County rivals earn split

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on December 5, 2007 3:07 PM

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Playing fundamentally-sound, man-to-man defense isn't always easy to do during early-season games.

More often than not, the aggressive and active nature of the scheme usually creates a frenetic-paced tempo which includes ragged play at times. So far, it seems to be working in Goldsboro's favor.

The Cougars built a double-digit lead by halftime and held on for a 56-49, non-conference victory over county rival Eastern Wayne on Tuesday evening. Goldsboro improved to 3-2 overall with all three victories coming against county opposition, while the Warriors exited 0-5.

On the girls' scene, senior center Brittani Billups pumped in a game-high 35 points in the Warriors' 67-54 victory. Eastern Wayne improved to 3-2, while Goldsboro slipped to 3-2.

"We talk about how we have EOC at Goldsboro -- extremely organized chaos and that's what we try to do defensively," said first-year Goldsboro men's coach Tod Morgan. "I thought we did a good job in the first half holding a very good team to 18 points, and we held Southern Wayne to 19 points.

"We've played pretty good defense in two games during the first half, but we've got to do that for 32 minutes."

But that first 16 minutes rattled the Warriors.

Goldsboro erased a four-point deficit with transition baskets off its defensive pressure and led 18-10 after one quarter. While neither team shot well from the floor in the second period, the Cougars managed to extend their lead to 29-18 at halftime.

"The first half they executed very well and got us away from the things we wanted to do offensively," said Eastern Wayne coach Marvin Bowman. "They suck you into their style of play and I give them credit for that."

The Warriors whittled the deficit to 35-29 with less than four minutes to go in the third quarter. Keovonta McDuffie's basket, his last of the game, stopped the short spurt with Goldsboro up 39-30.

Tim Hobbs' crowd-pleasing, two-handed slam gave the Cougars their biggest lead, 43-30, early in the fourth quarter. Eastern Wayne climbed within single digits on Cody Kirkham's 3-pointer nearly a minute later.

Goldsboro's Demetrio Irby answered with a 3-pointer off Tavon Murchison's assist.

"I've got a lot of confidence in his shot because he shoots the ball very well in practice," Morgan said of Irby. "That was a big shot. If we don't hit that shot and they drill one at the other end, all of a sudden it's a real ball game.

"So, that was huge."

Leading by 11, the Cougars employed their spread offense to run time off the clock and force the Warriors to foul. Hobbs and Doshamora Simms hit key baskets down the stretch to prevent Eastern Wayne from registering its first win of the season.

Kirkham led all scorers with 14 points, while teammate Will White provided 12. McDuffie, Simms and Irby wound up with 10 points apiece for the Cougars.

Meanwhile, Eastern Wayne weathered a late third-quarter run in the girls' game. The Warriors owned a 41-22 advantage with just over four minutes remaining, but watched the Cougars trimmed the deficit to 42-32 with one minute to go.

Billups' offensive putback and conventional three-point play snapped the surge. Tia Jones' layup off Eboni Reid's steal and assist capped Eastern Wayne's short spurt. The Warriors led 49-33.

"We responded well," said Eastern Wayne coach Brent Holland. "Eboni did a good job of getting into the teeth of their defense and making good passes for layup. They didn't get back on defense (in transition)."

Goldsboro labored through a miserable offensive first half, shooting just 6 of 28 from the floor. The Cougars managed just two field goals in a nine-minute stretch and scored just five points in the second period.

Billups, who collected 22 points in the first half, worked against a box-and-one defense in the second half. The Longwood (Va.) University signee still got her hands on several loose balls which kept possessions alive underneath their basket.

Tiara McIntyre complemented Billups with a 12-point effort. Ki'ana Williams tallied 10 of her team-leading 16 points in the second half for Goldsboro. Millicent Kornegay supplied 10 second-half points, while Zeara McDuffie chipped in nine.

The Cougars entertain Wilson Fike today, while the Warriors visit West Craven on Friday.

Boys game

Eastern Wayne 10 8 12 19 -- 49

Goldsboro 18 11 10 17 -- 56

EASTERN WAYNE (0-5)

Jamere Thomas 1 1 0-0 5, Daviyon Whisonant 1 1 2-3 7, Will White 4 0 4-7 12, A.J. Dreighton 0 0 1-2 1, Orlando Midgette 2 0 2-3 6, Cody Kirkham 5 1 1-2 14, Marvin Bowman 2 0 0-0 4, Colton Butler 0 0 0-0 0, Marquis Tinsley 0 0 0-0 0. TOTALS -- 15 3 10-17 49

GOLDSBORO (3-2)

Keovonta McDuffie 4 0 2-2 10, Donald Lewis 0 1 0-0 3, Tavon Murchison 2 0 3-4 7, Doshamora Simms 5 0 0-0 10, Demetrio Irby 2 2 0-0 10, Tim Hobbs 4 0 1-2 9, Aric Sinclair 3 0 1-2 7. TOTALS -- 20 3 7-10 56.

Girls game

Eastern Wayne 15 20 14 18 -- 67

Goldsboro 12 5 16 21 -- 54

EASTERN WAYNE (3-2)

Lindsey Frederick 0 0 0-0 0, LaVerne Jones 0 0 0-0 0, Noelle Kelly 1 0 0-0 2, Jazmine Middleton 1 0 2-4 4, Tiara McIntyre 2 1 5-6 12, Eboni Reid 2 0 0-1 4, Tia Jones 0 0 0-0 0, Danielle Daniel 1 1 0-0 5, Brittani Billups 14 0 7-8 35. TOTALS -- 22 2 14-19 67.

GOLDSBORO (3-2)

Lakiyah Campbell 3 0 0-0 6, Zeara McDuffie 4 0 1-1 9, Ki'ana Williams 5 1 3-5 16, Danielle Irby 3 0 1-1 7, Victoria Williams 0 1 3-4 6, Millicent Kornegay 4 0 2-4 10. TOTALS -- 19 2 10-15 54.