 37-15 lead into halftime. Three Lady Cougars went in double figures as Chevoya Jackson scored 13 points, Jessica Faison added 12 and Clintoria Bryant added 11.

Faison pulled down 12 rebounds, while Ashelyn James added nine boards to pace a dominant Goldsboro effort on the defensive glass.

McClary was also able to get some key minutes in for her reserves with the game under control in the second half.

"I told them two games ago that we need all of you, and they gave our starters a chance to sit, watch and cheer," she said. "They handled the ball well and looked for each other."

Goldsboro's boys first-period run was keyed by aggressiveness and balance. Four different Cougars scored in just over a three-minute stretch that saw Goldsboro dash to a 9-2 lead. Waters knocked down two threes in the first to help the Cougars go up 18-6 heading into the second.

The scrappy Falcons didn't lay down and came out pressing against five fresh Goldsboro players. The Cougars never solved the South Central press in the second, committing six turnovers and scoring only two points as the Falcons pulled even at 20-20 before the half.

Goldsboro came out rejuvenated in the third on both ends. A tough, lunging save and pass by Chris Jones near the right sideline near the end of the third found Waters, who converted the layup. The Cougars held a 43-34 point lead early in the fourth, but again South Central stormed back -- posting a 11-0 run in a three-minute span to take a 45-43 lead with 4:40 left in the game.

Goldsboro seemed to take control in the final four minutes, outscoring South Central 10-4 in the final stretch.

"It's a real big team win. We've got to maintain this kind of emotion and this kind of caring for the next five games," Jordan said.

Girls

South Central 10 5 12 12 -- 39

Goldsboro 18 19 12 8 -- 57

SOUTH CENTRAL (10-9, 4-8)

Meghan Vanderhost 1 2 5-6 13, Arescia Moore 4 0 0-0 8, Kemia Smith 1 2 0-0 8, Stephony Newkirk 2 0 2-2 4, Katie Holloman 1 0 0-0 2, Jordan Vines 1 0 0-0 2, Lauren Lee 0 0 0-1 0. TOTALS -- 10 4 7-9 39.

GOLDSBORO (18-1, 12-0)

Chevoya Jackson 5 1 0-0 13, Jessica Faison 5 0 2-2 12, Clintoria Bryant 3 1 2-3 11, Mikeda Graham 2 0 4-5 8, Ashelyn James 2 0 1-1 5, Helga Bryant 2 0 0-0 4, Nickie Garner 1 0 0-0 2, Carmille Early 0 0 2-2 2. TOTALS -- 20 2 11-13 57.

Three-point baskets -- South Central 4 (Vanderhost 2, Smith 2), Goldsboro 2 (Jackson, C. Bryant). Turnovers -- South Central 25, Goldsboro 21. Total fouls -- Goldsboro 10, South Central 8. Fouled out -- none. Technicals -- none.

Boys

South Central 6 14 14 18 -- 52

Goldsboro 18 2 21 15 -- 56

SOUTH CENTRAL (6-12, 5-7)

Montarrio Haddock 8 1 2-2 21, Montell Smith 2 1 5-8 12, Jamale Burrus 1 1 2-3 7, Jon Williams 2 0 2-4 6, Augustine Sebea 1 0 0-0 2, Brian Clark 0 0 2-2 2. TOTALS -- 14 3 13-19 52.

GOLDSBORO (9-10, 4-8)

Tavon Waters 4 4 2-4 22, Daquan Joyner 7 0 2-4 16, Chris Jones 3 0 1-2 7, Ray Brinson 3 0 0-0 6, Joe Daniels 1 0 0-0 2, Josh Broadie 1 0 0-1 2, Brandon Grantham 0 0 1-2 1. TOTALS -- 19 4 6-13 56.

Three-point baskets -- South Central 3 (Haddock, Smith, Burrus), Goldsboro 4 (Waters 4). Turnovers -- South Central 17, Goldsboro 16. Total fouls -- South Central 12, Goldsboro 17. Fouled out - none. Technicals -- none.