Goldsboro's girls, Kinston's boys clinch titles

By David Williams
Published in Sports on February 8, 2004 2:00 AM

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The humidity was the topic of conversation Friday as Goldsboro and Kinston staged another basketball war.

But even the unusual heat -- and the condensation that sopped the floor of Goldsboro High School's gym -- could not stop two teams from claiming Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference championships Friday night.

Goldsboro's girls survived a remarkable effort from Kinston's Shoshanna Moore to win in overtime 61-58 and claim the ECC regular-season title. Later in the evening, Kinston's boys used sharp free-throw shooting to down Goldsboro 67-59 and take the boys regular-season ECC championship.

"This feels good," said Lady Cougars coach Gladys McClary. "If there was any game I was concerned about, it was tonight. The atmosphere was unexplainable."

Both the Viking boys and Lady Cougars locked up the top seeds for the upcoming state tournament. Kinston's girls have only to win one of their remaining two games to cement second place.

Goldsboro's boys damaged their hopes of making post-season, but still have a chance to finish fifth and take a playoff spot if they can beat West Carteret Monday night and Southern Wayne on Tuesday night -- both on the road.

"We still control our own destiny," said Goldsboro boys coach Randy Jordan. "We have to got to West Carteret and to Southern Wayne and win."

The most drama of the night was clearly in the girls game.

Goldsboro jumped out to a 12-point lead early on, only to have Kinston mount a comeback on the shoulders of Moore. The senior guard hit for 35 points -- 27 of them in the second half -- as Kinston used scrappy defense to slow Goldsboro's offense while riding Moore's hot hand. Kinston trailed by just seven at halftime at 31-24, and trimmed that deficit down to four at 39-35 by the start of the final period.

Kinston took its first lead when Moore canned a pair of free throws with 4:07 left to lead 44-43. Goldsboro answered right away as Clintoria Bryant bombed a three-pointer to go back ahead.

From there, it was a possession-by-possession battle as Kinston swayed into the lead and Goldsboro responded as the clock ticked down.

With a minute left in regulation and tied at 51-51, Kinston held the ball until seven seconds were left. Moore charged up the lane and lifted the ball to shoot the game-winner, but Chevoya Jackson blocked the ball as it was coming up and the game went into overtime.

In the extra frame, Goldsboro ran off to a short lead, only to see Moore and Kinston come back. The Lady Cougars led 57-56 until Shamir Freeman tipped in a missed shot by Moore to give Kinston a 58-57 lead with 27 seconds to play.

Goldsboro put the ball in the hands of their senior leader, Bryant. Cooler in demeanor than the sweat that poured from her, Bryant bulled down to the baseline and took a short jumper that swished in for a 59-58 lead with 13 seconds to play.

"That's what you expect from a senior," said a smiling McClary.

Moore came down the court for one last try. She pulled up for another patented six-footer in the lane -- and clanged it off the rim. Goldsboro's Jessica Faison grabbed the ball and used up the time by going downcourt for a celebratory layup -- and the win.

Bryant led the Lady Cougars with 18 points, while three of her teammates had double-digit points -- Jackson with 14, Faison with 12 and Ashelyn James with 11.

Kinston coach Charles Kittrell said he thought a few foul calls should have been made, especially late in the game with Moore driving down the lane.

"If she gets the calls that should have been called, we win," Kittrell said. "Not taking anything away from Goldsboro -- Gladys has a good team. But we are too one-dimensional and we have to change that. Tonight it was Moore versus Goldsboro."

The Kinston boys forged ahead against Goldsboro's senior-laden lineup on Senior Night as guard Mike Jenkins nailed four straight three-pointers in the first half. Kinston led by 12, but Goldsboro fought back on a pair of Josh Broadie threes and nine points from sophomore Tavon Waters. Goldsboro trailed just 30-28 at half, but the humid conditions forced both team to be a bit timid with the ball on the floor.

"Both teams were tentative with the footwork because of the condensation," said Kinston coach Wells Gulledge. "Both teams were fortunate that there were no injuries. That's what happens when a front comes through."

Kinston gunned out to a six-pint lead in the second half by using Jay McBynum to push the Cougar defenders out and get some work inside. McBynum had 10 points against the taller Cougar front line and led by five with two minutes left.

Goldsboro had to foul as Kinston spread the floor. The Vikings shot a strong 8-of-12 in the final from to seal the win, although Goldsboro got within four with 25 seconds left but could not get a shot to go down.

"We didn't get the defensive stops when we needed them," Jordan said. "They backed us down when we needed to push up defensively."

Jenkins ended up with 22 points, while Montel Jones added 12 for the Vikings. Waters was high for the homestanding Cougars with 19 points -- the only Goldsboro player in double figures. Adam Wright added nine points.

"I'm very proud," said Jordan. "Our guys gave a great effort. We never quit. They led by 14 and we cut it to one."

Kinston will host West Carteret on Tuesday and Eastern Wayne on Thursday to end the season. Goldsboro cannot fail at Morehead City on Monday, or at Dudley on Tuesday, if the playoffs are to have the Cougars in it.

Girls game

Kinston 10 14 11 16 7 -- 58

Goldsboro 20 11 8 12 10 -- 61

KINSTON (12-8, 11-3)

Shoshoanna Moore 11 3 5-10 35, Shamir Freeman 4 0 0-0 8, Felicia Dunn 2 0 2-4 6, Kelly Bradshaw 2 0 0-0 4, Krystal Fuller 2 0 0-0 4. TOTALS -- 22 3 7-14 58.

GOLDSBORO (21-1, 14-0)

Clintoria Bryant 5 2 3-3 18, Chevoya Jackson 4 0 6-9 14, Jessica Faison 5 0 2-5 12, Ashelyn James 4 0 3-3 11, Shemika Hardy 3 0 0-1 6. TOTALS -- 21 2 13-31 61.

Three-point baskets -- Kinston 3 (Moore 3), Goldsboro 2 (Bryant 2). Turnovers -- Kinston 24, Goldsboro 29. Total fouls -- Kinston 16, Goldsboro 10. Fouled out -- none. Technicals -- none.

Boys game

Kinston 15 15 17 20 -- 67

Goldsboro 9 19 13 18 -- 59

KINSTON (20-1, 14-0)

Mike Jenkins 3 4 4-4 22, Montel Jones 5 0 2-6 12, Jay McBynum 4 0 2-2 10, Jarius Harris 2 0 3-3 7, Daryll Jones 2 0 0-0 4, Jemell Walters 1 0 2-2 4 Ben Sutton 1 0 0-0 2. TOTALS -- 21 4 13-17 67.

GOLDSBORO (11-11, 5-9)

Tavon Waters 3 3 4-4 19, Adam Wright 2 1 2-3 9, Ray Brinson 3 0 1-2 7, Josh Broadie 0 2 0-0 6, Daquan Joyner 2 0 1-2 5, Chris Jones 2 0 0-0 4, Javon Daniels 0 1 0-0 3, Joe Daniels 1 0 0-0 2, Deonta Anderson 1 0 0-0 2, Brandon Grantham 1 0 0-0 2. TOTALS -- 15 7 8-11 59.

Three point baskets -- Kinston 4 (Jenkins 4), Goldsboro 7 (Waters 3, Broadie 2, Wright, Ja. Daniels). Turnovers -- Kinston 8, Goldsboro 13, total fouls -- Kinston 11, Goldsboro 9. Fouled out -- none. Technicals -- none.