Vinson's game-winning FT lifts Aycock

By Brandon Davis
Published in Sports on November 21, 2015 11:07 PM

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Goldsboro's fans roared when Charles B. Aycock sophomore Hannah Vinson stepped to the free throw line.

Vinson dribbled the ball, looked up at the basket and released the ball from her hands. Two seconds later, the Golden Falcons celebrated a 49-48 victory over the Cougars on Friday evening.

"We happened to catch a break there at the end," Golden Falcons head basketball coach Roy Harrell said. "We got that free throw. I'd love to make two of them, but it doesn't matter. You make one of them, you got the lead."

The Cougars took off early with senior Destini Covington shooting a 3-pointer at the top of key, and senior Tyona Moses making a layup off of an assist from Covington.

Goldsboro's defense denied Aycock's backdoor cuts, which helped lead to a 15-13 advantage after one quarter.

Moses stole the ball with four minutes left in the second quarter, drove the length of the court and drew a foul on a layup. The play helped give the Cougars a 27-22 lead at halftime.

Senior Layshia Lofton inbounded the ball to Moses for a 3-pointer in the third quarter which pushed the Cougars' lead to eight.

The Golden Falcons answered.

Vinson assisted junior "Mookie" Powell with a 3-pointer just before Vinson stole the ball from the Cougars and drove to the basket for a layup. Senior Taylor Daniels assisted Powell with a jump shot.

CBA led 33-32.

Covington assisted Moses on a layup in the fourth quarter. Tyanna Morrison hit a 3-pointer off of Lofton's assist, and Moses broke free for another court-length drive. Her 3-pointer with three minutes remaining in the game gave Goldsboro a four-point lead.

Daniels and Powell helped close the deficit to a single possession. Vinson's steal and drive knotted the game at 48-all. She later pulled down an offensive rebound, which led to the game-deciding free throw.

"These girls just keep fighting. That's the name of the game," Harrell said. "They played much smarter tonight than they did Monday night. Tonight, they executed the offense better, and it showed tonight."

Vinson ended the game with 12 points and was 4 of 6 from the free throw line, while Daniels had 16 points and was 8 of 11 from the line. Powell ended the game with 11 points and one 3-pointer.

"Aycock came ready to play," Goldsboro head coach LaTina Bullock said. "They came back from being down seven or eight, and my girls just couldn't put it in. Toward the end, we just let up on defense. You can have the best shooter in the country, but if they don't play defense, something's going to lack somewhere."

The Cougars (1-1 overall) travel to Rocky Mount Prep on Tuesday, while Aycock (2-1) is the guest of North Lenoir the same evening.